ASIA PACIFIC. The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association has welcomed Airport Authority Hong Kong’s “positive and welcome approach” to the new rules on transfer passengers carrying duty free purchases.
From 04.30 on 21 March AAHK will recognise purchases of duty free LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols and Gels) in Tamper Evident Bags from 37 international airports where LAG procedures are in place. The procedures follow the guidelines laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). In addition to airport purchases in sealed bags, AAHK will accept duty free goods purchased on Hong Kong-based airlines as well as other airlines travelling into Hong Kong from airports “accepted by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department”, said AAHK.
APTRA President Rakhita Jayawardena said: “This is a positive and welcome approach by AAHK. We are now seeing (in the main) a sensible harmonisation of standards being introduced for the bulk of our region’s member states.
“With Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand waiting to introduce the ICAO LAGs guidelines, the procedures released by AAHK, it is hoped, may be considered (and introduced) in those states. I then believe most other states (within the region) will follow suit.”
He added that the new measures needed to retain the vital security element, but also should facilitate “freer movement of duty free LAG purchases from state to state”.
APTRA continues to advise its members to push for bi-lateral agreements with states not currently accepting free onward transfer with TEBs (such as the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, US and Canada, Japan, Australia, Fiji, and the Philippines).
Quick guide to Hong Kong procedures
TRANSIT
Q. Will International passengers arriving in Hong Kong and then transferring onwards (internationally) be allowed to transit with Duty Free LAGs?
A. Yes
Q. Do the LAG’s goods have to be in a tamper evident bag to be allowed to transit?
A. Yes
SALES AT AIRPORT
Q. What will be the procedure for sale of duty free at HKIA?
A. AAHK will introduce a Tamper Evident Bag for all those passengers who will be transiting at the next airport.
If the passenger is traveling point to point, he can proceed with LAG purchase. If the passenger is transferring at another airport, the retailer will check whether that airport allows LAGs from Hong Kong and provide a tamper evident sealed bag.
Q. Will the duty free LAGs goods be gate delivered by the operator?
A. No (the passenger will carry the goods from point of purchase).
Q. Will the duty free LAGs goods be put into a sealed tamper evident bag?
A. Yes (but only for passengers who are transiting at the next airport)
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