Inspector of Customs and Excise

An Inspector of Customs and Excise is mainly deployed on leading and participating in law enforcement activities relating to revenue protection and collection, anti-narcotics, anti-smuggling and intellectual property rights protection; assisting the Senior Inspectors in staff management and office administration; and supervising the work performed by members under his/her charge. An Inspector of Customs and Excise is subject to the provisions of the Customs and Excise Service Ordinance, required to wear uniform, carry firearms, work irregular hours and may be required to work in an area outside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale Point 8 ($48,335) to Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale Point 22 ($83,840) per month. [See Note (1)]

Candidates should -
(a)(i) have a Bachelor degree from a Hong Kong university, or equivalent; and have met the language proficiency requirements of Level 1 results in the two language papers (Use of Chinese and Use of English) in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE), or equivalent [See Notes (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7)] (Entry pay : $53,630 per month); or
(a)(ii) have a Bachelor degree from a Hong Kong university, or an accredited Associate Degree from a Hong Kong tertiary institution, or a Higher Diploma from a Hong Kong polytechnic university / polytechnic / Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education / technical college, or a Diploma from a registered post-secondary college awarded after the date of its registration, or equivalent; and have met the language proficiency requirements of Level 2 or above in Chinese Language and English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), or equivalent [See Notes (2) and (8)] (Entry pay : $50,990 per month); or
(a)(iii) have Level 3 or equivalent or above in five subjects in HKDSEE, or equivalent; or have Grade E or above in two subjects at Advanced Level in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination and Level 3 / Grade C or above in three other subjects in HKCEE, or equivalent; and have met the language proficiency requirements of Level 2 or above in Chinese Language and English Language in HKDSEE or HKCEE, or equivalent [See Notes (8) and (9)] (Entry pay : $48,335 per month);
[Note: The subjects in (a)(iii) above may include Chinese Language and English Language.]
(b) have a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test [See Notes (10) and (11)];
(c) be able to speak fluent Cantonese and English;
(d) pass a physical fitness test; and
(e) pass an eyesight test.

(1) The entry pay for the post of Inspector of Customs and Excise is the Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale Point 8 ($48,335), 9 ($50,990) and 10 ($53,630) per month respectively, as commensurate with respective entry qualifications. The information on the maximum pay point is for reference only and it may be subject to changes.
(2) Undergraduate students graduating in the years of 2025, 2026 or 2027 may also apply if they have met the language proficiency requirements of Level 2 or above in Chinese Language and English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination or the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, or equivalent. If selected, appointment will be subject to, among others, the attainment of requisite academic qualification (i.e. bachelor’s degree from a Hong Kong university, or equivalent) within the year in 2025, 2026 or 2027 respectively.
(3) The results of the Use of Chinese (UC) and Use of English (UE) papers in CRE are classified as Level 2, Level 1 or Fail, with Level 2 being the highest.
(4) For civil service appointment purpose, Level 5 or above in Chinese Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE); or Grade C or above in Chinese Language and Culture or Chinese Language and Literature in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE), are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the UC paper in CRE. Level 4 in Chinese Language in HKDSEE; or Grade D in Chinese Language and Culture or Chinese Language and Literature in HKALE, are accepted as equivalent to Level 1 in the UC paper in CRE.
(5) For civil service appointment purpose, Level 5 or above in English Language in HKDSEE; or Grade C or above in Use of English in HKALE; or Grade C or above in English Language in the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) (GCE A Level), are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the UE paper in CRE. Level 4 in English Language in HKDSEE; or Grade D in Use of English in HKALE; or Grade D in English Language in GCE A Level, are accepted as equivalent to Level 1 in the UE paper in CRE.
(6) For civil service appointment purpose, applicants with an overall band of 6.5 or above with no subtest score below band 6 obtained in the same sitting in the Academic Module of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) within the two-year validity period of the test result are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the UE paper in CRE. The IELTS test result must be valid on any date during the application period.
(7) Degree-holding applicants will be eligible for the degree pay point if they possess the requisite results in the UC and UE papers in CRE or equivalent at the time the offer of appointment is made.
(8) For civil service appointment purpose, Grade C and Grade E in Chinese Language and English Language (Syllabus B) in HKCEE before 2007 are accepted administratively as comparable to Level 3 and Level 2 respectively in Chinese Language and English Language in the 2007 HKCEE and henceforth.
(9) For civil service appointment purpose, “Attained with Distinction” in Applied Learning subjects (subject to a maximum of two Applied Learning subjects), and Grade C in Other Language subjects in HKDSEE are accepted as equivalent to Level 3 in the New Senior Secondary subjects in HKDSEE. “Attained” in Applied Learning subjects (subject to a maximum of two Applied Learning subjects), and Grade E in Other Language subjects in HKDSEE are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the New Senior Secondary subjects in HKDSEE.
(10) All applicants for civil service jobs will be assessed on their knowledge of the Basic Law and the National Security Law. A pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs. Only those candidates who have passed the Basic Law and National Security Law Test will be considered for appointment.
(11) For candidates who have not taken the relevant Basic Law and National Security Law Test or have not attained a pass result in the relevant Basic Law and National Security Law Test at the time of application, they may still apply for the job and arrangements will be made for them to take the relevant Basic Law and National Security Law Test during the recruitment process.
(12) Information on the recruitment process is available on the Customs and Excise Department's website (https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/about-us/recruitment-information/inspector/index.html).
(13) The selection process involves Group Discussion, Written Examination (Part I) and (Part II), Physical Fitness Test and Selection Interview. Candidates who are selected for the Group Discussion will normally receive an invitation by e-mail in July 2025. Detailed arrangement of the Group Discussion will be announced on the Customs and Excise Department’s website nearer the time (https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/about-us/recruitment-information/index.html). Candidates who are not invited for the Group Discussion [See General Notes (e), (f) and (g)], Written Examination, Physical Fitness Test and / or Selection Interview may assume that their applications are unsuccessful.

