Guidelines for Application for Sand Removal Permit

Statutory Requirements

Under the Sand Ordinance (Cap. 147), a Sand Removal Permit is required from the Director of Civil Engineering and Development for the taking of sand from unleased Government land and the importation into and transportation within Hong Kong of any sand in excess of 100 kg. The Ordinance does not apply to sand which is produced by any quarrying operation or by the washing of other material so as to produce sand.

Who are Eligible to Apply

Any person, including the Importer or the Exporter, is eligible to submit the application.

Where to Apply

Applications should be made to the Chief Engineer/Fill Management (CE/FM) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).

Methods of Application

The following methods are available:

Online Application

Via the Trade Single Window (TSW) (prior registration required). More on TSW.

Application by Post, by Fax or by Email
The application forms could be:
    1. downloaded from the Internet ; and
    2. downloaded at Sand Removal Permit Hotline (852) 2246 8220 via fax machine.

The application forms can be submitted:

    1. by post – Fill Management Division of Civil Engineering and Development Department, address - 5/F., Civil Engineering and Development Building, 101 Princess Margaret Road, Homantin, Kowloon ;
    2. by fax – Fax No: (852) 2714 9481 ; and
    3. by email – email address: sandpermit@cedd.gov.hk .

For assistance in application, please contact our officers at the Sand Removal Permit Hotline (852) 2246 8220.

For submissions in electronic format, the applicant shall prepare the application in accordance with the "General Format, Manner and Procedure for the Submission of Electronic Information under Law by virtue of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553)".

The definitions of terms in the application forms are as follows:

Pre-requisite Requirements before Applying for Sand Removal Permit

(A) For importing natural sand from the Mainland

The Exporter shall apply for the Export Licence(s) of the People's Republic of China from the relevant Mainland authority in advance. Under normal circumstance, the Mainland authority requires the Applicant to produce a valid Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate issued by CE/FM and the signed Letter(s) of Commitment.

Application for the Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate is described below:
(Normally, it takes 2 working days.)

Step 1

The application form can be downloaded from the Internet (595KB) or at Sand Removal Permit Hotline (852) 2246 8220 via fax machine.

Step 2

The Applicant, the Final User(s) and/or all parties between them, if any, must individually sign their Letters of Commitment committing themselves not to re-export the natural sand imported from the Mainland. A blank form of the Letter of Commitment is attached on page 6 of the application form.

Step 3

Before filling in the application form, the Applicant should have read and understood the Conditions of Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate and undertake to abide by the requirements under the said Conditions which are shown on page 5 of the application form.

Step 4

The Applicant shall submit the duly completed application form together with the following supporting documents to CE/FM:

  1. originals of the Letters of Commitment signed by the Importer, the Final User(s) and/or all other parties between them, if any;
  2. copy of the contract agreement(s) between the Importer and the Exporter; and
  3. copies of all contract agreement(s) between the Importer, the Final User(s) and/or all other parties between them, if any.

If all the above required information/documents are complete and valid, CE/FM will issue the Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate to the Applicant. Normally, it takes 2 working days.

The Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate shall be used within the validity period. For any unused Certificate, the Certificate Holder shall complete and return the Reply Slip to CE/FM online, by email (sandpermit@cedd.gov.hk) or by fax (no. (852) 2714 9481) within 7 calendar days after the expiry date.

Title Form
Reply Slip Online* (Trial) PDF(228KB)

* An "iAM Smart" account with digital signing function is required to sign the online form. More on "iAM Smart". Alternatively, a copy of the reply slip can be printed for signing and submitted by email (sandpermit@cedd.gov.hk) or by fax (no. (852) 2714 9481).

(B) For importing natural sand not from the Mainland

The Exporter must obtain a valid export licence(s) from the exporting country.

Apply for Sand Removal Permit

(Normally, it takes 2 working days.)

