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Bringing duty paid alcohol into Hong Kong

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  1. #1

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    Bringing duty paid alcohol into Hong Kong

    So I get the 1litre duty free allowance into HK for >30% ABV, but since I've bought some alcohol in the UK (at Asda) and they are all labelled duty paid in the UK, do they come under the same restriction?

    I'm assuming yes, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer really.
    Also there are regulations that say 5litres per person travelling internationally although the individual country restrictions might reduce this.

    https://lazenne.com/pages/taking-alcohol-on-a-plane-101

    and when HK customs says:
    Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department - Types and Duty Rates

    100% duty on the value, does that mean for example that a 40% ABV bottle of vodka bought for 20GBP with duty paid of 11.50 GBP is going to cost me another 20 GBP or another 11.50GBP?

    In which case I might just leave it all here and treat my mother to an early Christmas present!

    I'm intending to walk through the red channel anyway because I know they can be ruthless, but knowing in advance how much this is going to cost would help a lot.

    Many thanks for any insights.


  2. #2

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    Quote Originally Posted by chillibeany:
    Many thanks for any insights.
    What is the colour of your skin?
    MandM! and chuckster007 like this.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
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    How many bottles and how are you transporting them back- checked normal luggage or a marked box? Duty in excess of allowance is 100% of the value - so if you have a receipt or if there is a price tag that says 20GBP then it will be another 20GBP (converted to HKD of course). If you don't have the receipt and they don't already have a value assigned or know the value, then it is a max duty of 160HKD/liter provided you are bringing back less than 12 liters and you acutally make a declaration.

    chuckster007 likes this.

  4. #4

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    Duty free is a marketing hype--it doesn't mean anything. In some countries where there is a high tax on alcohol, the duty free shop does not charge the tax. But then for some countries that do not tax alcohol, it is the same price. You still have to follow the import rules of the place you are bringing the alcohol. For HK you can bring in 1L and if you are traveling with someone that is easily 2L since you both get 1L. I think it's ok to try to bring a bit more, depends on your risk appetite. Obviously set some value for yourself that you want to risk too.


  5. #5

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    I have walked through the green channel with 4 bottles of single malt and 10 packs of fags, im a PR of HK

    very rare to get stopped and Im a brown fella lol


  6. #6

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    I thought there was no duty on alcohol in HK?


  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by HK_Katherine:
    I thought there was no duty on alcohol in HK?
    only if it's <30%. Wine, beer, etc all duty free. Spirits have duty payable

  8. #8

    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by chuckster007:
    I have walked through the green channel with 4 bottles of single malt and 10 packs of fags, im a PR of HK

    very rare to get stopped and Im a brown fella lol
    If you get stopped expect a stiff fine for the cigarettes. 19 pcs. (pieces, as in sticks, not packs) are free, rest isn't. I believe for the booze they are more lenient.
    @chillibeany
    If goods are taxed in the UK, US , Uganda or Uruguay isn't really relevant for Hong Kong. They are not taxed in Hong Kong, that matters.

  9. #9

    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by chuckster007:
    very rare to get stopped and Im a brown fella lol
    I'm white - have never been stopped in almost 25 years here. Countless trips via planes, trains, automobiles over the border - not once have I been stopped, asked any questions nor searched.

    In all that time, I've carried across countless cigars, booze, meat and other assorted consumables of dubious origins

    The customs seem to pick on Africans a lot, gentlemen of the subcontinent origins regularly and Filipinos with frequency. Its a rare sight to see a white person, especially one over the age of 40, being stopped....

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by HowardCoombs:
    I'm white - have never been stopped in almost 25 years here. Countless trips via planes, trains, automobiles over the border - not once have I been stopped, asked any questions nor searched.

    In all that time, I've carried across countless cigars, booze, meat and other assorted consumables of dubious origins

    The customs seem to pick on Africans a lot, gentlemen of the subcontinent origins regularly and Filipinos with frequency. Its a rare sight to see a white person, especially one over the age of 40, being stopped....
    I saw some being stopped the other day--they looked a bit sketchy. Just walk through and you're fine. Worse case you pay a small fine. I wouldn't make a business out of it though.

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