Customs Detector Dogs Naming Competition

Background

The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department successfully bred nine Labrador Retriever puppies on 15 November 2025, and has chosen the initials "EXCELSIOR" for their names.

From now until 6 March 2026, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department will hold a Customs Detector Dogs Naming Competition, inviting the public to submit name suggestions for the nine Labrador Retriever puppies. For more details, please visit the social media of the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department and the Terms and Conditions provided below.

Terms and Conditions

The Customs Detector Dogs Naming Competition ("the Competition") is organised by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department ("the Organiser"). All participants are referred to as "Participants" or "you". By registering and/or continuing to participate in the Competition, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms and Conditions.

Eligibility

All Hong Kong residents are eligible to participate in the Competition, and each participant can submit only one entry. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any participant.

Submission of Entries

Participants must submit their entries through the designated email address of the Competition ("this email"). The email address is customs_do_ccf_lbc@customs.gov.hk

• Participants must submit their entries through this email before the deadline (i.e.23:59:59 on 6 March 2026, based on the time of receipt by the server of this email).
• Each participant shall propose nine names, and all names must meet the following conditions:
• Each name is composed of English letters, and the first letters of the nine names must be "E' "X' "C' "E' "L' "S' "I' "O' "R'. The names should be categorized by the gender of the dogs.
• Easy to pronounce, suggest 1 to 2 syllables, excluding light sounds, and try to use voiced sounds for the ending of the name as much as possible.;
• Must not contain discriminatory, controversial, or inappropriate words or meanings;
• Must not contain elements that endanger national security;
• Must not contain obscene, vulgar, violent, defamatory, or similar elements;
• Must not contain elements promoting commercial or political matters; and
• Should avoid using the names of celebrities or institutions/organisations as far as possible.
• Participants must submit a description of no more than 100 Chinese characters (including punctuation) to explain the meaning of the proposed names.
• Any participant who submits more than nine names, or fails to submit a written explanation, or has explained in more than 100 words, his/her entry will not be considered.
• Participants must ensure that their entries do not infringe the copyrights of others. The Organiser will not assume any responsibility for any copyright infringement.
• Once submitted, entries will not be returned and cannot be modified. Participants have to arrange back up themselves. The Organiser will not be responsible for any loss, delay, or transmission errors of the entries.

Judging Panel and Judging Criteria

Judging Panel is comprised of representatives from the Customs and Excise Department. The judging panel will consider the meaning and creativity of the names submitted by the participants, as well as whether they meet the Terms and Conditions of the Competition when judging.

For identical pairs of names from different submissions, the winner will be chosen based on the naming description.

Awards and Prizes

The judging panel will select one champion, one first runner-up, and one second runner-up, as well as five outstanding award winners. All award recipients will receive exquisite souvenirs and be invited to meet the nine "EXCELSIOR" Detector Dogs in person.

Intellectual Property Rights and Liability

• Once the names have been chosen, the Customs and Excise Department will own all the rights of the name. The Customs and Excise Department will have the right to use and authorise other organisations to use the winning names without the need to pay any fee to the winners.
• The Organiser reserves the right to reject or disqualify any entry without explanation, and in case of any dispute, the decision of the Organiser shall be final.
• The Organiser reserves the right to make a final decision on the result of the Competition, and reserves the right to change the rules, prizes and other arrangements of the Competition without prior notice.
• The Organiser reserves the right not to award any prizes.

Other terms

• The information provided by the participants will only be used for the purpose of contacting and redeeming the prizes.
• Participants are required to hold a valid Hong Kong Identity Card, and must ensure that the information provided is true and accurate, and does not include any unauthorised third party information. Falsehoods, errors or omissions in the information provided by the participant will result in disqualification from participating in the Competition. In the event that the organiser is unable to notify the Participant of the prize due to false or incorrect information, the Organiser shall not be liable.
• The Organiser reserves the right to amend and interpret the rules and regulations of the event and related matters without prior notice.
• The Organiser reserves the right to amend and interpret the rules, judging criteria, list of winners and prizes at any time without prior notice and without appeal mechanism.
• The Organiser reserves the right to accept or reject any name at its sole discretion.
• In case of any dispute, the decision of the Organiser shall be final.
• By submitting an entry form, the participant agrees to the Terms and Conditions of the Competition.
• If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the English and Chinese versions of the Terms and Conditions, the Chinese version shall prevail.

Personal Information Collection Statement

• Participants are required to provide their personal data including name, email address and contact number in Chinese or English in the activity for the purposes of participating in the Customs Detector Dogs Naming Competition, verifying identity and future communication. The personal information is provided by the participants on a voluntary basis. However, if a participant does not provide all the required information, he/she will not be eligible to participate in the Competition. We do not generally disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent unless required by applicable law.
• For information regarding the privacy policy of the Hong Kong Customs, please refer to the official Customs website at https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/privacy-policy/index.html.