Hong Kong Customs seizes 52,000 illicit cigarettes, arresting one man in Wong Tai Sin operation.

Hong Kong Customs detects suspected illicit cigarette distribution case in Wong Tai Sin

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected illicit cigarette distribution case in Wong Tai Sin yesterday (September 4), seizing about 52 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $230,000 and a duty potential of about $170,000. One man was arrested.

Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Wong Tai Sin yesterday afternoon and intercepted a suspicious man carrying a recyclable bag in Fu Mei Street. Upon inspection, 1 000 suspected illicit cigarettes were found, and the 55-year-old man, who claimed to be a cook, was subsequently arrested. Later, Customs officers further seized about 51 000 suspected illicit cigarettes from his private vehicle parked on the nearby roadside. The vehicle was also detained.

Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

The arrested man was charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" and will appear at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on October 8.

Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.

Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. 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.

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).

Hong Kong Customs detects suspected illicit cigarette distribution case in Wong Tai Sin Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government launches consultation work on improving complaint handling mechanism of MCHK

To improve the complaint handling mechanism of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK), the Government will introduce a bill to the Legislative Council in the first half of this year to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance. The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, chaired the first consultation meeting today (January 16) to meet with representatives of patient groups and listen to their views.

Professor Lo said, "Members of the public have very high expectations of the MCHK in actively discharging their primary responsibility of safeguarding doctors' professional standards and ethical conduct. Patient groups are important stakeholders. They offered highly constructive suggestions at today's meeting. I look forward to continuing in-depth discussions with other stakeholders to explore proposals to improve the complaint handling mechanism of the MCHK, with a view to maintaining public trust in the medical profession."

At the request of the Secretary for Health, the MCHK earlier submitted a report on improving its complaint handling mechanism to the Health Bureau. The Health Bureau is reviewing the report and the supplementary information subsequently provided by the MCHK, and will consider the report's recommendations and the operational needs of the MCHK in proposing amendments to the Ordinance.

The Health Bureau will continue the consultation work by meeting with professional bodies and relevant stakeholders shortly to listen to their views.

Government launches consultation work on improving complaint handling mechanism of MCHK Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases