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Home > Topical issues > For Travellers
1. Airlines have different types of ticket fares with different terms and conditions. You should check these terms and conditions and the respective restrictions before choosing the type of ticket. Most airlines have a website that provides information on the conditions of carriage, which generally describes the obligation of the airline and that of the passenger. For example, under what circumstances and how much of ticket price will or will not be refunded, items that will be charged extra, etc. |
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| Class 1 | Explosives |
| Class 2 | Gases |
| Class 3 | Flammable liquids |
| Class 4 | Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases |
| Class 5 | Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides |
| Class 6 | Toxic and infectious substances |
| Class 7 | Radioactive material |
| Class 8 | Corrosive substances |
| Class 9 | Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles |
As a passenger, it is an offence under the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulation (Cap. 384A) to take dangerous goods (except for certain dangerous goods in very small quantity and in special condition) on board an aircraft. The law restricts the type and quantity of
dangerous goods allowed to be carried by passengers, because
they can be a danger to you and the aircraft in flight due to temperature
and pressure difference.
* If these items are carried in cabin baggage or on one's person, please observe the "Restrictions on carriage of Liquids, Gels, Aerosols (LAG) in cabin baggage"
If you are not sure if an item can be taken onboard aircrafts, please contact your airline.
The following security restricted articles are prohibited from carriage as hold baggage and cabin baggage.
Apart from the restrictions on carriage of baggage as shown on this page, air passengers shall also observe other requirements relating to the possession of restricted items, such as stun gun, within the territory of Hong Kong. For details please visit the Hong Kong Police Force's webpage: Advice to Visitors.
A. Security Restricted Articles - Hold Baggage
Explosive or incendiary substances, devices or articles capable of being used to cause serious injury or threatening the safety of the aircraft including:
*If the possession of such ammunition (in Hong Kong) by a passenger is lawful, he/she may make arrangements with his/her airline for its transportation as hold baggage on a flight from Hong Kong. The handling of such are strictly in accordance with the requirements of the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 and under conditions specified in the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284).
B. Security Restricted Articles - Cabin Baggage
Category 1 - Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectile
Devices designed to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, or capable of being mistaken for such devices, including:
Category 2 - Stunning devices
Devices designed specifically to stun or immobilize, including:
Category 3 - Objects with sharp points or sharp edges
Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including:
Category 4 - Worker's tools
Tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including:
Category 5 - Blunt instruments
Objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including:
Category 6 - Explosives and incendiary substances and devices
Explosive or incendiary substances or devices capable of being used to cause serious injury or threatening the safety of the aircraft, including:
Please note the examples on the above list are not exhaustive in nature. Some airlines and destination / transit countries may also have additional requirements on carriage of security restricted items by passengers. Passengers are advised to contact relevant airline and authorities for further details and assistance.
The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has implemented security measures for screening liquids, gels and aerosol starting from March 21, 2007 to comply with the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
The security measures for cabin baggage at HKIA include:
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For frequently asked questions regarding the restrictions on the carriage of liquids, gels and aerosols cabin baggage, please click here.
To ensure aviation safety, passengers are reminded not to transport on aircraft any lithium batteries or devices containing such batteries, which are damaged, identified to be defective, or recalled by manufacturer for safety reasons due to potential fire hazard.
Please refer to Section (I) of Packing Tips for Air Passenger for guidance on smart luggage with lithium batteries.
The current rate of the Air Passenger Departure Tax is HK$120 per passenger (12 years of age or above) departing by air from Hong Kong through Hong Kong International Airport, or by helicopter from Hong Kong at the Heliport at the Hong Kong - Macau Ferry Terminal. Pursuant to the Air Passenger Departure Tax Ordinance (Cap. 140), a passenger under 12 years of age is exempt from the tax. With effect from April 1, 1999, passengers who arrive and depart from Hong Kong by air within the same day are also exempted from the tax. For all categories of exemption, please refer to the Second Schedule of the Ordinance.(Open with new window)
Air passengers will have to pay the Air Passenger Departure Tax when they buy air ticket from the airlines,
travel agents or helicopter companies. Airlines normally will not collect departure tax at the check-in counter
unless it has not been collected upon issue of air tickets.
Under the Air Passenger Departure Tax Ordinance (Cap. 140), passengers who have paid Air Passenger Departure Tax upon purchase of air tickets but eventually have not departed from Hong Kong by air are eligible for full refund of tax paid. They are required to apply tax refund from the airlines, travel agents or helicopter companies, and no charge shall be payable for such refund. The Civil Aviation Department has prepared a set of guidelines on refund arrangements of Air Passenger Departure Tax for airlines' reference.
With effect from 26 April 2005, same day cash refund of advance payment of departure tax is available at the Sky Pier at Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers who have been issued Refund Coupons upon check-in at the cross boundary ferry pier but have not collected the refund at the Sky Pier Refund Counter on the same day of travel shall contact the airlines concerned directly for the refund. Passengers who have not been issued Refund Coupons can apply by post only (please refer to the following paragraph (ii. b.) for the application procedures) to the Civil Aviation Department for tax refund.
a. Passenger may apply in person for refund in cash at the Civil Aviation Department's (CAD) 'Air Passenger Departure Tax’ Counter located at Aisle D, Level 7, Departure Hall, Terminal 1 of the Hong Kong International Airport upon production of all the following documents:
1. tax payment
evidence (i.e. original air ticket / original helicopter ticket / e-ticket which indicates that Hong Kong APDT
has been paid);
2. original
boarding pass of the above departure flight (for
the airline passenger only);
3. original
ferry ticket bearing passenger's name (only
for sea-to-air passengers); and
4. relevant documents to support of the claim to exemption.
b. Passenger may also apply by post for refund in cheque by forwarding the duly completed "Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) Application for Refund" form together with all the required documents within 4 weeks of departure of the flight to:
Revenue Section, Finance Division
Civil Aviation Department
Level 5, Office Building
Civil Aviation Department Headquarters
1 Tung Fai Road
Hong Kong International Airport
Lantau
Hong Kong
If the passenger has difficulty in depositing the Hong Kong dollar cheque in his / her bank account, please refer to Note (ii) of "Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) Application for Refund" form for alternative payment arrangements.
You may raise any enquiries about Air Passenger Departure Tax, including application for refund, by:
(a) calling telephone no.: 2910 6242;
(b) sending an e-mail to: enquiry@cad.gov.hk; or
(c) writing to: Revenue Section, Finance Division, Civil Aviation Department, Level 5, Office Building, Civil Aviation Department Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong.