Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department - Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (ITFS)

Introduction

With the implementation of the Road Cargo System (ROCARS), Hong Kong Customs (C&ED) launched the Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (ITFS) in November 2010 to provide facilitation to air–land and sea–land transhipment cargoes by simplified clearance process.

With the electronic advance cargo information and application of electronic lock (e-lock) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, C&ED monitors the transhipment cargoes conveyed by the participating trucks within the territory under the ITFS.

The transhipment cargoes, if being selected for inspection, will normally be inspected once either at the point of entry or exit. Time is saved by reducing repeated inspection which will expedite the flow of transhipment cargoes.

As for northbound air-land transhipment cargoes, after import clearance at the Airport, cargoes will be conveyed to the land boundary exit point by a truck secured by the e-lock and GPS equipment. To safeguard against any unauthorized access to the cargoes in the journey, C&ED will closely monitor the status of the e-lock and track the routing of the vehicle via a real-time monitoring platform.

Shippers and forwarders of intermodal transhipment cargoes are eligible to join the ITFS on a voluntary basis.

Coverage

Transhipment Cargo applied under the Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (ITFS) / Single E-lock Scheme (SELS)

"Transhipment cargo" means any imported article that –

is consigned on a through tranship bill of lading or a through tranship air waybill from a place outside Hong Kong to another place outside Hong Kong; and
is or is to be removed from the vessel, aircraft or vehicle in which it was imported and transferred to another vessel, aircraft or vehicle before being exported, it is to be transferred directly between such vessels, aircraft or vehicle, but not include those to be landed in Hong Kong and stored at cargo terminals / container port after its importation, pending exportation. (i.e. warehousing is not allowed after importation to Hong Kong.)

The following items can be transhipped under the ITFS:

General goods which are not controlled by any licence or permit;
Dutiable commodities with permits
Controlled chemicals with permits; and
Cargoes under the Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme.

Pamphlet

Pamphlet(Only available in Chinese)

Clearance Points under the ITFS

Crossing control points under the ITFS

E-Lock, GPS Equipment and E-lock Suppliers

E-Lock will be affixed to the cargo compartment of vehicles or the cargo container conveying the transhipment cargoes. E-lock will be activated to prevent the cargo from being tampered with during the journey in Hong Kong. If no irregularities are detected during the journey, the e-lock will be automatically deactivated at the exit point for northbound vehicles.

GPS equipment will be used for tracking the movement of the vehicles to ensure the security of the cargoes during the journey within the Hong Kong territory.

C&ED welcomes all shippers or carriers to join the ITFS. The vehicles concerned should be equipped with e-lock and GPS accredited by C&ED. Vehicles registered under the ITFS are also subject to inspection by C&ED.

Supplier of E-lock and GPS Equipment

The following models of e-lock/GPS equipment have been approved by C&ED to be acceptable for use under the ITFS:

Supplier:	Long Sun Logistics Development Limited Room 909-910, 9/F, Dominion Centre, 43-59 Queens Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong [Telephone: (852) 3421 0228 / 6951 7006] [Fax: (852) 3426 3666]

Model no.:
LX-08-II C (E-Lock)

Model no.:
LX-06-HK (GPS device)

Unless otherwise stated in specific circumstances, C&ED welcomes interested parties to join the fleet of accredited ITFS equipment suppliers for making accreditation arrangement and supplying equipment to the participants under the ITFS.

Criteria for Enrolment, Registration and Costs to Participants

Participation in the ITFS is voluntary. Parties wishing to join ITFS shall fulfill the following requirements:

Participants and their vehicles shall be the registered users of the ROCARS;
Participants of the ITFS for air-land mode operation shall be registered under the Air Cargo Clearance System (ACCS);
Vehicles shall be installed with accredited e-lock cum GPS equipment;
For registration, please complete the Online Application Form; or
Submit the completed Registration Form and supporting document in person or by post to:
Road Cargo Research Division at Room 3005, 30/F, Customs Headquarters Building, 222 Java Road.

Costs to Participants

C&ED will not impose any charge on participants. However, suppliers of e-lock and GPS equipment may impose a service charge for the use of such equipment on vehicles. Please consult individual e-lock supplier for the service charge.

Enquiries