Please take a moment to carefully read HKTDC's hktdc.com Sourcing Listing Policy. Knowing what content is acceptable for listing on the hktdc.com Sourcing could save you time when submitting both company and product information for approval.
1. General Prohibitions
HKTDC prohibits the posting of content including visuals and text which may not be restricted or prohibited by law but are nonetheless controversial including:
- That encourage illegal activities;
- That are racially, religiously or ethnically derogatory, or that promote hatred, violence, racial or religious intolerance;
- Pornographic materials or items that are sexual in nature;
- Products/services that do not offer a product or service for sale, such as advertisements solely for the purpose of collecting user information;
- Giveaways, lotteries, raffles, or contests;
- Stocks, bonds, investment interests, and other securities.
- Firearms, Ammunition, Weapons;
- Governments IDs, Licenses and Uniforms;
- Police-related Items;
- Unauthorized Medical Devices
HKTDC prohibits the transaction of some items, which may not be restricted or regulated by law but are nonetheless controversial among different jurisdictions, including but not limited to:
- Account and Financial Services;
- Alcohol;
- Contact lens/ Prescription eyewear;
- Fire Extinguishers and Grenades;
- Fireworks;
- Food and Beverages;
- Gold, Silver and other Precious Metals;
- Healthcare services;
- Services listed at hktdc.com;
- Skulls and Skeletons that are used for medical or educational purpose;
- Veterinary Products and Drugs
The list shown above is not exhaustive; advertisers are responsible for ensuring that they are not posting an item or any content that is prohibited by law in any jurisdiction.
HKTDC, in its sole and exclusive discretion, reserves the right to impose additional restrictions and prohibitions without prior notice.
2. Account and Financial Services
HKTDC does not permit sale or purchase that offers financial services, including money transfers, issuing bank guarantees and letters of credit, loans, fundraising and funding for personal investment purposes, etc.
3. Alcohol
The offering for sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages and wine is not permitted on the Site.
4. Artifacts
Artifacts, cultural relics, historical grave markers, and related items are protected under the laws of the PRC, the United States, and other jurisdictions and are prohibited to be posted or sold through the Site.
The trade of cultural relics (including personal collection relics), gold, silver, other precious metals, rare animals and their products from the PRC to foreign (non-PRC) parties is strictly prohibited under PRC law and is accordingly prohibited on the Site.
5. Bootleg Recordings
The listing or sale of unauthorized (pirated, duplicated, backup, bootleg, etc.) copies of software programs, video games, music albums, movies, television programs, photographs or other protected works is forbidden on the Site.
6. Contact Lens
The offering for sale or purchase of contact lenses (prescription or non-prescription) is not permitted on the Site.
7. Counterfeit Currency and Stamps
HKTDC strictly forbids the posting, sale and purchase of counterfeit currency and stamps, coins, bank notes, bonds, money orders, and other securities, as well as the equipment used to produce such items.
Reproductions or replicas of coins as collectible items must be clearly marked with the word "COPY", "REPRODUCTION", "REPLICA" or as otherwise required under local law.
8. Crude Oil
The listing or transaction of crude oil by advertisers and buyers is prohibited on the Site.
9. Contracts and Tickets
Contracts and tickets (e.g. airline ticket) are not permitted for listing on the Site. HKTDC will not review contracts, adjudicate, or take sides in any contract disputes.
10. Credit Cards
Credit or debit cards cannot lawfully be transferred from one person to another, and therefore such items may not be listed on the Site.
11. Drugs and Associated Paraphernalia
The listing or sale of narcotics, steroids, poppy seeds, poppy seed products or other controlled substances (including all drugs listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV or V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is strictly forbidden on the Site.
The listing or sale of drug paraphernalia, including all items that are primarily intended or designed for use in manufacturing, concealing, or using a controlled substance is strictly forbidden on the Site. Such items include, but are not limited to those items used for the ingestion of illicit substances including pipes such as water pipes, carburetor pipes, chamber pipes, ice pipes, bongs, etc.
12. Ethnically or Racially Offensive Material
Postings that are ethnically or racially offensive are prohibited on the Site. HKTDC does not permit items that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, defamatory or religious intolerance, or endorse organizations with such views.
Advertisers and buyers must ensure that photos, text or content used in describing the product/service portrays appropriate sensitivity to those who might read it in their postings, and when they are offering or purchasing potentially offensive items or services.
HKTDC does not permit listings that graphically portray graphic violence or victims of violence, unless they have substantial social, artistic, or political value.
HKTDC generally prohibits such materials promoting Nazism, the KKK, and other hate organizations.
13. Firearms, Ammunition, Weapons
The posting, sale, or purchasing of any arms, ammunitions, military ordnance, weapons (including explosive weapons), and/or any related parts or accessories is strictly prohibited. Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, Chapter 238, Laws of Hong Kong, possession of firearms and ammunition is subject to a license for possession or a dealer's license issued by the Hong Kong Police Force.
HKTDC does not permit the posting, offering for sale, or offering of purchase of pepper spray, air guns, BB guns, paintball guns, stun guns, harpoons, spear guns, or any other weapons that may discharge a projectile containing any gas, chemicals, or explosive substances. Replica, "look-alike", and imitation products of the above items under certain circumstances will be permitted only upon the approval of HKTDC.
Any servicing, instruction, processing, or aid of producing any biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, or any other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or its known associated agents is strictly prohibited by international law and is accordingly prohibited on the Site. Any violation of this policy will result in the notification of government authorities by HKTDC.
HKTDC forbids the listing and sale of Chinese-style throwing darts, knuckle-dusters, gravity knives, gravity-operated steel batons and other prohibited weapons stated under The Weapons Ordinance, Chapter 217, Laws of Hong Kong. Replica, "look-alike", and imitation products of the above items under certain circumstances will be permitted only upon the approval of HKTDC.
The listing or sale of Switchblade knives, gravity knives, knuckledusters (bladed or not), bladed hand-held devices, and disguised knives is strictly forbidden on the Site.
HKTDC maintains discretion over what items are appropriate and may cause removal of a listing that it deems as a weapon.
14. Faces, Names and Signatures
Items containing the likeness, image, name, or signature of another person are prohibited for transaction and posting, unless the products were made or authorized by the person whose likeness, image, name or signature has been used.
15. Fire Extinguishers and Grenades
Fire extinguishers and grenades are not permitted for transaction on the Site.
16. Food and Beverages
The offering for sales or purchases of consumable/edible food and beverage is not permitted.
17. Gift Cards and Coupons
Gift cards and coupons (with or without redemption value) are not permitted to be posted, sold or purchased on the Site.
18. Government IDs, Licenses and Uniforms
Government IDs, licenses and uniforms are not permitted for transaction. Such items include but are not limited:
- Items that claim to be, or appear similar to, official government identification documents or licenses, such as birth certificates, driving licenses, visas or passports.
- Fake identification cards or any items that are designed for the manufacture of such cards.
- Articles of clothing or identification that claim to be, or appear similar to, official government uniforms.
19. Gold, Silver and other Precious Metals
The offering of sales or purchase of Gold, Silver and other Precious Metals (not including jewellery products) is not permitted on the Site.
20. Hazardous and Dangerous Material
The posting, sale, or purchasing of hazardous or dangerous materials is strictly forbidden on the Site. Hazardous or dangerous materials include but are not limited to explosive substances, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, toxic and infectious substances and other dangerous goods as defined under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
The posting of any products containing harmful substances (e.g. caps for toy guns, toys containing lead paint) is forbidden on the Site.
21. Healthcare Services
HKTDC prohibits listing or sale that offers medical or healthcare services of medical treatment, cleft lip surgery, plastic surgery and services specified in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 under Laws of Hong Kong, Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance, Chapter 231.
Medical treatment, rehabilitation, vaccination, health check, psychological counseling, dietetics, and massage services are not permitted for transaction.
22. Human Parts and Remains
HKTDC prohibits the listing of any humans, the human body, or any human body part. Examples of such prohibited items include, but are not limited to organs, bone, blood, sperm, and eggs.
Skulls and skeletons that are used for medical or educational purposes may be listed on the Site but not for transaction.
Items made of human hair, such as wigs for commercial uses, are permitted for posting and transaction.
23. Illegal Items
HKTDC prohibits the listing or sale of items/services that encourage, promote, facilitate, or instruct buyers to engage in illegal activities. Such illegal items include but are not limited to lock-picking devices, jamming devices, cable TV decoder, replica, R4 card, and modchips.
24. Job Postings
Job postings from which a factory/company/institute may directly recruit employees are prohibited on the Site.
25. Lottery Tickets
Lottery tickets are not permitted for listing or transaction on the Site. These items are heavily regulated by law varied from different countries and you are responsible for ensuring that your transaction is lawful and not in violation of any law regulation.
26. Medical Items
HKTDC does not permit posting or sale of medical items that claims to treat human beings for, or preventing human beings from contracting, any disease or condition specified in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 under Laws of Hong Kong, Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance, Chapter 231.
Such prohibited medical items include but are not limited to the claiming of the prevention, relief, or cure of any venereal real disease, cancer, arterio-sclerosis, septicemia, diphtheria, dropsy, erysipelas, gallstones, kidney stones and bladder stones, goitre, heart disease, tetanus or lockjaw, pleurisy, pneumonia, scarlet fever, smallpox, trachoma, amenorrhoea, hernia or rupture, and blindness.
Postings offering to sell or purchase the prohibited medical items shall be subject to removal by HKTDC.
