John Lee Congratulates Candidates Elected in 2025 Hong Kong Election Committee By-elections

CE congratulates candidates returned in Election Committee Subsector By-elections

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (September 7) congratulated candidates returned to the Election Committee following the 2025 Election Committee Subsector By-elections and made the following statement:

The 2025 Election Committee Subsector By-elections concluded successfully. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), I extend my congratulations to all candidates returned to the Election Committee.

Comprising 1 500 members from 40 subsectors, the Election Committee is broadly representative and fulfils the principle of balanced participation. It plays a pivotal role in the HKSAR's improved electoral system and implementation of the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong". Members of the Election Committee will be responsible for nominating candidates for the general election of the eighth term Legislative Council, and electing 40 Legislative Council members in the Election Committee constituency on December 7, 2025. I expect every member of the Election Committee to fulfil their responsibilities dutifully and contribute to the steadfast and successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.

I would like to thank all voters who participated in the By-elections for jointly electing patriots dedicated to building a better home for Hong Kong. I also extend my gratitude to all personnel within and outside of the Government involved in organising the By-elections for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the election was conducted in a fair, just, honest, smooth, safe and orderly manner.

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 8) 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 a 31-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (December 7). About 13 900 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $62,000 and a duty potential of about $46,000, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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).

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