Martin Li
SHENZHEN Customs has urged Hong Kong-bound shoppers to take the initiative in declaring personal belongings on the way home as the annual discount season in Hong Kong starts.
The number of mainland travelers to Hong Kong has risen with the start of the discount season, but most people were not aware of customs tax policies, the department said.
This had led to many travelers complaining about customs charging duty on personal belongings.
Customs said inbound mainland travelers carrying a reasonable number of items for personal use would still be subject to duty if the value of the articles exceeded 5,000 yuan (US$751) with only the excess sum to be taxed.
Inbound foreign nationals and residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan would be subject to tax on personal items valued in excess of 2,000 yuan, according to customs regulations.
No officials with the city s tourism authority could be reached by press time for comments on whether such a policy would diminish Shenzhen s appeal to foreign tourists.
Duty would be levied on the full price of luxury watches and bags for personal use.
The rules also state that inbound residents from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao are allowed to carry only 200 duty-free cigarettes or 50 cigars and one duty-free bottle (below 0.75 liters) of alcohol.
Customs will levy duties on the full price of 20 products such as TVs, video cameras, air conditioners, computers, telephones, fax machines, electronic calculators, typewriters and furniture.
The authorities will determine whether a traveler is a suspected smuggler based on whether he or she has declared items at checkpoints. Customs declarations will also affect the way taxable items are to be handled.
Travelers can learn more about customs tax policies by checking the electronic bulletins or customs leaflets available at city checkpoints. The information is provided in both Chinese and English.
Inquiries can also be made on 12360. English service is not available.
