Transitional Arrangements for the Issuance of Security Company Licence (SCL)

1.0   Switching from issued paper SCL to Electronic SCL (applicable to the next anniversary date of the valid licence falling on or after 1 July 2023)

1.1    The SGSIA Secretariat (the Secretariat) will arrange for all valid paper licence (i.e. those going to enter its 2^nd to 5^th anniversary year) with the next anniversary date falls on or after 1 July 2023 to switch to electronic security company licence (e-Licence) during a 12-month transition period.  After receiving the demand note and settling the annual fee for next anniversary before the due date, subject to the verification of payment by the Secretariat, the concerned licence holder may, starting from 3 July 2023, make an appointment with the Secretariat and receive an e-Licence, via the email address provided, on the same day when he/she returns the paper licence to the Secretariat.

1.2    In order to enable the switching of issued paper licence to e-Licence be processed in an orderly manner and within a reasonable timeframe, the Secretariat will accord priority to those licences with the next anniversary date due in the same calendar month.

2.0    New Application for SCL

2.1    If an applicant settles the annual fee for the 1^st year of the new application for a SCL on or before 30 June 2023, a paper licence would be issued after the Secretariat has verified the payment. The concerned licence holder will need to wait until he/she receives the demand note for the annual fee of the 2^nd anniversary year before he/she can switch from a paper licence to an e-Licence after following through the procedures as mentioned under paragraph 1.1 above.

2.2    Nevertheless, if the payment of the 1^st year annual fee for the new application is settled on or after 1 July 2023, the applicant will receive an e-Licence direct, via the email address provided, after the Secretariat has verified the payment.

3.0    Renewal Application for SCL

3.1    If the effective date of the renewal application falls on or before 30 June 2023, the Secretariat would issue a paper licence.  The concerned licence holder will need to wait until he/she receives the demand note for the annual fee of the 2^nd anniversary year before he/she can switch from a paper licence to an e-Licence after following through the procedures as mentioned under paragraph 1.1 above.

3.2    If the effective date of the renewal application falls on or after 1 July 2023, once the licence holder settles the annual fee for the 1^st year of the renewal application within the specified timeframe, and subject to the verification of payment by the Secretariat, the licence holder will receive an e-Licence direct, via the email address provided, before the renewal term takes effect.

4.0   Change of Company’s Particulars

4.1    If a licence holder notifies the Secretariat in writing the changes on its company name or registered address, he/she will receive an acknowledgement letter from the Secretariat requiring him/her to make an appointment and bring the paper licence to the Secretariat for updating within one month.  If the licence holder notifies the Secretariat on such changes on or before 30 June 2023 while the one-month period straddles through July 2023; and he/she can make an appointment and bring the issued paper licence to the Secretariat before 30 June 2023, the Secretariat would still update the relevant information on the paper licence.  Otherwise, the concerned licence holder will need to wait until he/she receives the demand note for the annual fee of the coming anniversary year before he/she can switch from a paper licence to an e-Licence after following through the procedures as mentioned under paragraph 1.1 above.

4.2    Since the Authority will no longer issue any paper licence or update on the paper licence with effect from 1 July 2023, in case the licence holder could not pay a visit to the Secretariat before 30 June 2023 within the one-month period, he/she may, starting from 3 July 2023, make an appointment with the Secretariat and receive an e-Licence with updated company’s particulars, via the email address provided, on the same day when he/she returns the paper licence to the Secretariat.

4.3    If a licence holder notifies the Secretariat in writing on or after 1 July 2023 on the changes on its company name or registered address, after receiving the acknowledgement letter from the Secretariat, he/she can make an appointment to return the paper licence within one-month.  He/she will receive an e-Licence with updated company’s particulars, via the the email address provided, on the same day on return of the paper licence.

