Import licence must be obtained before importation of strategic commodities. Major features of import licence are:

• Valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
  (Note : Import licence approved under temporary import/export arrangement are only valid for 3 months from the date of issue).
  
• Allow part-shipment i.e. products covered by one import licence may be imported into Hong Kong in separate shipments within the validity of the licence.

Procedures for using import licence if no part-shipment is required

The importer should present to the carrier the import licence.

The carrier, on receiving from the importer an import licence :

• may release the consignment to the importer; and
  
  
• should endorse at the back of the import licence and deliver it to the Trade and Industry Department together with a copy or extract of the relevant manifest within 7 days after receiving the import licence.

Procedures for using import licence for part-shipment import

For each shipment, the importer should :

• provide the shipment details at the back of the import licence;
  
  
• complete a "Written declaration for part-shipments approved under an Import Licence" (pdf fillable format); and
  
  
• present to the carrier the import licence and the completed written declaration.

Upon receiving from the importer an import licence and the written declaration ; the carrier:

• may release the consignment to the importer; and
  
  
• should within 7 days after receiving the import licence and written declaration -
  
  
  • endorse at the back of the licence and return it to the importer if there is still balance on the licence ; and
    
    
  • deliver the written declaration to Trade and Industry Department together with a copy or extract of the relevant manifest.

Procedures for the last shipment of the application

Follow the same procedures as in the previous shipments except that the carrier should collect the import licence from the importer and submit it together with the written declaration and the import manifest to Trade and Industry Department.