IT & Telecom Equipment Import Requirements in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a free port, imposing no import duties or customs tariffs on importers. That’s a significant cut in cost for IT equipment importation.

Besides, the country connects directly to mainland China, Southeast Asia, and global transportation networks, making it easily accessible.

However, Hong Kong has one of the most refined IT and telecom import requirements.

Hence, you may need the help of a tech importer of record to navigate the country’s technical regulations.

Let’s explore Hong Kong’s IT and telecom equipment import requirements and how Blackthorne IOR can help.

IT and Telecom Equipment Import Requirements in Hong Kong

1. Technical Regulations

The Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation covers all electrical products imported into Hong Kong and operating at or above 50V AC/120V DC.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) enforces the law, requiring the following:

General Safety Requirements
All electrical products must be:

Correctly assembled, connected, and insulated
Designed to prevent hazards from electric shock, overheating, radiation, and mechanical failure
Constructed to withstand environmental and operational stress

High-Risk Products Safety Requirements

Plugs, adapters, sockets, extension/flexible cords, and unvented thermal storage water heaters must adopt specific design standards, including:

13 Amp rectangular 3-pin or 5A/15A round 3-pin plugs
Sockets matching Hong Kong standards such as IEC 60061-2
Adapters should be of the 15A, 13A or 5A type

Voltage Requirements

Electrical goods that do not match Hong Kong’s 220V system (e.g., 110V devices) must bear a visible warning label (minimum 120mm×80mm) about potential incompatibility.

2. Customs Requirements

As an importer, you must lodge an import declaration within 14 days of importing.

Duties and Taxes

As a free port, Hong Kong imposes no import duties or VAT.

Documentation

Here are the documents you need to provide during customs clearance:

Bill of lading/airway bill
Commercial invoice
Telecommunication Equipment import permit/Dealers Licence
Safety Compliance Certificate (CSC)
Declaration of Conformity
Test reports/certificates

3. Compliance Requirements

Here are the main areas of compliance:

Import Declaration

You can file import declaration electronically via these government-appointed services:

Certificate of Safety Compliance (CSC)

Required to show adherence to EMSD safety, labelling, and design standards.

To obtain the certificate, you must provide:

Declaration of Conformity by an ISO 9002 certified manufacturer (HOKLAS-recognised)
Test report certificate issued by a recognised certification body

Labelling Compliance

Products must be labelled clearly with:

Rated voltage, frequency, and power
Manufacturer’s name or mark and traceability info
Warnings regarding shock, battery safety, radiation, and voltage mismatches

Radio-Frequency Compliance

As an importer of telecommunication equipment, including routers, Bluetooth transmitters, and IoT devices, you must:

Obtain an import permit from the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) or
Hold a valid Dealers Licence from OFCA

Import with an IOR

Use our online calculator to see how much it costs to ship to the USA with Blackthorne IT

Why Import into Hong Kong with Blackthorne IOR

Given the regulatory requirements when importing into Hong Kong, Blackthorne IOR can help in 5 key ways:

Taking responsibility for all legal obligations as your importer of record and EOR
Fulfilling customs and documentation requirements to facilitate customs clearance
Identifying and obtaining relevant test reports, certifications, and licences
Handling freight forwarding and logistics management in Hong Kong
Keeping import records to facilitate compliance audits and ongoing compliance

If you are looking for fast, compliant, and cost-effective expansion to Hong Kong, Blackthorne is your solution.

Import with Blackthorne IOR

Talk to our team today to streamline your IT and telecom importation even to data centres.

Hong Kong