To help members clearly grasp the regulatory requirements under the Control of Import and Export of Electronic Waste Disposal Ordinance and avoid potential legal risks, HKICEC held a thematic seminar on 2 July 2026. Mr. Choi Yuk-ki, Senior Environmental Protection Officer of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, was invited as the keynote speaker to provide members with an in‑depth explanation of the key provisions of the Ordinance and share real enforcement cases.

The seminar received an enthusiastic response, with more than 70 members in attendance. HKICEC Advisors — Mr. Chan Wah‑yu, MH, JP; Mr. Steven Liu and Dr. Ngan Man‑yu — were also invited to join the seminar and engage in professional exchange. During the seminar, Mr. Choi provided a detailed explanation of the Environmental Protection Department’s role in overseeing the import and export control of waste in Hong Kong, as well as the operational framework of its joint enforcement mechanism with the Customs and Excise Department. He highlighted and clarified a common point of confusion within the industry: the Department’s regulatory scope covers “waste mobile phones” only, and does not include legitimate “second‑hand mobile phones.”

During the Q&A session, many members raised practical business concerns. A common scenario in the industry involves transshipping mobile phones overseas for repair. Members asked whether signing a contract with partners specifying that the goods are solely for repair purposes would fully exempt them from legal liability. In response, Mr. Choi referred to relevant discussions under the Basel Convention, noting that the Convention sets out clear rules governing the import and export of electronic products destined for repair. He emphasized that the most prudent and compliant approach is to complete the repair of the electronic products before arranging export, ensuring full alignment with both the Basel Convention requirements and Hong Kong’s local legislation. Mr. Choi also reminded members that as long as enterprises establish sound internal control procedures and implement preventive measures in advance, the risk of breaching the law will be able to avoid.

At the close of the seminar, Chief Supervisor Mr Hung Kam-wong presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Choi Yuk-ki on behalf of HKICEC. He was joined by Advisor Chan Wah-yu, MH, JP; Dr. Ngan Man-yu; Deputy Supervisor Mr Edmond Lui, Deputy Secretary Mr Luo Yaohong; Ms Hu Ping; Vice Supervisor Cheung Fu‑shan; Vice President Quan Zhonghua; and Executive Director Sally Fong for a group photo to commemorate the occasion. After the seminar concluded, some members remained to seek further advice from Mr. Choi regarding their own operational circumstances.

The survey collected from participants shows that the vast majority of members were highly satisfied with both the content and arrangements of the seminar. Moving forward, we will continue to plan more high quality sharing sessions based on members’ operational needs, providing the industry with practical and relevant information. We would like to express our special appreciation to Chief Supervisor Mr Hung Kam‑wong for providing the venue, and our heartfelt thanks to all members for their strong support.