Registering as an Electrical Contractor for Electrical Work

Introduction

All contractors engaged in electrical work on fixed electrical installations must be registered with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). The purpose is to ensure that such work is carried out only by qualified electrical workers through qualified electrical contractors.

Electrical work means the work in relation to the installation, commissioning, inspection, testing, maintenance, modification or repair of a low voltage or high voltage fixed electrical installation and includes the supervision and certification of the work and the design of the installation. Examples of fixed electrical installations are distribution boards, wiring installations and lighting fittings, etc., that are fixed in premises.

Contractors engaged in work on portable electrical appliances, such as table lamps, television sets and refrigerators, etc. need not be registered.

The general duties of a registered electrical contractor are listed in the Appendix.

Registration Requirements

To be qualified as a registered electrical contractor, an applicant must either employ at least one registered electrical worker or:

  1. if the applicant is an individual, he/she must be a registered electrical worker; or
  2. if the applicant is a partnership, at least one of the partners must be a registered electrical worker.

How to apply

Applications for registration as electrical contractors may be made to the EMSD. The procedures for both new applications and renewals of registration are as follows:

For submissions in person or by mail:

  1. For new and renewal applications for registration as an electrical contractor, obtain an application form (FORM 1) EMSD/EL/31 (08/2023) [PDF format (966KB)] from:
  2. Complete the application form according to the given instructions.

  3. Submit the completed application form(s) together with supporting documents and an application fee in person or by mail to Registration and Permit Office, EMSD. Application fee is $855 for each new application/renewal or $340 for each replacement application (may be subject to periodic revision).

    Application fees are not refundable. Therefore, an applicant should not submit more than one application form at any one time.

Renewal applications must be made at least 1 month before and no earlier than 4 months before the expiry date. A certificate of registration for an electrical contractor is normally valid for 3 years.

Application for Additional Copies of Certificate of Registration for Branch Offices

In accordance with the Electricity Ordinance, a registered electrical contractor should display in a prominent place at his/her principal place of business the original certificate of registration and a copy of the certificate issued by the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services at each of his/her other places of business. Applications for additional copies of the certificate for branch offices may be made either:

  1. Together with New or Renewal Application for Registration as an Electrical Contractor:
    By completing one FORM 2A (Details of Branch Offices of Registered Electrical Contractor) [PDF format (436KB)] for each branch office respectively and submitting all FORM 2A(s) together with the completed FORM 1 (New/Renewal Application for Registration as an Electrical Contractor) [PDF format (966KB)]; or

  2. After Approval of the New or Renewal Application:
    By completing and submitting a FORM 2 (Application for Copies of Certificate of Registration of Registered Electrical Contractor for Branch Offices) [PDF format (478KB)] and one FORM 2A (Details of Branch Offices of Registered Electrical Contractor) [PDF format (436KB)] for each branch office respectively.

Forms 2 and 2A may be obtained and submitted in the same ways as Form 1. For application through the web, Form 2 and Form 2A are submitted in the same way as application of Form 1 through the web.

Online application

Online application for New, Renewal of Electrical Contractor Registration, and Copies of Certificate of Electrical Contractor Registration for Branch Offices through "EMSD (Regulatory Services) Web Based Registration Services" and "iAM Smart +" is available starting from 1 January 2022. Please read the guidelines and related requirements and information prior to using the services.

New Certificate of Registration of Electrical Contractor

For applications submitted after 1 January 2010, EMSD would issue a new Certificate of Registration of Electrical Contractor to replace the old one.

The EMSD also launched "Digital E&M Licences". The "Digital E&M Licences" service contains a dynamic QR code for anti-forgery purposes. Members of the public can scan the QR code to verify the registration information of the contractor.

Documents / Information to be submitted together with the application form

In-person or by mail application check list

New / Renewal of Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) Application – Form 1		Documents /
Information
  • Copy of company Business Registration Certificate (with validity not less than 1 month and printed with payment record)
✔
  • Applicant of new / renewal application for registration as an electrical contractor, should also submit copy of the applicant’s HKID Card. If the applicant is not the proprietor or director of the company. An authorization letter signed by proprietor or director of the company should be submitted with the application.
✔
  • Copy of Certificates of Registration of the worker listed in Section A(8) in Form 1
✔
  • Letter signed by proprietor, director or authorized person confirming the employment of the REWs (date of issue should be within 1 month before the date of application)
✔
  • Cheque payable to the「The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region」(Application by Mail)
✔
  • Completed and signed Form 1
✔

Enquiries

Registration and Permit Office, EMSD, G/F, 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
(Operating hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. on Monday to Friday; closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holiday)

Tel.: 1823 (Hotline)
Fax: 2895 4929
Email: info@emsd.gov.hk
*Note: This is NOT a legal document and is prepared for general information only.

 

Appendix

General Duties of a Registered Electrical Contractor

  1. A registered electrical contractor shall not employ a person other than a registered electrical worker to do electrical work except as provided in section 32 of the Electricity Ordinance.
  2. A registered electrical contractor shall ensure that no registered electrical worker employed by him/her shall do electrical work that the worker is not entitled to do under the Electricity Ordinance.
  3. A registered electrical contractor shall not cause or knowingly allow:
    1. a registered electrical worker employed by him/her; or
    2. a person employed by him/her in the circumstances specified under section 32 of the Electricity Ordinance, to do electrical work in contravention of the Electricity Ordinance.
  4. A registered electrical contractor shall effectively supervise the registered electrical workers employed by him/her.
  5. A registered electrical contractor, when required by notice of the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services (DEMS), shall produce for inspection any record, plan or document in his/her possession or under his/her control that DEMS considers relevant for the purpose of enforcing the Electricity Ordinance.
  6. A registered electrical contractor shall display in a prominent place at his/her principal place of business the original certificate of registration and a copy of the certificate issued by DEMS at each of his/her other places of business.
  7. A registered electrical contractor shall carry on his/her business as an electrical contractor only at and from each business address registered with DEMS.
  8. Where a registered electrical contractor ceases to carry on business or where any of the following particulars change after the registration of an electrical contractor, the contractor shall notify DEMS within 2 weeks:
    1. the persons who are authorized to make an endorsement, FORM ER42 - Application Form for Revising the Authorized Persons of the Registered Electrical Contractor [PDF format (570KB)];
    2. a business address;
    3. the name under which the electrical contractor does business;
    4. the partners in the case of a contractor registered as a partnership; and
    5. any other particulars as may be prescribed.
  9. Where the Electricity Ordinance requires or authorizes a registered electrical worker to make a report or to certify something, the registered electrical contractor for whom the electrical work is done shall endorse the report or certificate.
  10. A registered electrical contractor shall carry on his/her business as an electrical contractor only at and from each business address registered with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
  11. Where the registered electrical contractor is the same person as the registered electrical worker who made the report or certified something, he/she shall nevertheless endorse the report or certificate in his/her capacity as the contractor.