I'd like to share an experience that recently happened to a member of our travel group while passing thru HKG and to give everyone an advanced warning of what Hong Kong Customs can do.

We were in HK a few days ago on a 18 hour overnight layover en route back to TPE. The plan was to exit customs, check into a hotel and check in at airport the next day. While we were walking thru customs, the agent flagged one of our friends down for a random xray. They saw something on the screen and ushered us out while telling friend to stay.

After 45 minutes of waiting outside wondering what happened, our friend came out with two customs agents on her side. Told us that they found two cartons of cigarettes in the luggage and that needed to collect a fine. How much was the fine for not declaring an item? ALMOST $800 US DOLLARS!!!! Shocked by OK...

So we proceed and tried to explain that it was a careless oversight, and that we were transiting, getting and overnight hotel, with no intention of leaving the goods in the city and apologized for the careless mistake. We tried to ask for a little bit of leniency given the situation and first time offense. But the answer aside from saying was.... PAY NOW OR SHE GOES TO JAIL!!!!!

Goodness gracious... To me there was nothing to argue about since the law was not followed. Walking thru "nothing to declare" line when there was actually goods. We as travelers travel thru dozens of countries and sometimes never really thinking twice about checking every last rule of a country we might visit or pass thru and I'm sure at some point in time have a little more.

But man... throwing the book at you and saying "Its not your first time in Hong Kong and Hong Kong citizen must follow your country's law when they travel there."

Yes makes sense and fully agree. But in this situation they levied a fine equivalent to more than fifty percent of someone's monthly salary (not all of us make western salaries) is going to leave a long lasting dent in someone's wallet and quite the impression, as well as stories to tell for years to come.

So... watch out guys. Zero tolerance zero leniency. Guess they don't have a shortage of tourists...