Electronic Submission Hub (ESH)

Buildings Department (BD) is spearheading the development of the Electronic Submission Hub (ESH) (https://esh.bd.gov.hk) as a digital platform for receiving and processing of building plans, documents and applications submitted under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), as an alternative means to the present paper-based mode of submission. ESH is a web-based platform operating 24 hours a day and 7 days a week all year round, excluding scheduled maintenance and unexpected downtime.

ESH is being implemented in three stages. Following the launch of Stage 1 of ESH on 30 June 2022 to accept structural plan submissions for building works above ground not requiring cross-departmental referral (excluding alteration and addition works), BD launched Stage 2 of ESH on 31 March 2023 to accept more types of plan submissions covering the following types of works (excluding alteration and addition works):

(1) hoarding, covered walkway and gantry;
(2) demolition works;
(3) drainage works;
(4) excavation and lateral support works;
(5) ground investigation works;
(6) foundation works;
(7) site formation works; and
(8) all structural works.

In Stage 2 of ESH, a total of 18 government departments and organisations including the BD will make use of the ESH to receive and process plans submitted by registered building professionals under the BO. The BD will continue to develop Stage 3 of the ESH which will accept all types of plans including general building plans and plans for alteration and addition works, as well as related applications. Details of the requirements on the format, manner and procedures for making electronic submissions via ESH are provided in the Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers (PNAP) ADM-17 as well as Practice Note for Registered Contractors (PNRC) 42.

Featured videos on the functions and features of ESH Stage 1 and Stage 2 are available.

For enquiries, please contact esh-helpdesk@bd.gov.hk or ESH hotline at 3580 1000.

System requirements

System Requirements for Desktop Version
- CPU: 2 Cores (2.0 GHz per core)
- Memory: 8GB
- Storage: 10GB free storage
- Operation System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 or above, MacOS
- Browser: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari (MacOS)
- Software: Adobe Acrobat Reader
- HTML version: HTML5
- Encryption: TLS 1.2
- JavaScript: Enabled
- Cookies: Enabled
- Chinese Character Support: Hong Kong Supplementary Character Set (HKSCS-2008)
System Requirements for Mobile Version
- Operating System: iOS 13 or above, Android 9 or above
- Browser: Mozilla Firefox (iOS and Android), Google Chrome (iOS and Android) or Safari (iOS)
- HTML version: HTML5
- Encryption: TLS 1.2
- JavaScript: Enabled
- Cookies: Enabled

Registration for an ESH Account

In stage 1, ESH accounts for authorized persons (AP), registered structural engineers (RSE), registered geotechnical engineers (RGE), authorized signatories of registered general building contractors and specialist contractors have been created, and representatives of owners and collaborators of the project teams could register an ESH account by the invitation from the project AP/RSE/RGE in the ESH.

New users using ESH for the first time are required to activate their accounts by logging into ESH and authenticating their identity with a valid digital certificate issued by certification authorities recognised by the Government Chief Information Officer under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap.553) (ETO) or by using "iAM Smart" mobile application.

ESH supports digital certificates issued by the certification authorities listed below:

Note: Types of digital certificates acceptable to be used in ESH are listed below:

For authorized persons (AP), registered structural engineers (RSE), registered geotechnical engineers (RGE) and authorised signatories of registered contractor
1. Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal)
2. Digi-Sign Personal ID-Cert Class 1, Class 8
3. iAM Smart
For others including owners and collaborators
1. Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal)
2. Hongkong Post e-Cert (Organisational)
3. Digi-Sign Personal ID-Cert Class 1, Class 8
4. Digi-Sign Organisational ID-Cert Class 2, Class 9
5. iAM Smart

Features and Limitations of Digital Certificates in ESH

Features and Limitations of Digital Certificates in ESH
Types of Digital Certificate	Digital Certificate Subscription Fee	Availability for Using in Signing on Different Platforms of ESH	Availability for Signing of Multiple Documents at a Time	Security Protection
Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal) Hongkong Post e-Cert (Organisational) Digi-Sign Personal ID-Cert Class 1 Digi-Sign Organisational ID-Cert Class 2	Required	Desktop Computer (Microsoft Windows, MacOS)	Yes	Password
Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal) with "Mutual Recognition" Status (e-Cert Token (SafeNet))* Hongkong Post e-Cert (Organisational) with "Mutual Recognition" Status (e-Cert Token (SafeNet))* Digi-Sign Personal ID-Cert Class 8 Digi-Sign Organisational ID-Cert Class 9	Required	Desktop Computer (Microsoft Windows only)	Yes	Password
iAM Smart	Free of charge	Desktop Computer (Microsoft Windows, MacOS) Mobile Device (iOS and Android)	Yes	Biometric authentication function including facial recognition and fingerprint identification which is provided by one's personal mobile devices