Hong Kong Origin Rules

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref. : TID CL CO/200

12 January 2022

Dear Sirs,

This Circular outlines Hong Kong's basic principles for determining Hong Kong origin. It also provides updated information on Hong Kong's origin rules (^{Note 1}) and the corresponding principal manufacturing processes (^{Note 2}) in respect of individual products for the purpose of issuing Certificates of Hong Kong Origin (CHKOs). The Certificate of Origin Circular No. 1/2018 of 23 February 2018 is hereby superseded.

2.There are two major types of non-preferential certificate of origin (CO) in Hong Kong. A 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. Both types of COs are issued by the Trade and Industry Department (TID) and the five Government Approved Certification Organizations (GACOs) (^{Note 3}) following the same origin rules and procedures. Details on the Hong Kong Certificate of Origin System, including the CO application procedures and requirements, are set out in the Certificate of Origin Circular No. 12/2014 and TID's website <https://www.tid.gov.hk/en/our_work/import_export_licensing_control/factory.html?tab=1>.

3.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. 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 (pdf format) (^{Note 4}).

4. TID and GACOs provide information on Hong Kong's origin rules applicable for the issue of CHKOs. Traders who wish to make origin enquiries are requested to provide the information set out at Appendix II (pdf format). Enquiries on the content of this circular, Hong Kong's origin rules or TID's origin certification services may be directed to the Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch:

Address:	14/F, Trade and Industry Department, 3 Concorde Road Kowloon City, Hong Kong
Tel:	2398 5545
Fax:	2787 6048
E-mail:	co_enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Yours faithfully,

(Nicholas FUNG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Encl.

^{Note 1} : The Hong Kong origin rules contained in this circular are non-preferential rules of origin for the purpose of issuing Certificates of Hong Kong Origin. Hong Kong goods subject to tariff preference under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement; Hong Kong, China (HKC) - New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement; the Free Trade Agreements with European Free Trade Association, Chile, Georgia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Australia must follow respective sets of preferential rules of origin under the agreements.

^{Note 2} : The principal manufacturing processes are the manufacturing processes required to be performed in Hong Kong which confer Hong Kong origin to a finished article. In this regard, a subsidiary process is any manufacturing process, other than the principal process, which contributes towards the manufacture of an article.

^{Note 3} : The five Government Approved Certification Organizations are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong; and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

^{Note 4} : Appendix I (pdf format) lists out the Hong Kong origin criteria and principal manufacturing processes for specified products. For similar products which have not been specified in the list, TID may make reference to the relevant products at Appendix I (pdf format) in determining the applicable origin criteria and principal manufacturing processes.