Red and Green Channel System runs smoothly

The Red and Green Channel System, a new mode of customs clearance, is smoothly implemented at all sea, land and air control points, the Head of Control Points Command, Mr Ko Chi-lok said today (November 1).

"Hong Kong Customs observes that most of the local and overseas passengers, including those from the Mainland, are quite familiar with the declaration procedure, and could adapt to the new clearance system in place here in Hong Kong," Mr Ko said, noting similar passenger clearance system was widely adopted worldwide.

So far, a great majority (well over 90 per cent) of arriving passengers went through the Green Channel for customs declaration. To guard against abuses, Customs officers had selected passengers passing through the Green Channel, based on risk management, for baggage examination at a Customs Clearance Cubicle.

He said that whenever Customs officers came across passengers unfamiliar with the system, they would guide those passengers to select an appropriate channel.

To widely promote the Red and Green Channel System, Hong Kong Customs has launched a publicity programme, covering a TV Announcement in the Public Interest (API), a radio API, distribution of leaflets and display of posters at all control points.

Under the new mode, incoming passengers are required to select an appropriate channel for customs declaration, that is, either the "Red Channel" or the "Green Channel" when they arrive at the Customs clearance area.

Passengers should go through the Red Channel to make declaration to Customs officers if they are:

• having any prohibited/controlled goods; or
• having dutiable commodities but not entitled to duty-free concession; or
• having dutiable commodities exceeding their duty-free concession entitlement.

They should go through the Green Channel if they are:

• having dutiable goods within their duty-free concession entitlement;
• not having any dutiable goods or prohibited/controlled goods.

At the Red Channel, passengers are required to:

• produce a valid licence or permit for the prohibited/controlled goods, failing which they may be liable to prosecution;
• pay the duty on the dutiable commodities in excess of their duty free concession entitlement. They may also choose to abandon such goods if they do not wish to pay the duty.

Passengers at the Green Channel are liable to:

• prosecution/penalty if they are found having undeclared dutiable commodities in excess of their duty free concession entitlement;
• prosecution and confiscation of the prohibited/controlled goods if they are found having any of them without a valid licence/permit.

The public can obtain details of the Red and Green Channel System, duty free concession and the list of common prohibited/controlled goods by browsing the Hong Kong Customs website at http://www.customs.gov.hk/ or call the Customs enquiry hotline at 2815 7711.

Ends/Tuesday, November 1, 2005