Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department - Single E-lock Scheme (SELS)

Introduction

Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) further extended the facilitation under the Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (ITFS) by launching the Single E-lock Scheme (SELS) together with the Mainland Customs on 28 March 2016. Under the SELS, ITFS is interconnected with the Speedy Customs Clearance System (SCC System) of the Mainland Customs to build a "green lane" for facilitating logistics flow through seamless clearance service. One single e-lock and the technology of GPS as accredited by both Customs authorities are applied under the SELS on the principle of "Across the Boundary with One Single E-lock under Separate Monitoring" and hence duplicate inspection on the same shipment by both Customs authorities at the boundary would be reduced, which helps streamline the clearance process and expedite the flow of transhipment cargoes.

To integrate with the speedy development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme was officially launched on 8 March 2024, which successfully connected Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, facilitating trade and commerce development and consolidating Hong Kong's leading position as an international logistics hub.

Furthermore, the Fujian-Guangdong-Hong Kong Single E-lock Scheme was officially launched on 17 July 2024. Following Guangdong Province and Hunan Province, Fujian Province is the third Mainland province to implement the Scheme, which has marked a new breakthrough in trade and clearance facilitation and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland Customs.

Participation in the SELS is voluntary. Shippers or carriers who wish to join the SELS are required to register with the ITFS of C&ED and the SCC System of the Mainland Customs and install the e-lock and GPS equipment accredited by both Customs authorities on their vehicles. For joining the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme, shippers or carriers are required to submit applications to both Hong Kong and Macao Customs, while fulfilling their regulatory requirements.

The SELS was awarded the "Meritorious Award of the Departmental Service Enhancement Award" (Large Department category) in the "Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2017" organized by the Civil Service Bureau.

SELS Video

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme Video

Coverage

Items in the coverage of both ITFS of C&ED and SCC System of the Mainland Customs can be transhipped under the 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, 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 SELS:

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.

Notes:

1) any goods transshipped under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme must be applicable to the import/ export/ transhipment licences and declared cargo under the Electronic Customs Declaration of Macao; and

2) if there are export consignments consolidated with the transhipment consignments under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme between Hong Kong and Macao, which are cleared by C&ED, the export consignments should only include general goods which are not controlled by any licence or permit (except pharmaceutical product, medicine and Radiocommunications Transmitting Apparatus covered by a valid permit or licence).

Pamphlet

Pamphlet of the SELS (Only available in Chinese)

Clearance Points under the Scheme

Currently, the Single E-lock Scheme covers 91 clearance points, including 67 in Guangdong province, four in Hunan province, three in Fujian province, four in Macao and 13 in Hong Kong, providing the trade with over 1,000 routes for conveying transhipment cargo across the boundaries.

Clearance Points in Hong Kong

Air Mail Centre
Asia Airfreight Terminal
Asia Container Terminals
Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal
COSCO-HIT Terminals
DHL Central Asia Hub
DP World
Hong Kong International Airport Express Cargo Terminal
Hong Kong International Terminals
Kwai Chung Customhouse
Modern Terminals
River Trade Terminal
Super Terminal 1

Clearance Points in the Mainland and Macao

Only available in Chinese

Crossing control points under the SELS

Single E-lock and GPS Equipment

In addition to the operation of mechanical lock, the multiple flow control processes of e-lock is a distinctive feature that enables separate monitoring of the Mainland, Macao and Hong Kong Customs in absolute integrity yet independent from each other so as to achieve the goal of "Across the Boundary with One Single E-lock under Separate Monitoring". Taking an example of Air-Land northbound transhipment mode, the transhipment cargoes arriving Hong Kong by air will be loaded to a cross-boundary vehicle after Customs clearance. An e-lock affixed to the vehicle will be automatically activated and GPS equipment will be used for tracking the movement of the vehicle to ensure the security of the cargoes during the journey within the Hong Kong territory. If no irregularities are detected during the journey, the e-lock will be automatically deactivated at the exit point. The e-lock will be automatically activated again after passing through the entry point of the Mainland China. Upon arrival at the clearance point of the Mainland under the SELS, the e-lock will be deactivated.

C&ED welcomes all shippers or carriers to join the SELS. Prior registration of participating vehicles with Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao Customs authorities is necessary. The vehicles concerned should be equipped with e-lock and GPS accredited by all Customs authorities. Vehicles registered under the SELS are also subject to inspection by C&ED.

Suppliers of Single E-lock and GPS Equipment

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

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 / LX-08VS (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 equipment suppliers for making accreditation arrangement and supplying equipment to the participants under the Scheme.

Current Participants of the SELS

Criteria for Enrolment, Registration and Costs to Participants

Criteria for Enrolment and Registration

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

Shippers or carriers shall be the registered users of both ITFS of C&ED and SCC System of the Mainland Customs*;
(Notes: For joining the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme, shippers or carriers are required to submit applications to both Hong Kong and the Macao Customs, while fulfilling their regulatory requirements.)
Vehicles shall be installed with accredited e-lock and GPS equipment by all Customs authorities;
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, North Point, Hong Kong.

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 the accredited e-lock supplier for the service charge.

Enquiries