Recently, owing to some people who traveled to Hong Kong and Macao and got fined for bringing banned items, such as sprayers and telescopic stick, their schedules have been greatly affected. With the coming of the winter holiday and the peak season of the Lunar New Year, the Mainland Affairs Council (hereinafter the "MAC") particularly reminds nationals of not bringing any banned items, such as stun guns, when traveling to or transiting in Hong Kong or Macao. If encountered cases of emergency, you can ask for help from Taiwanese institutions in Hongkong and Macao.
MAC states that because Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao have different regulations on items that can be brought into the countries, nationals need to avoid carrying related banned items and violating laws. According to the laws of Hong Kong and Macao, gas sprayers (including pepper spray lipsticks), stun guns (including electric guns that look like smartphones), expandable batons (including flashlight-typed telescopic sticks), brass knuckles (commonly known as "iron lotus" knuckle rings), spring assisted knives, comb knives, and other relevant items are considered as offensive weapons. It is seen as an illegal act if any person carries or owns any of the above-mentioned items and will be prosecuted, fined, or imprisoned if caught by local police.
MAC also reminds that even if the owner does not carry any illegal items with him or her and only place them in carry-on luggage or check-in luggage when entering into or transiting in Hong Kong and Macao, he or she will still be considered violating the law.
If encounter cases of emergency in Hongkong or Macao, please call for help from Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong (as known as "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office"); 24-hour emergency contact number: 852-6143-9012、852-9314-0130 or Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Macao(as known as "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office"); 24-hour emergency contact number: 853-6687-2557.
