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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city

Registration and Certification Publications

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : FRCP 1000/2/1

Note for Traders Lodging Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - Mainland and Hong Kong
Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement ["CO(CEPA)"] Applications

I. Introduction

The claim for Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) zero tariff preference must be supported by a Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA ("CO(CEPA)") issued by the Trade and Industry Department (TID) or Government Approved Certification Organisations(GACOs)1 under the CEPA and the Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement). All CO(CEPA) applications (including fresh submissions, re-submissions and amendment requests) have to be lodged through electronic trade document submission services.  Traders may register with the relevant Government appointed Certificate of Origin (CO) Service Providers2 to use the electronic services.  Traders who have not registered with Service Providers can make use of the designated Service Centres arranged by the Service Providers for lodging of CO(CEPA) applications.  This Note highlights the specific requirements for CO(CEPA) applications lodged through electronic trade document submission services.  In addition to this Note, traders are advised to read the Certificate of Origin Circulars issued by TID from time to time regarding CO(CEPA) services.

II. Completion of CO(CEPA) Application

(A) General

  1. Certificate of Origin (CO) Type and Declaration

    CO(CEPA) belongs to the Certificate Type "Certificate of Hong Kong Origin (CHKO)" in the electronic trade document submission services.  The Service Providers will provide the type "CEPA CO" to facilitate the trade in making CO(CEPA) applications.  The exporter, manufacturer and subcontractor (if applicable) have to make the following declaration in the CO(CEPA) application:

    Code Declaration
    CEP I declare that the goods described in this application comply with the origin requirements specified for those goods in the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and the Agreement on Trade in Goods.

    CO applications without the above declaration will be processed as applications for CHKO, which cannot be used for claiming CEPA zero tariff preference.

  2. Unique Certificate of Origin Reference (UCR) Number

    Each fresh application will be assigned a UCR number of 14 characters/digits. Traders should quote this number as reference in all future correspondences, such as sending message to manufacturer/subcontractor, and making enquiries. 

  3. Lodging of information in Traditional Chinese

    Applicants have to input the following fields using Traditional Chinese3 .

    • exporter's name and address;
    • consignee's name and address;
    • notifying party's name and address (if applicable);
    • vessel/flight/train/vehicle number (if applicable);
    • marks, numbers and container number (if applicable);
    • description of goods (both the exporter and the manufacturer should ensure that the same description has been used in their respective messages else applications submitted may be rejected); and
    • brand names or labels (if applicable)
  4. CO Approval Number

    If the CO(CEPA) application is approved, trader will receive an electronic approval message.  The message will include the response date and an approval number of 11 characters/digits.

(B) Exporter Section

The information required in a CO(CEPA) application is basically the same as that in a CHKO application EXCEPT that the following information must be provided in the manner specified in items 5-11 below.

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  5. Consignee's Information

    Full name and Mainland address of the consignee must be provided.  Besides, special request for hiding information of consignee in the certificate (i.e. Special Request Code: "502") will not be accepted.

  6. Departure Date

    Under normal circumstances, the departure date should be at least 2 clear working days after the date of submission of the application.  Also, it should not be later than the one-year validity period of CO(CEPA) (i.e. date of issue + 1 year - 1 day).  

  7. Mode of Transport

    One of the codes regarding mode of transport should be inputted, please refer to the TID's webpage <http://www.tid.gov.hk/service/co/jsp/COEnq_CepaAreaMain_e.jsp> for the input codes.

  8. Port of Loading

    "Hong Kong" should be inputted as the port of loading.

  9. Port of Discharge

    Traders should input the customs port code according to the port for discharging the goods (i.e. the customs port to which the Mainland importer will submit the claim for tariff preference).  Please refer to the web portal of the Mainland Customs at <http://www.customs.gov.cn> or TID's webpage <http://www.tid.gov.hk/service/co/jsp/COEnq_CepaAreaMain_e.jsp> for the Mainland customs port codes.

  10. Destination Country

    "CN" (China) should be inputted as the destination country.

  11. Goods Information

    Information provided in the "Line Items" section must be identical to that in the "Product Descriptions for CO" section.  Each CO(CEPA) application may contain up to a maximum of 20 product items (i.e. 20 Mainland 8-digit Harmonised System (HS) codes).

    Traders should also note the following requirements for specific fields:

In the "Product Descriptions for CO" section:

  • No. and Type of Package field

    No. and type of package should be provided for each individual product item.  Please refer to codes provided in the electronic trade document submission services <https://www.cedb.gov.hk/assets/document/citb/03_CITB_2.0_Policies/GETS_Code_Table.pdf> for the corresponding Chinese description of the information.

  • Mainland HS Code

    Traders should input the Mainland 8-digit HS code in the mandatory field "Mainland HS code" for each individual product item.  The Mainland HS code provided in this field should correspond to the Hong Kong HS code provided in the field "HS code".

In the "Line Items" section:

  • FOB Value field

    FOB (not CIF) value in HK dollars should be provided for each individual product item.

In both the "Line Items" and "Product Descriptions for CO" sections:

  • Quantity and Quantity Unit fields

    Quantity and quantity unit should be provided for each individual product item in both sections. Please refer to the TID's webpage <http://www.tid.gov.hk/service/co/jsp/COEnq_CepaAreaMain_e.jsp> for the input codes.  While the applicable quantity unit as used in the actual transaction can be declared in the application, exporters are advised to check the Mainland official quantity unit with reference to the applicable "Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China and a Declaration Guidebook".  This publication is available for reference in the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (Address: Unit 1301, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong).

