Mercury Control

The Mercury Control Ordinance (MCO) (Cap. 640) regulates the import, export, keeping and use of mercury, mercury mixtures and mercury compounds, as well as the import, export, manufacture and supply of certain mercury-added products.  With effect from 1 December 2021, any person who imports or exports chemicals specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (“Part 1 Chemicals”) to the MCO, including mercury and mercury mixture; or keeps or uses chemicals specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (“Part 2 Chemicals”) to the MCO shall obtain a permit issued by the Director of Environmental Protection under the MCO.

Part 1 Chemicals and Part 2 Chemicals

Types of permits

Who should apply for MCO permits?

Guidelines for completing the permit application forms

The Minamata Convention on Mercury

Part 1 Chemicals and Part 2 Chemicals

Chemical Name [Note 1]	CAS No.
Part 1 Chemicals
1. Mercury	7439-97-6
2. Mercury mixture [Note 2]
Part 2 Chemicals
1. Mercury	7439-97-6
2. Mercury mixture [Note 2]
3. Mercury(I) chloride	10112-91-1
4. Mercury(II) oxide	21908-53-2
5. Mercury(II) sulphate	7783-35-9
6. Mercury(II) nitrate	10045-94-0 or 7783-34-8
7. Mercury sulphide	1344-48-5
8. Cinnabar

 

[Note 1] Please note that the above chemicals may have different names (e.g. trade name or common name) given by the manufacturers and sellers. 

[Note 2]: Mercury mixture means a mixture, having a mercury concentration of at least 95% by weight, of mercury and other substances (including alloys of mercury).

Types of permits
There are three types of permits, including:

• Import Permit
• Export Permit
• Possession Permit

 

Who should apply for MCO permits?

Any person who imports Part 1 Chemicals into Hong Kong, in particular local chemical traders, academic institutions, testing and laboratory institutions, carriers who assume the capacity of an importer and exporter, as well as manufacturers using mercury as raw material, should apply for an import permit under section 20 of MCO.

Any person who exports Part 1 Chemicals from Hong Kong to all places outside Hong Kong, in particular local chemical traders, academic institutions, testing and laboratory institutions, as well as carriers who assume the capacity of an importer and exporter, should apply for an export permit under section 18 of MCO.

Any person who keeps or uses Part 2 Chemicals in Hong Kong, in particular local chemical traders, academic institutions, testing and laboratory institutions, carriers who assume the capacity of an importer and exporter, as well as manufacturers using mercury or mercury compounds as raw material, should apply for a possession permit under section 22 of MCO.

Guidelines for completing the permit application forms 

Application forms can be downloaded here and respective application fees can be viewed here. Please download the Guidelines for completing the permit application forms for reference.

Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) Guidelines on Application for Possession Permit

Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) Guidelines on Application for Import/Export Permit

The Minamata Convention on Mercury

A brief introduction of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and relevant legislative work can be reviewed here