1841
The Harbour Department was set up to designate berths for incoming commercial vessels and require pre-departure notification. Later, the Harbour Department was rested with additional responsibilities such as requiring vessel registration, arrival registration, cargo declaration and clearance.
1887
The Imports and Exports Office was set up as a branch of the Harbour Department to collate trade data and monitor imports and exports of opium in Hong Kong.
1909
Hong Kong enacted the Liquors Ordinance. To levy duties on liquors, the Government set up the Preventive Service subordinate to the Imports and Exports Department on 17 September.
1916
The Preventive Service began levying duties on tobacco.
1923
The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance was enacted to empower the Preventive Service in combating transnational drug smuggling activities. In the same year, the Preventive Service, for the first time, seized heroin.
1930
The Government started levying duties on petrol. In 1939, diesel was subject to regulation as well.
1931
Toilet preparations and medicated spirits became dutiable commodities until 1959.
1932
Preferential Tariff System was introduced in Hong Kong. The Imports and Exports Department implemented the system of Certificate of Origin, benefiting the local industries with the low tariff for export to western countries.
1934
Sheung Shui Revenue Station went into operation. Upon commissioning of this first outstation, the Preventive Service strengthened nocturnal inspections of licensed distilleries, clamped down on illicit distillation activities, searched the train for contrabands.
Sheung Shui Revenue Station in 1935
1941
Duties were imposed on table waters until 1973.
1945
The Preventive Service was reinstalled to assist the control of supplies such as rice.

The Hong Kong Government abolished the Opium Monopoly, classifying opium as a dangerous drug.
The Preventive Service's successful raid at an opium divan
1948
The China-Hong Kong Anti-smuggling Agreement was made to enhance cooperation between the China Customs and the Preventive Service in combating the rampant smuggling activities in the vicinity of the Hong Kong waters.
The 'Tanacs' – The Preventive Service's launch in 1947
1949
The United Nations' measure of food rationing ended. The Imports and Exports Department was renamed the Commerce and Industry Department. Its branch, the Preventive Service, resumed the responsibilities of import and export control, revenue protection and anti-smuggling operations etc.
The Preventive Service seized smuggled silver coins
1950
The Hong Kong Government imposed an embargo against North Korea, prohibiting any goods from being exported to North Korea.
Preventive Service officers boarded and searched a fishing boat in anti-smuggling operation
The Hong Kong Government amended the Importation and Exportation Ordinance to impose stringent control on of strategic commodities.
Preventive Service officers found a large quantity of ammunitions on board a vessel (1966)
1957
Industrial methyl alcohol was abused to adulterate liquors, resulting in casualties after consumption. The Preventive Service therefore started to regulate and levy duties on methyl alcohol to safeguard public health. Duty on methyl alcohol was once abolished between 1972 and 1976.
Preventive Service officers uncovered an illicit distillery in a remote site
1963
The Preventive Service Ordinance was enacted. The legal status of the Preventive Service was thus established.

The Dutiable Commodities (Marking and Colouring of Hydrocarbon Oil) Regulations were introduced to authorize the Preventive Service to detect illegal activities such as the abuse of marked diesel oil as fuel for motor vehicles and the detreatment of marked oil etc.
Customs officers intercepted a vehicle suspected of using marked oil in the 1980s
1965
The Industry Inspection Branch was established to inspect factories applying for Certificate of Preference and Certificates of Origin and to investigate textile product quota restrictions matters.
1974
The Preventive Service assumed the sole responsibility for the enforcement of the copyright legislation.
Preventive Service officers raided a shop with large quantity of pirated cassette tapes
The Hong Kong Preventive Service Training School located in Tai Lam Chung was inaugurated.
The Preventive Service Training School in Tai Lam Chung completed in 1974
Preventive Service officers on firing training
1977
The Commerce and Industry Department underwent restructuring with the Preventive Service renamed the Customs and Excise Service.
1979
The Joint Intelligence Unit was co-established by the Customs and Excise Service and the Police at Kai Tak Airport for drug intelligence exchange.
Baggage inspection at the old Kai Tak International Airport
1982
The Department became an independent department on 1 August.
1987
The Department became an official member of the World Customs Organization.

