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Wine Hong Kong

Wine Hong Kong

How do I set up or expand my wine business in Hong Kong?
Invest Hong Kong at Ease

Invest Hong Kong at Ease

InvestHK is a government department offering free services to foreign companies which seek to establish or expand their presence in Hong Kong. It partners with clients on a long-term basis and is available at any stage of their business development process.

You can see how wine business from around the world share their success stories.

Setting up your company and registering your business in Hong Kong is easy and affordable. You can visit InvestHK webpage to learn more about the overall process.

Our Business Licence Information Service also helps you find information on government licenses, permits, certificates and approvals relevant to business operations in Hong Kong.

To look for more general information on licensing and registration matters when starting a business in Hong Kong, you may read the article “Starting a Business (Licensing, Registration & Regulations)” on our GovHK website.

For more general information on business and trade in Hong Kong, please visit http://www.gov.hk/en/business/
Business Partners Everywhere

Business Partners Everywhere

With Hong Kong as the leading wine hub in Asia, it is easy to find the right partners to develop your wine business. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is the international marketing-arm established in 1966, which aims to connect international businesses to the opportunities in Hong Kong.

You can find your ideal partners through various HKTDC services, including its robust online marketplace, world-class exhibitions and conferences (including Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair), and effective business-matching services.

Visit the HKTDC’s website to start looking for quality partners for your wine business, or approach any of the Council’s 50 overseas offices for more information.

Identifiable Sources of Wine

Identifiable Sources of Wine

The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency launched the “Hong Kong Wine Registration Scheme” in 2013 to increase consumer confidence by recognising an organisation’s ability to maintain and retrieve the records of wines they handle. Scheme Mark Labels with unique QR codes, to be stuck on the bottles of wine, were subsequently launched in November 2014.

To get the most updated list of participating companies and more details, please visit HKQAA’s website.

Reliable Wine Storage Facilities

Reliable Wine Storage Facilities

You are welcome to set up wine storage facilities in Hong Kong, adding to a number of quality cellars already available in Hong Kong.

To enhance user's confidence, you may wish to get the storage facilities accredited by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA). HKQAA has implemented the Wine Storage Management Systems (WSMS) Certification Scheme since 2009, the first of its kind in the world. Based on ISO 9001 requirements, the WSMS Certification Scheme is developed to accredit wine storage facilities that meet well-proven and globally accepted standard. Accredited cellars, carriers and retail shops are required to carefully monitor and manage temperature, light, vibrations, security, as well as hygiene and insurance of their facilities.

To get the most updated list of certified companies and more details, please visit the HKQAA’s website.

Wine Education

Wine Education

Hong Kong is committed to fostering manpower training and wine education. Local public and private training institutions have been strengthening co-operation with overseas counterparts and developing enhanced training programmes for personnel engaged in wine-related business.

Overseas wine institutes or training schools are welcome to offer their courses in Hong Kong. To learn more about how to establish higher and professional education courses in Hong Kong, please visit the Education Bureau’s website for application details.

New Business Models

New Business Models

Hong Kong has a passion for wine. Having abolished wine duty in 2008, Hong Kong has seen sustained robust growth in wine imports. The enthusiasm for wine has also favored the establishment of new and exciting wine businesses in the city.

For example, customers are now able to enjoy quality home-brew wines from a local urban winery, where grapes are imported into Hong Kong to go through the wine production process.

Local wine bottling service is also available for the first time in Hong Kong.

The city’s passion for wine makes it open and encouraging towards new concepts in wine business. With supportive government measures and assistance through our various agencies, Hong Kong provides the best environment for new wine business to ripen.

Mainland Market Guidebook

Mainland Market Guidebook

Wine traders can make reference to the Guidebook on Successful Logistics Strategies for 8 Industries - Wine Industry Section (Chinese only) , published under a BUD Fund (Organisation Support Programme) project.

Government Funding

Government Funding

Eligible wine traders can apply for the following government funding support:

What is the Government support for wine business?
Facilitating the movement of wine into the Mainland

Facilitating the movement of wine into the Mainland

We have worked with the Mainland Customs to facilitate wine re-export into Mainland China, including duty pre-valuation whilst the wines are in Hong Kong and compression of clearance time at Mainland ports.

Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters, voluntarily registered with the Trade and Industry Department, could use the web-based system for declaration of wine consignment information to the Mainland Customs. Such wine consignments arriving at the relevant Mainland ports would receive immediate Customs clearance.

Any Hong Kong wine traders who wish to apply for registration as Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters may visit the Trade and Industry Department's website for more information.

Support for Entering the Mainland Market

Support for Entering the Mainland Market

The Government provides funding support for local projects that develop brands, upgrade and restructure their business operations and promote sales in the Mainland market. Hong Kong enterprises may apply for BUD Fund (Enterprise Support Programme), while Hong Kong non-profit-distributing organisations may apply for BUD Fund (Organisation Support Programme).

Wines manufactured in Hong Kong, which fulfil the requirements of the revised CEPA rules of origin (ROOs), can enjoy zero import tariff on their importation into the Mainland under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) framework. CEPA is the first free trade agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Flagship Wine Events

Flagship Wine Events

  • The Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair

    Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair has become the premier wine event in Asia since 2008.
    The fair is complemented by a range of exciting events such as competitions, conferences, and wine-tasting sessions and master classes, with the aim of raising the standard of wine appreciation in the region.
    Please visit HKTDC’s webpage for more details.

  • Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival

    Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival has achieved instant worldwide recognition since its inaugural year in 2009.
    In addition to the festival, don't miss out on a month-long series of other wine and dine events in the city, including street carnivals, restaurant festivals, and wine and dine promotions.
    Please visit here for more details.

Co-operation with trading partners

Strengthening Co-Operation with Major Wine-Producing Countries and Regions

Hong Kong has signed agreements with major wine-producing countries and regions to strengthen co-operation in areas such as wine-related trading activities, education and manpower training, wine-related tourism and culture, wine and culinary arts, customs co-operation against counterfeit wine, etc. They include:

(In order of signing date ) 
 
* Further to the first agreement in 2008, Hong Kong has signed two supplemental co-operation agreements with Bordeaux in 2010 and 2011 respectively.  

Vigilance against counterfeit

Vigilance against counterfeit

Hong Kong is committed to preventing wine counterfeits from entering into the city through the concerted efforts of Hong Kong Customs and the industry (Customs-Wine Industry Alliance), supported by intelligence from Mainland and overseas enforcement agencies. We strive to ensure that the wine you bought in Hong Kong is genuine and safe.

Manpower

Manpower

There is a large and trained workforce for the wine industry, and a number of training courses including Government subsidised ones.

Hong Kong has established itself as one of the world's major destinations for tourists and business visitors. In fact, Hong Kong has all along adopted a liberal and open immigration policy. Professionals and businessmen are welcome to work and invest in Hong Kong. We have implemented policies to attract talents and professionals who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong, as well as a series of other supportive immigration schemes.