Maximum Coverage = Maximum Declared Value for Carriage for the Priority™ Worldwide service.

NOTE: Certain parcels must be collected from the post office by the addressee. Types of parcels include: Parcels for addresses on the outlying islands; Insured parcels; Parcels for which charges have to be paid; Parcels which have been unsuccessfully tendered for delivery; Parcels which have been received in a damaged condition.

Import Restrictions

Senders should determine import restrictions from the country's authorities before posting:

• alcoholic liquors
• bees and leaches
• butane gas lighters
• coffee
• leeches
• medicines
• parasites and insect killers
• peat, soil and sand
• plants and parts of plants
• precious metals
• replication equipment
• rice
• rough diamonds
• rubber
• silkworms
• sugar
• transmission apparatus
• waste
• watch straps, bands and bracelets.

Hong Kong is a free port and has very few trade restrictions. Import and export licenses are required only to enable the government to enforce their international obligations, the following items are those that require a license:

• dangerous drugs, pharmaceutical products
• controlled chemicals: including ozone depleting substances and precursors for chemical weapons or dangerous drugs
• endangered species products derived from them
• strategic commodities such as certain kinds of computer and telecommunication equipment, articles for a military use, etc
• textiles
• radio transmitting devices (includes mobile phones)
• optical disc mastering and replication equipment
• outboard engines (exceeding 111.9 kw/150 hp)
• rough Diamond (un-worked or simply sawn cleaved or bruted).

Gifts

Importers and Exporters of Gift shipments are exempt from filing import or export declarations but does require a statement on the shipping documents that the goods are for personal use, no commercial value. Shipments containing goods that are subject to excise tax are not exempt from excise charges even when declared as gifts or as personal shipments.

Prohibited Items

In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:

• advertising relating to gambling or games of chance
• agriculture poisons
• animal carcasses
• antibiotics
• controlled chemicals (trans shipment mode via Hong Kong)
• counterfeit items (including currency)
• halons and CFC's (i.e. ozone-depleting substances)
• imitation of envelope, wrapper, card, form or document issued by any postal authority
• imitation markings of the Government Services
• imitation postage stamps
• ivory and ivory products
• lithium batteries
• live animals, flies of the family Drosophilidae
• lottery tickets and circulars
• meat and poultry
• organic chemicals
• paintings or drawings of obscene or indecent character
• paint, varnishes and enamels
• personal drugs
• psychotropic substances  
• smokeless tobacco and snuff
• soil
• telecommunication equipment
• textiles
• trademarks, false or imitated.

Documentation Required

Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.

In addition, an import permit is required for many goods mailed to Hong Kong. Before posting any item, senders should confirm that the addressee has any necessary permit. Address import permit enquiries to Director, Commerce and Industry Department, Hong Kong.

Document Requirements

Commercial Invoice

Commercial invoices are not required to obtain clearance but are needed for advance clearance processing. They are used to identify the different types of licensable shipments and to contact importers prior to arrival in order to obtain any missing information or documentation. It is recommended that all shipments shipped via Priority^TM Worldwide service have a commercial invoice prepared and included with the shipment when exporting to Hong Kong.

Import Declaration

An import declaration must be lodged with the Census and Statistics Department for all shipments after the receipt of the goods but within 14 calendar days of importation. It is not required for sample shipments valued below HKD 1000, gifts or personal shipments. Declaration charges are assessed at the rate of HKD 0.5 for the first HKD 46,000 of value plus HKD 0.25 for each additional HKD 1,000 or part thereof and rounded up to the nearest 10 cents. The declaration must be submitted through EDI via Tradelink or Global e-Trading to the Census and Statistics Department.

Import License

Import licenses are specific and are issued by the relevant government departments and may be valid for up to 6 months. There may or may not be quantity restrictions. Application is made by the importer directly to the government department. See the "Useful Contact Information" section of this profile regarding information on government departments and specific products they control. Import licenses are required for the following:

• controlled Chemicals
• dangerous Drugs
• dutiable commodities* (tobacco, alcoholic beverages, hydrocarbon oils and methyl alcohol)
• manufactured products made from endangered species
• pharmaceutical products and medicines
• strategic Commodities (certain electronic equipment, scientific instruments, integrated circuits, computer equipment with encrytion function, metalloid and petroleum products, arms and ammunitions, chemical and biological agents)
• textiles, finished or unfinished**
• radio Transmitting Apparatus
• rough Diamonds.

* Dutiable commodities are licensed by Customs & Excise Department.

** Import Notification is allowed in lieu of an import license under the Textile Trader Registration Scheme (TTRS) for sensitive markets. Comprehensive Import License is used for import textiles from non-sensitive markets.

Dutiable Commodity Permit

Dutiable commodity permits, also called DCP are electronic permits and required for each importation of dutiable goods. The permits are issued by the Customs & Excise Department (C&ED) to an importer after the payment of excise charges. Once obtained, it must be submitted to C&ED to obtain release of the shipments

Textile Trade Registration Scheme

Effective on November 21, 2014, all textiles imported into Hong Kong do not require any textile licenses. Traders registered under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme (TTRS) are no longer required to lodge textile notifications to cover their textile shipments. However, the TTRS is still available for textiles traders to join the Scheme voluntarily.

Customs Valuation

Customs valuation is applied to duty/tax assessment for import of dutiable commodities, i.e. liquor, tobacco, hydro-carbon oil and methyl alcohol. The value of goods for the purpose of assessing the ad valorem excise duties is determined under the Dutiable Commodity Ordinance.