5.0   Variation of SCL Conditions

5.1    If a licence holder applies to vary the licence conditions for its SCL, after receiving a Notice of Decision (NOD) from the Authority, he/she may make an appointment and bring the licence to the Secretariat within 14 days for updating the paper licence.  During the transition period, if a licence holder receives a NOD from the Authority on or before 30 June 2023 while the 14-day period straddles through July 2023; and he/she can make an appointment and bring the issued paper licence to the Secretariat before 30 June 2023, the Secretariat would still update the licence conditions on the paper licence.  Otherwise, the concerned licence holder will need to wait until he/she receives the demand note for the annual fee of the coming anniversary year before he/she can switch from a paper licence to an e-Licence after following through the procedures as mentioned under paragraph 1.1 above.

5.2    In case the licence holder could not bring the paper licence to the Secretariat for updating on or before 30 June 2023 within the 14-day period, he/she may make an appointment with the Secretariat on or after 3 July 2023 and receive an e-Licence with updated licence conditions, via the email address provided, on the same day when he/she returns the paper licence to the Secretariat.

5.3    If a licence holder only receives a NOD from the Authority on or after 1 July 2023, he/she may make an appointment with the Secretariat and receive an e-Licence with updated licence conditions, via the email address provided, on the same day when he/she returns the paper licence to the Secretariat.

6.0   Replacement of SCL

6.1    According to Section 25A of the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance, if the licence issued has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, the licence holder may apply to the Authority for a replacement licence.  If the Authority is satisfied with the replacement application and the licence holder has paid the prescribed fee on or before 30 June 2023, the Secretariat would still issue a replacement paper licence to the licence holder after verification of payment. Otherwise, the concerned licence holder will need to wait until he/she receives the demand note for the annual fee of the coming anniversary year before he/she can switch from a paper licence to an e-Licence after following through the procedures as mentioned under paragraph 1.1 above.

6.2    If the licence holder pays the prescribed fee for a replacement licence on or after 1 July 2023, the Secretariat will issue a replacement e-Licence direct, via the email address provided, after verification of the payment.

A summary showing the issuance of e-SCL under different circumstances during the transitional period

Scenarios

Under what circumstances an e-SCL will be issued

Requirement to return the paper licence?

Holding a valid paper licence
(i.e. those going to enter its 2^nd to 5^th anniversary year)

According to the next anniversary date

• If the next anniversary date falls on or after 1 July 2023, priority will be accorded to licences with the next anniversary date due in the same calendar month

New Application

According to the payment date of 1st year annual fee

• If the payment of the 1^st year annual fee for the new application is settled on or after 1 July 2023, the applicant will receive an e-Licence direct via the email address provided

x

Renewal Application

According to the effective date of the renewal application

• If the effective date of the renewal application falls on or after 1 July 2023, an e-Licence will be issued via the email address provided on or before the effective date; even if the annual fee for next year has been settled in advance

x

Change of company’s particulars
(Name or Address)

According to the notification date of changing company’s particulars submitted by licence holders

• If the notification date falls on or after 1 July 2023, appointment can be made with the Secretariat to replace the paper licence with an e-Licence
• If the notification date falls on or before 30 June 2023, while the one-month period for the requiring licence holder to bring the paper licence to the Secretariat for updating straddles through July 2023, an appointment can be made with the Secretariat starting from 3 July to replace the paper licence with an e-Licence if the licence holder could not pay a visit to the Secretariat before 30 June 2023 to update the paper licence

✓

Variation of conditions

According to the date of the NOD issued by the Authority

• If the date of the NOD falls on or after 1 July 2023, an appointment can be made with the Secretariat to replace the paper licence with an e-Licence
• If the date of the NOD falls on or before 30 June 2023, while the 14-day period of requiring the licence holder to bring the paper licence to the Secretariat for updating straddles through July 2023, an appointment can be made with the Secretariat starting from 3 July to replace the paper licence with an e-Licence if the licence holder could not pay a visit to the Secretariat before 30 June 2023 to update the paper licence

✓

Replacement

According to the payment date of the prescribed fee

• If the payment of the prescribed fee is settled on or after 1 July 2023, the applicant will receive an e-Licence direct via the email address provided
  

x