Hong Kong and Shenzhen Sign MOU to Enhance Cross-Border Health Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation.

Secretary for Health and Vice Minister of GACC witness signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on entry-exit health inspection and quarantine

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Mr Wang Lingjun today (November 29). They jointly witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Implementation on the Co-operation Arrangement for Entry-exit Health Inspection and Quarantine between the GACC and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and Deputy Director General in the Shenzhen Customs District Mr Chen Jinhua.

Professor Lo said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the GACC for its staunch support to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the entry-exit health inspection and quarantine. Since the signing of the Co-operation Arrangement for Entry-exit Health Inspection and Quarantine between the GACC and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (Co-operation Arrangement) between the Health Bureau (HHB) and the GACC in November last year, the two sides have strengthened the joint efforts in disease prevention and control as well as communication in terms of entry-exit health inspection and quarantine, and the collaboration mechanisms have also been operating smoothly. To better implement the Co-operation Arrangement, the Department of Health (DH) and the Shenzhen Customs District signed the MOU today to further deepen the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, safeguard the wellbeing and safety of residents and travellers of the two places, and facilitate customs clearance between Shenzhen and Hong Kong."

At the meeting, Professor Lo and Mr Wang exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including facilitation measures for cross-boundary flow of special articles, such as human tissues, biological products, and blood and blood-related products, for scientific research purposes as stated in the "Customs' Certain Measures on Supporting Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone" recently published by the GACC.

Professor Lo emphasised, "Promoting convenient and highly efficient cross-boundary flow of innovation elements is crucial for supporting the establishment of the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform by the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center in the Shenzhen Park together to extend the research and development network and expedite clinical trials. The HHB will work closely with the GACC and Shenzhen Customs District to take forward timely implementation of relevant cross-boundary facilitation policies."

Today's meeting was another occasion where Professor Lo met with leaders of the GACC after his last visit to the GACC in Beijing in September. The Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, and the Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority, Dr Michael Wong, also attended the meeting today.

Secretary for Health and Vice Minister of GACC witness signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on entry-exit health inspection and quarantine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health and Vice Minister of GACC witness signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on entry-exit health inspection and quarantine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health and Vice Minister of GACC witness signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on entry-exit health inspection and quarantine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Official launch of Mainland-Hong Kong "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme on cargo

The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and Hong Kong Customs have been promoting the development of cargo clearance facilitation between the two places, working together to extend their areas of cross-border co-operation. The two Customs administrations today (November 29) officially launched the Mainland-Hong Kong "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme on cargo, extending the coverage of the existing "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme on cargo to all land boundary control points connecting the Mainland and Hong Kong, enabling more enterprises to benefit from the completion of Customs declarations for both the Mainland and Hong Kong sides by making a single submission of road cargo information.

In November 2023, the two Customs administrations signed the Co-operative Arrangement on Smart Customs Development between the GACC and Hong Kong Customs, designating the "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme on cargo as one of the key co-operation projects. Subsequently, the two sides launched the Guangdong-Hong Kong "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme on cargo and its extended coverage in February and October 2024 respectively, covering cargo passing between the Mainland and Hong Kong through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port.

With a view to extending the scheme, the two Customs administrations recently launched a trial run of the Mainland-Hong Kong "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme on cargo, involving three participating enterprises, at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point. These enterprises submitted cargo information to the China International Trade Single Window. The cargo information was then encrypted and automatically sent to the Hong Kong Road Cargo System, from which the enterprises retrieved relevant cargo information for completing a local Customs declaration. The participating enterprises noted that the function of the scheme not only ensured the accuracy of cargo information declared for both the Mainland and Hong Kong sides but also helped them save time and manpower required for declarations and minimise operating costs.

Currently, the scheme applies to cargo imported from the Mainland to Hong Kong through all land boundary control points. Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the GACC to further extend the coverage of the scheme to cargo exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland, thereby providing comprehensive coverage of road cargo clearance between both places.