The World Customs Organization's Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices came into operation and the Department became its first operating unit.
1989
The Financial Investigation Group was set up to investigate and confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Officers of the Financial Investigation Group search a bank safety deposit box during an operation to trace drug proceeds
1991
An inter-departmental anti-smuggling task force (members including the Department, the Police and the Royal Navy) was established to combat smuggling involving high-powered speedboats.
A 'Tai Fei' (high-powered speedboat) smuggles vehicles into the Mainland
1993
The Department started assessing Motor Vehicle First Registration Tax.
Officers assessed Motor Vehicle First Registration Tax
1994
Anti-cigarette Smuggling Task Force was set up to combat cigarette smuggling problem.
A seizure of 108.9 million cigarettes in 12 containers transshipped from the Philippines via Hong Kong to China in 1995
1995
Controlled Chemical Group was set up to strengthen the control on the import and export of precursor chemicals used in illicit manufacture of dangerous drugs.
1997
Following the reunification with the motherland, Hong Kong became a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. Under the Basic Law, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region remains a separate customs territory and the Commissioner became one of the principal officials of the HKSAR Government.
1998
The Prevention of Copyright Piracy Ordinance took effect, authorizing the Department to impose licensing requirements upon manufacturing of optical disc.
1999
The Special Task Force was set up to take enforcement actions against illicit oil, dutiable cigarettes and copyright piracy activities at retail level.
An officer searched a shop suspected of selling pirated optical discs
2000
The Anti-Internet Piracy Team was set up to cooperate with the industry in fighting piracy on the Internet.
The Team operated the Lineament Monitoring System to automatically monitor infringing activities on the Internet round-the-clock
The Department was elected Vice-Chair of the World Customs Organization in the Asia-Pacific Region, leading members in the Region to formulate the Regional Strategic Plan as the strategic blueprint for the customs in the region.

The Computer Forensic Laboratory was set up to provide other formations in the Department with professional service in computer forensic examination.
2002
Implementation the Electronic Data Interchange System for Dutiable Commodities Permit allows licensees of dutiable commodities to apply for dutiable commodities permits through electronic means.
2003
The installation of two Fixed X-ray Vehicle Inspection Systems at Lok Ma Chau Control Point, substantially speed up the clearance of cross-boundary vehicle and cargo.
X-ray images of a scanned truck
The implementation of the Open Bond System, sparing Customs deployment of staff to bonded warehouses, reduce the warehousing industry's operating costs and facilitating trade.

The installation of Automatic Vehicle Recognition System was installed at four land boundary control points to capture vehicle registration numbers automatically, greatly reduce the vehicle clearance time.
The System promptly captures vehicle registration number and enhances customs clearance efficiency
2005
The "Red and Green Channel System" was launched at all control points to enhance passenger clearance efficiency.
Red and Green Channels at Shenzhen Bay Control Point
2006
The Department, together with the Intellectual Property Department and the copyright industry, launched the "Youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy Scheme" to combat illegal file-sharing of copyright works on the Internet.
Launch ceremony of the Youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy Scheme
2007
The Department and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China jointly organized the Pan-Pearl River Delta Customs Trade Facilitation Forum cum Regional Customs Commissioners' Joint Conference in HKSAR to strengthen inter-customs and customs-business partnership in the region.
The opening of the Pan-PRD Regional Customs Trade Facilitation Forum on 10 May 2007
2009
The Department celebrated its centenary.
The Chief Executive Mr. Donald Tsang (fourth right), the Commissioner of Customs and Excise Mr. Richard Yuen (third right) and former commissioners officiated at the ceremony for the centenary reception of the Department