New recruits will normally be appointed on civil service probationary terms for three years. He/She will be required to pass an Inspector Induction Course at the Hong Kong Customs College and pass an Inspector Continuation Course by the end of the three-year probationary period. He/She may be considered for appointment on the prevailing permanent terms upon satisfactory completion of the probationary period.

(a) Candidates must be permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the time of appointment unless specified otherwise.
(b) Civil service vacancies are posts on the civil service establishment. Candidates selected for these vacancies will be appointed on civil service terms of appointment and conditions of service and will become civil servants on appointment.
(c) The entry pay, terms of appointment and conditions of service to be offered are subject to the provisions prevailing at the time the offer of appointment is made.
(d) Fringe benefits include paid leave, medical and dental benefits, and where appropriate, assistance in housing.
(e) Where a large number of candidates meet the specified entry requirements, the recruiting department may devise shortlisting criteria to select the better qualified candidates for further processing. In these circumstances, only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend the Group Discussion.
(f) It is Government policy to place people with a disability in appropriate jobs wherever possible. If a disabled candidate meets the entry requirements, he/she will be invited to attend the Group Discussion without being subject to further shortlisting. Applicants who have declared disabilities found suitable for appointment may be given an appropriate degree of preference over other applicants whose suitability for appointment is considered comparable to that of the former. The Government policy and other related measures on employment of persons with disabilities are set out in the booklet “Employ People Based on Their Abilities – Application for Government Jobs by Persons with Disabilities” which is available for reference on the Civil Service Bureau's website at https://www.csb.gov.hk under “Administration of the Civil Service – Appointments”.
(g) As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the Government is committed to eliminating discrimination in employment. The vacancy advertised is open to all applicants meeting the basic entry requirement irrespective of their disability, sex, marital status, pregnancy, age, family status, sexual orientation and race.
(h) Holders of academic qualifications other than those obtained from Hong Kong institutions / Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority may also apply but their qualifications will be subject to assessments on equivalence with the required entry qualifications.
(i) Towards the application deadline, the on-line system would likely be heavily loaded with large volume of applications. To ensure timely completion of your on-line application, it is advisable to submit the application as early as possible.
(j) As invitations will be issued via e-mail, applicants should provide an accurate e-mail address. Applicants are responsible for checking their e-mails to ensure that invitation will be duly received.

Application Forms [G.F. 340 (Rev. 7/2023)] are obtainable from any Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of District Offices, Home Affairs Department or any Job Centres of the Employment Services Division, Labour Department and can be downloaded from the Civil Service Bureau's website (https://www.csb.gov.hk).
The new version of application form for Government jobs G.F. 340 (Rev. 7/2023) has been in use with effect from 26 July 2023. Candidates who apply for Government jobs advertised on or after 26 July 2023 should use the new G.F. 340 (Rev. 7/2023). If candidates submit the old version form [G.F. 340 (Rev. 3/2013)], they will be required to fill in the new G.F. 340 (Rev. 7/2023) afresh and submit it within seven days upon request. If candidates fail to submit the new G.F. 340 (Rev. 7/2023) within the stipulated deadline, their applications will not be processed further.
Application must be made on the form G.F. 340 (Rev. Rev. 7/2023). All completed applications must be submitted on or before 11 June 2025 via one of the following means –
(a) make on-line application through the Civil Service Bureau’s website (https://www.csb.gov.hk);
(b) by post to the contact address below. Please mark “Application for the post of Inspector of Customs and Excise” on the envelope; or
(c) deposit to the drop box at G/F, Customs Headquarters Building, 222 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong.
In addition to the application form, candidates should submit copies of their academic qualifications including transcripts, certificates and result of CRE (if applicable) within one week after the close of application period, i.e. on or before 18 June 2025, via one of the following means –
(a) by e-mail to customs_inspector_recruitment@customs.gov.hk. Candidates should attach the files of their academic qualifications in PDF format and quote the on-line application number on the title of e-mail; or
(b) by post to the contact address below. Please mark “Application for the post of Inspector of Customs and Excise” and the on-line application number on the envelope. The on-line application number should also be quoted on the copies of the supporting documents.
The postmark date on the envelope will be regarded as the date of submission of application and copies of academic qualifications and result of CRE (if applicable). To avoid delay or unsuccessful delivery of mail items, please ensure that the correct address is clearly printed or written on the envelope and sufficient postage has been affixed before posting. Mail items bearing insufficient postage will not be delivered to this Department and will be returned to the sender or disposed of by the Hongkong Post, where appropriate. Applicants will bear any consequences arising from paying insufficient postage.
Applications which are incomplete, late, submitted by fax or e-mail, or not made in the prescribed form will not be processed. Applicants should state in detail their academic qualifications in the application forms. If candidates fail to provide copies of their academic qualifications and result of CRE (if applicable), their applications will not be considered.

Appointments Unit, Personnel Section, Customs and Excise Department, 31/F, Customs Headquarters Building, 222 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong

3759 3759