Customs and Excise Department  
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Cargo Clearance
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Clearance of Import Consignments | Clearance of Export Consignments
 
 

Cargo Clearance
Clearance of Import Consignments
 
 
Customs control on import goods is done through inspection of documents such as manifests, and where necessary, physical examination of the goods. Physical examination is conducted on a selective basis. Selected consignments will be detained for physical examination by Customs officers.
   
 

 Import clearance : general information
 Consignment of dutiable goods
 Consignment of prohibited articles
 Documents required
 Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme
 Accompanied baggage
 Unaccompanied baggage

 
 
Import clearance : general information  Back to Top
 

If a consignment of goods is selected by Customs for examination, the importer or his representative can approach the shipping company, airline or cargo forwarder concerned for advice on Customs clearance procedures. Or else, enquiries can be made with the following Customs Offices according to the modes of import:

By air
(852) 2116 4130 (24 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2116 4201

By sea
Containerized Cargo - (852) 2410 8045 (24 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2420 2429

Sea Cargo - (852) 2534 7188 (24 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2854 1280

River Trade Vessels Cargo - (852) 2180 8977/4635 (0815/2245 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2180 8976

By land
Lok Ma Chau Control Point - (852) 2482 8758 (24 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2482 2552

Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point - (852) 2486 0222 (0630/2230 hours). Facsimile: (852) 3404 6066

Man Kam To Control Point - (852) 2679 2000 (0700/2200 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2679 5828

Sha Tau Kok Control Point - (852) 2674 4384 (0700/2000 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2674 9345

Shenzhen Bay Control Point - (852) 3527 0069 (0630/2400 hours). Facsimile: (852) 3527 0829

Hung Hom Through Train Station - (852) 2954 0219 (0615/2400 hours). Facsimile: (852) 2954 0172

Lo Wu Control Point ¡V (852) 2679 1170 (0630/2400 hours). Facsimile : (852) 2668 3110

General enquiries
(852) 2815 7711 (24 hours).

A person who imports any goods is required to lodge with the Customs and Excise Department an import declaration within 14 days after the importation of the goods. (See "Declaration")

 
 
Consignment of dutiable goods  Back to Top
  Goods that are subject to duty in Hong Kong are liquors, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol. An importer is required to obtain an import and export licence from the Customs and Excise Department. In addition, removal permits will also be required. (See "Licence and Permit Application")
 
 
Consignment of prohibited articles  Back to Top
  Prohibited articles are articles the import of which are prohibited or controlled under the provisions of the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60, Laws of Hong Kong) or any other laws of Hong Kong. Importers who wish to import prohibited articles should obtain in advance import licences, permits or certificates.

Examples of prohibited articles are dutiable commodities, dangerous drugs, firearms and ammunition, strategic commodities, pharmaceutical products, Chinese herbal medicines and proprietory Chinese medicines, radio transmitting equipment, animals and plants, endangered species, ozone depleting substances, hazardous chemicals, rough diamonds, pesticides, textiles and certain foodstuff. (See "Prohibited Goods")

 
 
The documents required for Customs clearance  Back to Top
 

The documents required for Customs clearance are:

  • manifest
  • copy of detention notice (if any)
  • bill of lading, airway bill or other similar document
  • invoice, packing list
  • other documents, such as import licence, removal permit, etc.
 
 
Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme  Back to Top
  Subject to certain conditions stipulated by the Trade and Industry Department, shipping companies, transportation companies, airline companies and their appointed agents who are registered with the Department under the Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme are exempted from import and export licensing requirements in respect of the following types of transhipment cargo:

Pharmaceutical products and medicines as defined by Section 2 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, Cap 138 except dangerous drugs as defined by Section 2 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Cap. 134;

Proprietory Chinese medicines as defined in Section 2 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549); Chinese herbal medicines as specified in Schedule 1 of Cap. 549; and 5 Chinese herbal medicines as specified in Schedule 2 of Cap. 549, namely, Flos Campsis (­â¾]ªá), Processed Radix Aconiti (»s¤t¯Q), Processed Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii (»s¯ó¯Q), Radix Clematidis («ÂÆF¥P) and Radix Gentianae (ÀsÁx);

Rice as specified in Schedule to the Reserved Commodities (Control of Imports, Exports and Reserve Stocks) Regulations (Cap. 296 sub. leg.A, Laws of Hong Kong);

Frozen or chilled meat and poultry as specified in Part I of the First Schedule to the Import and Export (General) Regulations (Cap. 60 sub. leg.A, Laws of Hong Kong); and

Rough diamonds as specified in Part I of the First Schedule and Part I of the Second Schedule to the Import and Export (General) Regulations (Cap. 60, sub. leg.A).

For details, please visit the web site:
http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/import_export/tces/tces_maincontent.html

Enquiries concerning the Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme may be made to the Manifest Checking Unit of the Trade and Industry Department at Room 409, 4/F, Trade and Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Telephone : (852) 2398 5565. Facsimile : (852) 2398 3747.

Prohibited articles in Air Transhipment

Subject to certain conditions stipulated under respective Ordinances, some prohibited goods in air transhipment are exempted from import / export controls. Examples of these prohibited goods include ¡V
    Ć
  • radio transmitting apparatus ƒÜ
  • pharmaceutical products and medicines ƒÜ
  • Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines ƒÜ
  • optical disc mastering and replication equipment ƒÜ
  • rice ƒÜ
  • pesticides ƒÜ
  • meat and animal products ƒÜ
  • hazardous chemicals ƒÜ
  • ozone depleting substances ƒÜ
  • smokeless tobacco products
Enquiries on the exemptions can be made to the respective Government departments. (See ¡§Licence and Permit¡¨)

 
 
Accompanied baggage  Back to Top
  When entering Hong Kong, travellers should declare to Customs officers the quantity of dutiable goods that are in excess of the duty-free concessions or prohibited articles.

Excise duties will be levied on dutiable goods imported in excess of the duty-free concession. For prohibited articles, relevant import licences, permits or certificates are required upon importation of the goods. (See "Advice to Travellers")

If travellers bring in goods that are for trade or business, they are required to lodge import declarations to the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. (See "Declaration")

A brief outline on the control of prohibited articles is contained in the brochure 'Prohibited/Controlled Items - Advice to Travellers' which is available at all Customs entry points.

 
 
Unaccompanied baggage  Back to Top
  The procedures and documents required for Customs clearance of personal effects which are sent by freight as imported cargo are the same as mentioned in "Import clearance : general information" above.

No duty-free concessions will be given in respect of dutiable goods contained in unaccompanied baggage.