(C) Manufacturer Section

The information required in a CO(CEPA) application is basically the same as that in a CHKO application EXCEPT that the following information must be provided in the manner specified in items 12 and 13 below.

If a subcontractor is employed to carry out the principal manufacturing processes or the entire production of the goods concerned under the Local Subcontracting Arrangement (LSA), the manufacturer should provide the subcontractor's information, including the subcontractor's name and address, the LSA approval number and the principal processes undertaken by the subcontractor.  The manufacturer should also engage the subcontractor to endorse the information provided in the CO(CEPA) application.

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  12. Manufacturer's Information

    Manufacturer should clearly state the principal manufacturing processes performed in the field "Principal Process(es) Done by Manufacturer and Outworker in HK".  Manufactures should also state in this field the product's Rules of Origin that has been fulfilled, e.g. wholly obtained, General Rule, change in tariff classification and/or regional value content (RVC), etc.  For those products that require to fulfill RVC, manufacturers should also state "RVC-BU" (for Build-up Method) or "RVC-BD" (for Build-down Method) in the field "Rules of Origin Criterion".

    If product development cost is included in the RVC requirement of the CO(CEPA) application:

    In addition to lodging with the issuing organisation either a proforma cost statement for RVC using Build-Up Method (Form CST1) or a proforma cost statement for RVC using Build-Down Method (Form CST 3) showing how the RVC requirement has been met, the manufacturer should also complete the Declaration and Undertaking Form (Form FRD1).  If the product development is performed by or purchased from a third party, the manufacturer is required to furnish details of that third party and to request the third party to complete a separate Declaration and Undertaking Form (Form FRD2) certifying that the product development is performed in Hong Kong.  The Declaration and Undertaking forms should be returned to TID's Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch at least 7 working days before the manufacturer can include the product development cost in CO(CEPA) applications for the relevant product.

    Manufacturer should make the following declaration in the CO(CEPA) application:

    Code Declaration
    M22 I declare that the goods described in this manufacturer declaration have fulfilled the regional value content requirement under CEPA and the Agreement on Trade in Goods; and that product development costs are included in the regional value content.

    Details are set out in Certificate of Origin Circular No. 6/2018 issued on 18 December 2018.

    If the value of goods and materials (including the raw materials and component parts) of Mainland origin is included in calculating the RVC:

    In addition to complying with the original Factory Registration requirements under CEPA, the manufacturer has to submit to TID the additional Declaration and Undertaking Form (Form FRVAC 1). Manufacturer should return the abovementioned Declaration and Undertaking Form to TID's Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch at least 7 working days before lodging CO(CEPA) application.  Upon acceptance of the relevant additional Declaration and Undertaking Form, TID will issue a "reference number" to the manufacturer. 

    Manufacturer is required to provide the reference number issued by TID to the Mainland export enterprises and obtain from them the photocopies of the export declarations or the filed goods lists for export and the original copies of the Mainland Certificates of Origin for the CO(CEPA) application.  The export declarations or the filed goods lists for export must be completed in accordance with the Mainland Customs' requirements. 

    Manufacturer should make the following declaration in the CO (CEPA) application:

    Code Declaration
    M23 I declare that the goods described in this manufacturer declaration have fulfilled the regional value content requirement under CEPA and the Agreement on Trade in Goods; and that the value of the Goods and/or Materials originating in the Mainland is included in the regional value content.

    Manufacturer should submit either a proforma cost statement for RVC using Build-Up Method (Form CST2) or a proforma cost statement for RVC using build-down method (Form CST3). The manufacturer must list out clearly in the proforma cost statement the information about the Mainland origin goods and/or materials (including the raw materials and component parts) (including the names, specifications, model numbers, quantity, value, etc.), and make declaration to confirm the origin of such goods and/or materials (including the raw materials and component parts) used.

    Manufacturer should provide the photocopies of the export declarations or the filed goods list for export of the Mainland goods and materials (including raw materials and component parts) from the Mainland to Hong Kong and the original copy of the relevant Mainland Certificate of Origin for verification by TID and Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department.

    Details are set out in Certificate of Origin Circular No. 7/2018 issued on 18 December 2018.

  13. Line Items

    Information provided in the "Line Items" section should be identical to that in the "Product Descriptions for CO" section provided by the exporter.

III. Enquiry

Traders may approach the Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch of Trade and Industry Department (Tel: 3403 6432) for more information on lodging CO(CEPA) applications.  For details related to electronic trade document submission services, traders may visit the websites of respective service providers and/or call their hotlines as follows:

Service Providers
Brio Electronic Commerce Limited
Tel:         2111 1288
Website: http://www.brio.com.hk/en/service3.html
Global e-Trading Services Limited
Tel:         8107 8686
Website: https://www.ge-ts.com.hk/en/eCO
Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited
Tel:         2917 8888 
Website: https://www.tradelink.com.hk/eng/our_services/certificate_of_origin.html

Trade and Industry Department
Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch
August 2021

  1. The GACOs are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong.
  2. The Government appointed CO Service Providers are Brio Electronic Commerce Limited ("Brio"), Global e-Trading Services Limited ("Ge-TS") and Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited ("Tradelink").
  3. Separately, to facilitate the trade, input of Traditional Chinese in respect of the following fields is also supported: 
    1. (a)"Supporting Document Remarks" and "Special Declaration/Statement" in CO(CEPA) applications; and
    2. (b)"Request Reason Remarks" and "Supporting Document Remarks" in CO(CEPA) cancellation requests.