New electronic customs tool helps wine flow across mainland border
New online system for traders means shipments to the mainland can take just one day instead of being stuck in transit for months
Hong Kong wine exporters hope a new online customs system launched yesterday will shorten the time it takes for their products to clear to one day from as long as two months, making it easier and faster to export wines to the mainland.
The electronic system comes as part of a bilateral customs agreement that also relaxed export regulations.
Using the web-based service, they can fill in the names and prices of the wines they are exporting and upload the receipts as proof of sale.
After receiving electronic approval within 10 days, the exporters can send their stocks to designated mainland ports in Shenzhen or Guangzhou and have them cleared the same day.
"The arrangement would increase the certainty of customs clearance," said Edward Yu Kin-keung, principal assistant secretary for commerce and economic development. "If the traders have submitted their information in advance and gained approval, they must see their stocks cleared at the border."
The new agreement relaxes the conditions set out in an agreement between the two customs authorities in 2010 to facilitate the export of wines from Hong Kong. One of the earlier rules was that a Hong Kong company must export to one of nine authorised mainland importers.