Originally Posted by
buylowsellhigh
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 .
From your story, I'd change this to "What *any* Customs can do in *any* country.
Originally Posted by
buylowsellhigh
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...
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.
You travel through "dozens of countries" and you don't know you can get in deep [
Moderator edit] for failing to declare something???
Originally Posted by
buylowsellhigh
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." .
Was it your first time through HK?
Originally Posted by
buylowsellhigh
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.
Your profile says you live in California and you say you have travelled through "dozens of countries". So I have a hard time accepting your claim that you live below the poverty line. (Your calculation comes out to $19k/year)