A new customs clearance system for arriving passengers at all sea, land and air control points will be launched on November 1.

The Red & Green Channel System facilitates passenger clearance, enhances revenue protection and aligns with international practice, the Customs & Excise Department's Head of Control Points Command Ko Chi-lok said.

When diverted into two separate channels, incoming passengers can enjoy faster customs clearance service, he said.

It will also enhance revenue protection on dutiable goods, he said, adding passengers passing through the Green Channel with dutiable goods in excess of duty-free concession entitlement may be subject to prosecution or penalty.

Under the new system, incoming passengers must select either the red or green channel when they arrive at the Customs clearance area.

Passengers should go through the red channel to make a declaration to Customs officers if they have:

* any prohibited/controlled goods;

* dutiable commodities but are not entitled to duty-free concession; or

* dutiable commodities exceeding their duty-free concession entitlement.

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.

They should go through the green channel if they:

* have dutiable goods within their duty-free concession entitlement; or

* have any dutiable goods or prohibited/controlled goods.

Passengers using the green channel are liable to:

* prosecution/penalty if they are found to have 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.

Green channel users may be stopped for baggage check

Those using the green channel are not exempt from Customs examination. Customs officers will, based on risk management, select passengers passing through the green channel for baggage examination at a Customs clearance cubicle.

A passenger found with excess dutiable commodities or any prohibited/controlled goods not covered by a valid licence/permit may be liable to prosecution or penalty.