Certificate of Hong Kong Origin and Certificate of Origin - Processing
A Certificate of Hong Kong Origin (CHKO) certifies the goods concerned are of Hong Kong origin. A Certificate of Origin - Processing (COP) certifies that the goods concerned have undergone certain manufacturing processes in Hong Kong but not to the extent where Hong Kong origin status can be conferred.
To substantiate a proof of Hong Kong origin for exports, it will be in traders' interest to take out a CHKO if the goods concerned are indeed products of Hong Kong. Although overseas may not generally require a CHKO to accompany every import consignment, it is advisable that traders readily produce a CHKO to the importing end authorities (if so required) to evidence the origin of the goods.
The non-preferential origin rules for the issue of CHKOs for specific products are established in conformity with internationally accepted practice and standards. They may be reviewed periodically to take into account technological changes and industrial development in Hong Kong. Under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (HK-Macao CEPA), for exports to Macao, the existing non-preferential origin rules will also be used to establish the origin of Hong Kong products.
For wholly obtained or produced goods, they must be the natural products of Hong Kong which have been wholly grown or mined in Hong Kong or produced in Hong Kong from domestic materials. For manufactured goods which may involve multiple place processing and/or materials, they must have undergone manufacturing processes in Hong Kong which have changed permanently and substantially the shape, nature, form or utility of the basic materials used in manufacture.
Processes such as simple diluting, packing, bottling, drying, simple assembling, sorting or decorating etc. are not regarded as genuine manufacturing processes. The detailed origin criteria and the corresponding principal manufacturing processes for specific products are set out in Appendix I of Certificate of Origin Circular No. 1/2022. For similar products which have not been specified in the list, TID may make reference to the relevant products at the Appendix in determining the applicable origin criteria and principal manufacturing processes.
For enquiries on Hong Kong rules of origin, traders may contact the Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch of the Department. Please refer to the Guidance Notes on Making Enquiry on Origin Rules for further details.
All CHKO and COP applications have to be lodged through electronic services.
Traders are advised to read the following information before lodging their submissions:
There is no pre-set validity period for an approved CHKO/COP. If amendments on a CHKO/COP are required, such requests should be made within 30 days from the date of issue of the certificate of origin.
Starting from 1 April 2022, the Department and GACOs will issue CHKO/COP in electronic file format at the request of the exporter and introduce an online service (https://www.verifyco.tid.gov.hk/) for verification of CHKO/COP. A simplified workflow is provided below for easy reference. For details, please refer to Certificate of Origin Circular No. 2/2022.
Simplified Workflow for the Issuance of Certificate and Online Verification Service
