Concessions and limits for arriving passengers
| Item | Duty-free amount | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| General goods such as clothing, cosmetics and electronics | No value limit; no customs tariff is levied | Excise duty applies only to liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol |
| Liquor above 30% alcohol, such as whisky | 1 litre | Aged 18 or above, for own use; Hong Kong Identity Card holders must have spent 24 hours or longer outside Hong Kong |
| Wine and other liquor of 30% alcohol or less | No duty (rate 0%) | The 1 litre concession covers only liquor above 30% |
| Tobacco | 19 cigarettes, or 1 cigar or 25 grams of cigars, or 25 grams of other manufactured tobacco | Aged 18 or above, for own use |
| E-cigarettes and heat sticks | None; import is prohibited | Applies to all inbound travellers |
| Cash and bearer negotiable instruments | Declare if the total is more than HK$120,000 | Foreign currencies count at their equivalent value |
| Rice | Up to 15 kg without a licence | For own consumption or as gifts |
| Frozen or chilled meat and poultry | Up to 15 kg without an import licence | An official health certificate is still required |
How the concessions work
Hong Kong is a free port and does not levy customs tariff on imports. Excise duty is charged only on liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol, so there is no overall value allowance for other goods bought in Japan.
The liquor and tobacco concessions apply per passenger aged 18 or above and cover goods for own use only. There are no duty-free concessions for dutiable goods carried for trade, business or commercial purposes.
Above the concession, duty on liquor of more than 30% alcohol in a bottle of 1 litre or less is 100% on the first HK$200 of value and 10% on the remainder. Cigarettes are charged HK$3,306 per 1,000 sticks.
Japan’s tax-free shopping removes only Japanese consumption tax. Hong Kong’s concessions are a separate system applied when you arrive.
Prohibited or restricted items
- E-cigarettes, heat sticks and other alternative smoking products, including those for personal use
- Smokeless tobacco products
- Raw or not thoroughly cooked meat, poultry and game, such as wagyu, without a health certificate from the place of origin, in any packaging including vacuum packs
- Eggs without a health certificate or written permission, unless fully cooked or an ingredient of compounded food
- Plants, plant pests and soil without an AFCD licence; cut flowers, fruits and vegetables for consumption are exempt
- Live mammals, birds and reptiles without an AFCD permit
- Endangered species, alive or dead, and their parts or derivatives without a licence
- Medicines beyond a reasonable quantity for your own use, which need a Department of Health licence
- Rice above 15 kg
Arrival in Hong Kong
Check your baggage
Compare liquor and tobacco with the concessions and add up cash and bearer negotiable instruments before you reach the Customs hall.
Red Channel
Use the Red Channel if you carry dutiable goods above the concessions, prohibited or controlled items, or cash and instruments above HK$120,000.
Cash declaration
Pre-fill the e-form to generate a QR code for the officer, or complete the paper declaration form at the Red Channel.
Green Channel
Using the Green Channel counts as declaring that you carry nothing to declare. Officers may still examine your baggage.
Useful before you fly
Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags
Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight
Heat sticks bought in Japan
Hong Kong has prohibited the import of alternative smoking products since 30 April 2022, so heat sticks and e-cigarettes bought in Japan cannot be brought in. Since 30 April 2026, possessing them in public places also carries a fixed penalty of HK$3,000.
