Hong Kong's Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Chan Tsz-tat, signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Director General of Huangpu Customs District, Jin Hai, establishing a new framework for inspecting and quarantining air-to-sea transshipments of fresh fruits destined for mainland China via Hong Kong.
The agreement, signed on June 8, will take effect from November 1, 2026. Under the arrangement, Hong Kong Customs will issue Certificates for Transhipment Confirmation for fruit shipments in non-original air cargo containers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport and destined for the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park, confirming that outer packaging shows no irregularities and complies with mainland inspection requirements.
The co-operation agreement was signed during a meeting between Chan and the Huangpu Customs delegation, where both sides discussed strengthening trade facilitation measures and optimising cross-boundary intermodal transportation between the two customs administrations.
The arrangement is expected to deepen collaboration in clearance and quarantine operations while promoting high-quality development of the cold chain trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It positions Hong Kong as a more efficient transhipment hub for perishable goods entering the mainland market.
During the visit, the Huangpu Customs delegation toured the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to observe passenger clearance operations. They also visited the Customs Marine Base on Stonecutters Island, where they took a patrol launch to survey maritime enforcement operations.
The agreement builds on growing cross-border customs co-operation between Hong Kong and mainland authorities, particularly as trade volumes through the Greater Bay Area continue to expand. The cold chain logistics sector has been identified as a key area for integration, given Hong Kong's role as a gateway for imported food products entering southern China.
Huangpu Customs District covers Guangzhou and surrounding areas, making it one of the busiest customs jurisdictions handling Hong Kong-bound and Hong Kong-transshipped goods.
