Youth Leaders Forum Explores Greater Bay Area's History and Innovations in Macao and Foshan

S for S leads Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum to complete Greater Bay Area study tour in Macao

​The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today (March 2) led members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum on a Greater Bay Area study tour in Macao, completing a three-day, two-night exploration of national history and culture, as well as developments in various fields.

The Leaders Forum and its partners, Shenzhen University and the youth groups of public security forces of Macao, comprised 72 people and were led by the Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li. The study tour began in Foshan on February 28 and continued to Macao yesterday (March 1). Today, Mr Tang led the members to visit the Macao Light Rapid Transit East Line South Section to learn about the latest developments in Macao's major infrastructure project and toured the campus of the Academy of Public Security Forces. The young people also visited the Macao Customs Fleet to be briefed on customs duties and maritime rescue operations. They also explored various historic sites, as well as new and old architecture.

Mr Tang listened to the participants' interim reports on their thematic projects. He said that the participation of students from Shenzhen University since the last term of the Leaders Forum and youths from Macao in this term has enabled young people in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao to collaborate closely. He praised the potential of members from the three places, highlighting that three members from Shenzhen University were recently awarded the Good Citizen Award by the Hong Kong Police Force for their bravery in saving a life in Hong Kong, and seven members from Hong Kong were awarded the stars of self-improvement of Chinese college students, which are highly commendable. The awards were presented to 1 600 students on the Mainland and 20 students in Hong Kong, including the seven members of the Leaders Forum.

During their stay in Foshan, the group visited the Shunde drone command and dispatch center to understand how the district optimises urban management through the introduction of drones and the consolidation of collected data. They also visited an intelligent manufacturing technology park, an innovation and research and development centre, and a manufacturing enterprise to learn about the development of high-tech industries on the Mainland and how various industries apply technology to improve production processes. The young people also explored the Foshan Ancestral Temple, which has a long history, to know more about the local traditional culture.

S for S leads Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum to complete Greater Bay Area study tour in Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for S leads Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum to complete Greater Bay Area study tour in Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for S leads Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum to complete Greater Bay Area study tour in Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

S for S leads Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum to complete Greater Bay Area study tour in Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three Incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to two to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger, aged 27, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on March 21. Customs officers seized about 40 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $182,700 and a duty potential of about $134,200, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.

Separately, Customs officers intercepted two incoming male passengers, aged 27 and 39, at HKIA on May 16 and seized around 16 500 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $68,000 and a duty potential of about $54,900, as well as around 60 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $271,800 and a duty potential of about $199,700, respectively, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were respectively sentenced to two months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and six months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 today.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Three Incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three Incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three Incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases