Hong Kong Expands Air Passenger Departure Tax Exemptions from October

Starting October 1, 2025, Hong Kong will expand exemptions from its HK$200 Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) to include passengers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) by air or other means and departing by aircraft within 48 hours. This amendment to the Air Passenger Departure Tax Ordinance aims to enhance HKIA's competitiveness as a major intermodal hub in the Greater Bay Area by attracting more transit and intermodal passengers. The exemptions currently cover children under 12, same-day air transit passengers, and those traveling via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge or by ship while remaining in restricted areas before departure. The expanded exemptions are expected to benefit around 830,000 air transfer passengers and 2.5 million intermodal transfer passengers annually, potentially reducing government revenue by approximately HK$670 million per year. The Airport Authority Hong Kong supports the change, noting it will boost tourism, hospitality, and the airport's role in regional integration, while Greater Bay Airlines expressed understanding of the government's rationale and hopes for further supportive initiatives. Additionally, a new e-application platform will be introduced to facilitate refund claims for eligible passengers, and provisions will prevent abuse of the exemption through brief return trips between Hong Kong and Mainland China or Macao.