Analysis of HKCAD’s Updated Warehouse Contractor Declaration Notice
Key Updates to Warehouse Contractor Declaration: Streamlining Subcontractor Arrangements and Enhancing Transparency
The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) has recently issued Notice No. 3/2025 announcing updates to the Warehouse Contractor Declaration under the Regulated Agent Regime. These updates focus on three key areas: subcontractor arrangements and responsibilities, handling of known/unknown cargo, and relaxation of document retention formats. These changes aim to address industry feedback while maintaining aviation security standards.
Key Highlights of the Updates
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More Flexible Subcontractor Arrangements: Regulated Air Cargo Screening Facilities (RACSF) can now take full responsibility for ensuring their subcontractors comply with security requirements, eliminating the need for subcontractors to separately submit declarations to Principal RAs. This effectively addresses industry concerns regarding operational and commercial information disclosure.
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Enhanced Cargo Handling Transparency: Warehouse contractors must now clearly indicate whether they handle known cargo, unknown cargo, or both, ensuring alignment with the requirements specified in the RA Security Programme for cargo segregation and protection against unlawful interference.
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Modernized Document Retention: Recognizing the trend toward electronic communication and paperless records, the updated requirements allow for electronic copies of the Declaration to be maintained instead of physical originals, providing greater operational flexibility.
Implementation Timeline
The updated Declaration is now available on the HKCAD website. Starting June 1, 2025, all newly engaged warehouse contractors and subcontractors must use the updated Declaration. Existing Declarations remain valid for two years from their signing date, meaning all Principal RAs must fully transition to the updated Declaration by May 31, 2027.
香港民航處更新《貨倉承辦商聲明》通告解析
貨倉承辦商聲明重要更新：簡化分判商安排、加強透明度
香港民航處最近發布了第3/2025號通告，宣布對管制代理人制度下的《貨倉承辦商聲明》進行更新。此次更新主要涉及三個方面：分判商的安排與責任、處理已知及非已知貨物的指示，以及放寬《聲明》的保存方式。這些更改旨在回應業界意見，同時確保航空貨運安全。
主要更新重點
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分判商安排更具彈性：對於獲民航處接納的管制空運貨物安檢設施(RACSF)，現可對其分判商的保安要求承擔全責，無需分判商單獨向委託人提交《聲明》。此舉有效解決了業界關於營運和商業信息披露的顧慮。
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貨物處理透明度提高：貨倉承辦商需明確標示是處理已知貨物、非已知貨物或兩者皆有，確保與《管制代理人保安計劃書》規定一致。
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文件保存方式現代化：因應電子通訊及無紙化趨勢，《聲明》可以電子或實體形式保存，增加了營運靈活性。
實施時間表
更新版《貨倉承辦商聲明》已上載至民航處網站。從2025年6月1日起，所有新委託的貨倉承辦商和分判商必須使用新版《聲明》。現有的《聲明》則保持有效至簽署日期起計兩年，即所有委託人最遲須於2027年5月31日前全面採用更新版《聲明》。
