Awareness towards the Carriage of Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods (DG) are articles and substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. Their carriage is strictly controlled by international dangerous goods regulations which specify the conditions under which dangerous goods can be transported without risking the safety of people and property.

These regulations prohibit the carriage of dangerous goods in passenger baggage. However, certain items may be carried in hand or checked baggage provided they are limited in quantity and for personal use only.

Many types of dangerous goods may be carried as cargo provided the applicable conditions for their carriage have been met according to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations in terms of classification, limitations, packing, and declaration.

The transport of dangerous goods by air within Hong Kong is governed by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department. These rules apply to all passengers, crew members and airline staff. It is against the law to carry or accept dangerous good for air travel without fully complying with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Definition of Dangerous Goods

According to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, "Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment and which are shown in the list of dangerous goods in these Regulations or which are classified according to these Regulations"

Hazard Classes

Dangerous goods are divided into nine classes (in addition to several subcategories) on the basis of the specific chemical characteristics producing the risk. Some hazard classes are further subdivided into hazard division due to the wide scope of the class. Items labeled and accepted as dangerous goods cannot travel as checked or carry-on baggage except otherwise allowed in accordance with CSM (Common Safety Method) or DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations). The nine hazard classes and their divisions are listed below,

Typical examples of items that may contain or indicate the presence of dangerous goods are:

Firearms and Ammunition

Prohibited Weapons

According to Cap 217 《Weapons Ordinance》, prohibited weapon included:

• Chinese-style throwing dart.
• Gravity knife.
• Gravity-operated steel baton.
• Knuckleduster whether spiked or not and with or without blade.
• Chinese-style fighting iron.
• Spring-loaded steel baton.
• Any knife the blade of which is exposed by a spring or other mechanical or electric device.
• Any bladed or pointed weapon designed to be used in a fashion whereby the handle is held in a clenched fist and the blade or point protrudes between the fingers of the fist.

Disinfection products containing corrosive liquid

Products containing corrosive substance, such as Chlorine Dioxide and Sodium Chlorite, are classified as Dangerous Goods Class 8 – Corrosive Materials, and are not allowed to be carried on board or for check in.

Fruit

Fruit can be carried into the cabin as long as the hand-carry is within our cabin baggage limitation or carried as checked baggage. 

Durian and jackfruit are universally banned in aircraft cabin and not allowed to check as baggage.

NO Spare Lithium Batteries and Portable Battery Chargers in Check-in Baggage

Lithium Batteries ONLY accept as Carry-on Baggage.

 * The maximum number of equipment/electronic devices containing lithium batteries (each within 160Wh or 2g) for carriage in check-in baggage is 10 pieces per passenger, and up to 10 pieces in bag. For example:

 - 10 pieces per passenger in total (e.g. one passenger checks in two bags)

 - 10 pieces maximum in one bag (e.g. two passengers check in one bag only)

** Please contact our Airport Services Staff if you have any enquiry 

Different countries/city have their local customs requirements for importing food items into the countries. You are advised to check with the relevant authorities of the country/city you are travelling to if you plan to carry food items in your cabin or checked baggage.

Japan

According to the Important Notification from Animal Quarantine Service, beginning 22^ndApril 2019

Penalty for violation against the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control will be applied more stringently for introduction of meat products. 

Regardless of whether it is abandoned voluntarily, AQS will cope rigorously with the illegal introduction of meat product.

It is subject to a penalty in case of confirmation of livestock products such as meat products without import declaration in passenger baggage.

Inspection may require certain time for officers to record the information of passport and boarding pass.

On 1^stJuly 2020, the amendment of the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control comes into force, then the punishments change to, In case of introducing livestock products without passing import inspection, persons shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen (up to 50 million yen for businesses).

Please refer to Animal Quarantine Service Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website for detail. 

Fruit

Fruit can be carried into the cabin as long as the hand-carry is within our cabin baggage limitation or carried as checked baggage. 

Durian and jackfruit are universally banned in aircraft cabin and not allowed to check as baggage.

Seafood, meat and frozen products

Seafood, meat and frozen products can only be carried as checked baggage. It is your responsibility to make sure you comply with any quarantine restrictions and take relevant liability if you’re transporting seafood, meat or frozen products as checked baggage.

You must pack any seafood, meat and frozen products according to the following requirements:

1. Seafood, meat and frozen products must be completely frozen and keep in a container that will keep the products frozen;
2. All seafood, meat and frozen products must be sealed and double wrapped in plastic to prevent any possible leaking during the flight.

