Pilot project on e-trade document between Hong Kong and ASEAN (with photos)

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     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (September 26) highlighted that Hong Kong strives to explore collaboration opportunities between the single windows of the city and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote cross-boundary digital and paperless trade in the region.

     During the discussions at the ninth ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) - Hong Kong, China (HKC) Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mr Yau said that HKC has been promoting the digitalisation of business-to-government trade documents and is developing the Trade Single Window (TSW) in three phases to provide a one-stop electronic platform for the trade to submit various trade documents for trade declaration and cargo clearance.

     Acknowledging ASEAN as HKC's second-largest trading partner, Mr Yau noted that HKC is keen to explore the possibility of exchanging trade documents through a collaboration between the ASEAN Single Window and HKC's TSW. As the first step, HKC and ASEAN will explore taking forward a pilot project of exchanging the electronic Certificate of Origin.

     He said he looks forward to the implementation of the pilot project, adding that HKC will continue to work closely with ASEAN and ASEAN member states to explore further collaboration.

     Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the TSW in Hong Kong are already in full service and are well received by the trade. The Government is now pressing ahead with the development of the information technology system of TSW Phase 3 and targets to roll out the services by batch from mid-2026. Upon the full implementation of the TSW, it will have the technical capability to connect with the single windows of other economies or other commercial systems.

     As mentioned in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, Hong Kong strives to explore opportunities for connecting the TSW with the single windows of other economies. Therefore, on top of exploring connectivity with the ASEAN Single Window, Hong Kong has been actively working with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China to connect the TSW with the Mainland's International Trade Single Window to continue to provide the Mainland-Hong Kong "Single Submission for Dual Declaration" Scheme for cargo after the rollout of TSW Phase 3, allowing more enterprises to benefit from the convenience of completing Customs declarations for both the Mainland and Hong Kong sides by making a single submission of road cargo information. Both sides will continue to explore the feasibility of expanding the Scheme to cover other trade documents and transport modes.

     Meanwhile, Mr Yau and the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Tengku Zafrul Aziz, met at a bilateral meeting at the margins of the AEM-HKC Consultation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Co-operation in Digital Trade to encourage and promote bilateral co-operation in digital trade, including electronic commerce, paperless trade and single window interoperability.

     "Malaysia is an important trading partner of Hong Kong. The MOU is a demonstration of our longstanding and close relationship, and our desire to further collaborate in areas like digital trade in order to bring mutual economic benefits to our people," Mr Yau said.

Ends/Friday, September 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:02

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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau (front row, centre), highlights that Hong Kong strives to explore collaboration opportunities between the single windows of the city and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote cross-boundary digital and paperless trade in the region during the discussions at the 9th ASEAN Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (September 26). Looking on are the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Aaron Liu (front row, left), and the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng (front row, right).

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau (left), signs a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Digital Trade with the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Tengku Zafrul Aziz (right), to encourage and promote bilateral co-operation in digital trade on the sidelines of the 9th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (September 26).

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau (left), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Digital Trade with the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Tengku Zafrul Aziz (right), to encourage and promote bilateral co-operation in digital trade on the sidelines of the 9th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (September 26).