Step 1

The application form can be downloaded from the Internet (513KB) or at Sand Removal Permit Hotline (852) 2246 8220 via fax machine.

Step 2

If the sand is imported sand, the Applicant should have either of the following export licence(s):

(a) For sand imported from the Mainland

Export Licence(s) of the People's Republic of China from the Mainland authority.

(b) For sand imported from other countries

Export licence(s) from the exporting country.

Step 3

Before filling in the application form, the Applicant should have read and understood the Conditions of Sand Removal Permit and undertake to abide by the requirements under the said Conditions which are shown on page 5 of the application form.

Step 4

The Applicant shall submit the duly completed application form together with copies of the following supporting documents to CE/FM:

(a) For importing natural sand from the Mainland

  1. Export Licence(s) of the People's Republic of China.

(b) For importing natural sand not from the Mainland

  1. contract agreement(s) between the Applicant, the Importer, the Exporter and/or all other parties between them, if any; and
  2. export licence(s) from the exporting country.

If all the above required information/documents are complete and valid, CE/FM will issue the Sand Removal Permit to the Applicant. Normally, it takes 2 working days.


Notes:

  1. Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificates and Sand Removal Permits are issued free of charge, regardless of the application methods.
  2. Both Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificates and Sand Removal Permits are valid for a maximum of 30 calendar days.
  3. The Applicants can submit more than one application form at each time of application. Nevertheless, for the sand imported from the Mainland, the number of Sand Removal Permits and their total sand quantities from the Mainland shall be commensurate with the sand quantities specified in the Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificates.
  4. The Permittee shall observe and follow the Conditions of Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate and Sand Removal Permit. In case of contravention of any of these Conditions, CE/FM shall have the sole discretion of cancelling the Certificate/Permit without any prior notice.
  5. In accordance with the Conditions of Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate and Sand Removal Permit, the Certificate Holder, the Permittee and the Final User(s) should undertake to complete the reporting procedures for the sand imported from the Mainland. The reporting forms are appended below and can be downloaded at Sand Removal Permit Hotline (852) 2246 8220 via fax machine:

    Title Form
    Form A – Report on Sand Arrival from the Mainland Online* (Trial) PDF(798KB)
    Form B – Report on Completion of Unloading Sand from the Mainland at Destination Online* (Trial) PDF(212KB)
    Form C – Permittee's Monthly Return on Imported Sand from the Mainland Online* (Trial) PDF(306KB)
    Form D – Final User's Monthly Return on Imported Sand from the Mainland Online* (Trial) PDF(172KB)
    Form A1 – Report on "Non-147 Sand" Arrival from the Mainland Online* (Trial) PDF(202KB)
    Form B1 – Report on Completion of Unloading "Non-147 Sand" from the Mainland at Destination Online* (Trial) PDF(174KB)
    Form C1 – Certificate Holder's Monthly Return on Imported "Non-147 Sand" from the Mainland Online* (Trial) PDF(193KB)
    Form D1 – Final User's Monthly Return on Imported "Non-147 Sand" from the Mainland Online* (Trial) PDF(195KB)

    * An "iAM Smart" account with digital signing function is required to sign the online form. More on "iAM Smart".  Alternatively, a copy of the reporting form can be printed for signing and submitted by email (sandpermit@cedd.gov.hk) or by fax (no. (852) 2714 9481).

  6. Any person who contravenes the Sand Ordinance (Cap. 147) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $2,500 and to imprisonment for 6 months. The sand concerned may also be forfeited.
  7. The TSW is supported by the Office of TSW Operation under the Customs and Excise Department.

Sand Removal Permit Hotline

You may call our hotline to obtain:

  1. the general information of the Sand Ordinance (Cap. 147);
  2. the procedure for applications for Sand Removal Permit and Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate;
  3. the application forms and relevant report forms via fax machine; and
  4. assistance from our officers (9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:15 pm on working days).

Hotline no.: (852) 2246 8220 (in Cantonese, English and Putonghua).