27. Non-Business Information
Personal and non-business information is prohibited to be posted on the Site. hktdc.com is an online business to business information platform and does not allow non-business information posting on the Site for personal use.
28. Non-Transferable Items
Non-transferable items may not be posted or sold through the Site. Many items including lottery tickets, airline tickets and some event tickets may not be resold or transferred.
29. Personal Information and Mailing Lists
The posting or sale of bulk email or mailing lists that contain personally identifiable information including names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses, is strictly prohibited.
Software or other tools which are designed or used to send unsolicited commercial email (i.e. "spam") are also prohibited.
30. Police-related Items
The posting or sale of law enforcement badges or law enforcement equipment is prohibited.
31. Pornographic Materials
The posting or transaction of pornographic materials is strictly prohibited, as it violates pornography and censorship laws in many countries. While the classification of material deemed to be pornographic in nature varies in accordance with local legislation, HKTDC shall primarily follow guidelines accepted in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
HKTDC strictly prohibits products/services depicting bestiality, rape sex, incest, violent sex with graphic degradation, or sexual conduct in an offensive manner that do not have any redeeming qualities as works with artistic, literary, political, or scientific content.
In determining whether listings or information should be removed from the Site, we consider the overall content of the posting, including photos, pictorials, videos, text and content.
HKTDC does not permit the posting or sale of all sex products. Novelty sexually explicit items, including various types of sex toys and sex collectibles primarily intended for adult buyers are not permitted on the Site.
32. Prescription eyewear
The offering for sale or purchase of prescription eyewear is not permitted on the Site, except Vintage eyeglasses sold for collectible purposes.
33. Replica and Counterfeit Items
Listing of counterfeits, non-licensed replicas, or unauthorized items, including counterfeit designer garments, watches, handbags, sunglasses, or other accessories, is strictly prohibited on the Site.
Postings offering to sell or purchase replicas, counterfeits or other unauthorized items shall be subject to removal by HKTDC.
34. Satellite and Cable TV Descramblers
Descramblers or other items that can be used to gain unauthorized access to television programming (such as satellite and cable TV), internet access, telephone, data or other protected, restricted, or premium services are prohibited. Stating the item is for educational or test purposes will not legitimize a product that is otherwise inappropriate. Some examples of items which are not allowed include:
- Smart Card Programmers;
- Smart Cards;
- Descramblers;
- Hardware or Software DSS Emulators.
Similarly, information on "how to" descramble or gain access to cable or satellite television programming or other services without authorization or payment is prohibited. HKTDC's policy is to prohibit any encouragement of this type of activity.
35. Services
Services are not permitted for transactions on the Site, including but not limited to design service, infrastructure and real estate service, advertising and marketing service, printing service, information technology service, business management and consultancy service, logistic and transport service, education and training service, event organization service, tourism service, entertainment service, healthcare service, quality inspection and testing service, publishing service, telecommunication service, legal service, storage service, franchising and licensing service, environmental protection solution service, and association and government organization service.
36. Sexual Enhancement Foods or Supplements
The listing or transaction of sexual enhancement foods or supplements is prohibited on the Site.
37. Stocks and Other Securities
HKTDC does not permit the listing or sale of stocks, bonds, credit, investment interests, or other securities.
38. Stolen Property
The posting or sale of stolen property is strictly forbidden on the Site, and violates international law. Stolen property includes items taken from private individuals, as well as property taken without authorization from companies or governments.
39. Textile Quota
The offering for sale or purchase and listing of textile quota is prohibited on the Site.
40. Tobacco Products
The posting or transaction of tobacco products is strictly forbidden on the Site. Restricted tobacco products include but are not limited to cigars, cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco, chewing tobacco, tobacco leaf and nicotine or liquids for use in electronic cigarettes is forbidden on the Site.
The sale of any tool or electronic device which resembles a cigarette or cigar is forbidden on the Site.
41. Unauthorized Medical Devices
HKTDC does not permit the selling of unauthorized medical devices. Such medical devices require government authorization to distribute to third parties and must be ensured that purchases are made only by medical professionals who are authorized by law to purchase them.
42. Unauthorized Copies of Intellectual Property
The listing or sale of unauthorized (pirated, duplicated, backup, bootleg, etc.) copies of software programs, video games, music albums, movies, television programs, photographs or other protected works is forbidden on the Site.
43. Used Items
Used or secondhand items including but not limited to undergarments, clothing and cosmetics are not permitted to be posted, sold or purchased on the Site.
44. Veterinary Products and Drugs
The offering for sale or purchase of veterinary products and drugs is not permitted on the Site.
45. Wildlife and Animal Products
The listing or sale of any animal (including any animal parts which may include pelts, skins, internal organs, teeth, claws, shells, bones, tusks, ivory and other parts) protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or any other local law or regulation is strictly forbidden on the Site.
