The Trade & Industry Department has today introduced a measure aimed at cutting processing time for licence applications and allowing the approved licences to be obtained electronically.   

The first phase of the new arrangement will cover telecommunications and information security products, the department said.

The Approval-in-Principle Arrangement for Bulk Users of Strategic Commodities Licensing Service, aims to streamline licensing procedures and expedite processing time for certain frequent and qualified strategic commodities licensing service users.

A company that frequently imports a less sensitive product from the same supplier, or frequently exports a less sensitive product to the same consignee, may apply for an approval-in-principle for such consignments, the department said.

Once the approval has been granted, the company may electronically apply for and receive the import/export licence that covers the individual shipments within the scope of the approval-in-principle. 

Briefings organised

The processing time is expected to be shorter for licence applications covering individual shipments under this new arrangement, the department said. It has also organised briefings for eligible companies, to explain the scheme's operations and procedures.

The new arrangement will not change the existing rules in strategic trade controls. Importers', exporters' and carriers' legal responsibilities under the Import & Export Ordinance are unchanged under the scheme.