Hong Kong Customs raids "cheap whites" storage centre and three sales outlets

2024-04-30 18:55 Last Updated At：19:08

Hong kong customs crackdown on counterfeit goods: raid on 'cheap whites' storage centre and sales outlets

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 29) shut down a suspected storage centre forduty-not-paid cigarettes, commonly known as "cheap whites",in Lok Ma Chau and three suspected sales outlets for these cigarettes in Mei Foo, Kwai Chung and Tai Kok Tsui, seizing a total of about 1.03 million suspected duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $4.6 million and a duty potential of about $3.4 million.

Yesterday afternoon, Customs discovered that a suspicious light goods vehicle departed from a metal shed in Lok Ma Chau and distributed suspected duty-not-paid cigarettes to a newsstand and two stores downtown. Later, Customs officers intercepted the light goods vehicle and seized about 330 000 suspected duty-not-paidcigarettes inside. A total of about 100 000 suspected "cheap whites" were also seized at the newsstand in Mei Foo, as well as the two stores in Kwai Chung and Tai Kok Tsui. Thereafter, Customs further searched the metal shed in Lok Ma Chau and seized a total of about 600 000 suspected duty-not-paid cigarettes of multiple brands therein and from a truck inside, shutting down the suspected "cheap whites" storage centre.

During the operation, Customs arrested two men and three women, aged between 33 and 60. They comprise a truck driver, a truck assistant, as well as three newsstand and store owners and employees.

An investigation is ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and the flow of the batch of suspected duty-not-paid cigarettes.

Customs found that illicit cigarette syndicates would disguise duty-not-paid cigarettes as duty-paid ones and lure retail merchants such as newsstands and stores with the promise of considerable profits to act as distributors or promoters of these duty-not-paid cigarettes on the market. In addition, the illicit cigarette syndicates would use remote and concealed metal huts as a cover to increase the difficulties for law enforcement by Customs.

Customs reminds all retailers, including newsstands, convenience stores and grocery stores, that if the department has reasonable suspicion that the cigarettes being sold are duty-not-paid, regardless of the quantity of cigarettes involved, decisive enforcement actions will be taken. Meanwhile, Customs appeals retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources. They must ascertain whether the relevant cigarette companies or intermediaries are legal and whether the cigarettes they supply are duty-paid in order to avoid criminal liability.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Retailers and members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

LegCo delegation begins duty visit in Singapore

2024-05-17 23:45 Last Updated At：23:58

Legco delegation embarks on exciting visit to singapore

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council (LegCo) delegation led by the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, began its duty visit in Singapore today (May 17).

The delegation visited the Parliament of Singapore to pay a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Seah Kian Peng, and met with some Members of Parliament. Both parties exchanged views on various topics including the relationship between the executive authorities and the legislature, as well as Innovation and Technology, land and housing, digital economy, etc. The delegation received a briefing on the Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) conducted by Members of Parliament in Singapore, and shared LegCo Members' experience in handling public complaints.

The delegation had the opportunity to observe a MPS conducted by a Member of Parliament in his constituency in the evening, to gain a deeper understanding of how these sessions facilitate direct communication between Members of Parliament and their constituents and address community issues. Members believed that MPS can enhance public engagement and such experience is worth referencing. During the session, the delegation also shared insights with the Member of Parliament on parliamentary work.

The delegation also met with the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming, to introduce the latest social and economic developments in Hong Kong and explore how Hong Kong could play a bridging role in the mutually beneficial and co-operative relation between China and Singapore. The delegation also expressed its gratitude to the Central Government and Ambassador Cao for continuously supporting Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will facilitate enterprises of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expand their businesses in Hong Kong and tap into the Mainland market.

During the visit, the delegation went to JTC Corporation (JTC), a government agency responsible for the development of industrial land and infrastructure, supporting and promoting Singapore's new industrialisation and enterprise development. Members received a briefing by representatives of JTC on its landmark projects, including the development of One-north, which is positioned as a national research and development hub. The delegation opined that various projects of JTC could serve as valuable references for Hong Kong in developing "new quality productive forces" and transforming the Northern Metropolis into a "new international I&T city".

The delegation then met with representatives of the Housing & Development Board of Singapore to gain an overview of local housing policies and projects that provide affordable and quality subsidised housing for citizens. Delegation members would draw on the relevant experience, with a view to putting forward suggestions to the Government on further enhancing the housing ladder in Hong Kong.

In addition, Members met with representatives of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association and Hong Kong community groups to understand their work, businesses and lives in Singapore. Members also highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems" to investors in Singapore, encouraging them to utilize Hong Kong as a platform to gain access to the Mainland market.

The delegation will continue its duty visit in Singapore tomorrow (May 18) before departing for Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Promote transformation of R & D outcomes of Hong Kong higher education institutions and support high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong Customs raids "cheap whites" storage centre and three sales outlets

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