Liquids, aerosols and gels in cabin baggage have to be carried in containers with volume not exceeding 100ML. The items should be packed in a re-sealable transparent plastic bag with a total capacity of less than 1L/1KG per passenger.

Items exceeding stated amount should be stored in your check-in baggage. The capacity/weight of each container must not exceed 0.5L/0.5KG and the total net quantity should be less than 2L/2KG per passenger.

The heating pack of Meals Ready to Eat (M.R.E) and self-heating meals must be removed before onboard our aircraft, in either carry-on or checked baggage.

Battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices (e.g. e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, personal vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems) when carried by passengers for personal use must be in carry-on baggage only.

Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco are prohibited throughout the flight.

For passengers entering Taiwan, carrying electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco are prohibited by Taiwan FDA and Customs.

Smart bags are both check-in and carry-on bags with integrated lithium batteries, motors, power banks, GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, RFID or Wi-Fi technology. Smart bags will not be considered as a portable electronic device (PED); their batteries will be handled as a power bank or spare lithium battery.

With effective from 01 January 2018, smart bags with non-removable lithium batteries will not be accepted as cabin or check-in baggage. 

 When travelling with your SMART Bags, always declare this to our check-in staff.

 You can travel with your lithium battery powered smart bag, provided that: 

For check-in baggage 

1. The installed lithium battery and power bank can and will be removed by you and packed individually ensuring it is protected from possible short-circuit. You must carry this battery and power bank in your carry-on baggage or as a personal item on board and will be treated in accordance with existing spare lithium battery requirement. It cannot be packed in your checked baggage.  

For Carry-on baggage 

1. When you wish to use your smart bag as carry-on cabin baggage, it must fit within the allowed cabin baggage limit - both by weight and by dimensions.
2. The device must be switched off.
3. The battery must be removable. Passenger will be able to remain the battery installed or protected the battery from possible short-circuit inside the bag.
4. You will not be allowed to use your smart bag as a charging device or charge your bag during the flight. 

Please note that your smart baggage will NOT be accepted if it is powered by a lithium battery with a watt hour rating of more than 160Wh.

If the battery cannot be removed, the smart bag will not be permitted for carriage as check-in or cabin baggage. 

According to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, there is a new restriction on the carriage of hair curlers or curling irons.

If the lithium ion batteries are removed from the body, the carriage is permitted as carry-on or checked baggage. The removed batteries from the body and the spare batteries can be carried in a carry-on baggage only given that the lithium ion battery shall never exceed 160Wh. Otherwise, they are not allowed to be carried by air transportation.

However, for socket type curlers, battery-powered (excluding powered by lithium battery) are not categorized into dangerous goods and there is no restriction on the carriage of these devices. For gas type curlers, carriage is allowed given that the safety cover must securely fitted over the heating part as they contain a hydrocarbon gas.

Due to the possibility of fire risk, Hong Kong Airlines has imposed a total ban on transporting such devices (Power Motorized Scooters or named as airwheel, solowheel, hoverboard, mini-segway, other balance wheel and related accessories) as checked-in baggage and cabin baggage on all Hong Kong Airlines flights. The above handling will apply to interline transit passengers who bring small vehicles running on lithium ion batteries with connection on HX.

According to safety and security reason, Hong Kong Airlines passengers are not allowed to bring small vehicles running on lithium ion batteries onto the aircraft. If these items are brought to the airport, item will be rejected at check-in and it will be the passenger's responsibility to arrange disposal of such banned items prior to boarding.

As the items have a flammable risk, Hong Kong Airlines will not store these items.

Do not carry restricted items in Hong Kong

According to the Laws of Hong Kong, it is illegal for the residents of Hong Kong, visitors or transit passengers going through Hong Kong International Airport, to carry the following items within the territory of Hong Kong, irrespective of whether these items are stored in the cabin baggage or checked baggage.

For further information please refer to the Hong Kong Police department website.

Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department

Passengers are prohibited from carrying the following items aboard aircraft: 

Knife and knife-like object of any length and description; or bladed items, including but not limited to household cutlery, cutters, scissors or razor blades.

For full details of all restricted items, please visit the website of Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department.

General Administration of Civil Aviation of China

From 7 April 2008 onwards, passengers travelling from any destinations in Mainland China are prohibited from carrying cigarette lighters and matches aboard civil aircraft. 

For details of the announcement, please visit the website of General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (Simplified Chinese only)