Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 15) 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 the incoming female passenger, aged 40, at Hong Kong International Airport on November 13 and seized 30 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $135,000 and a duty potential of about $99,000, from her 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, tobacco products 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
Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly
The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The counting of votes for the 2025 Legislative Council General Election (LCGE) was completed smoothly at around 6am today (December 8). The poll closed at 11.30pm last night (December 7) and the counting of about 1 317 680 geographical constituency (GC) ballot papers, about 76 940 functional constituency ballot papers and 1 458 Election Committee constituency ballot papers commenced soon afterward.
"For the LCGE, about 1 317 682 electors have cast their votes, with a cumulative GC turnout rate of 31.9 per cent. Overall, the polling and counting processes proceeded smoothly and all arrangements for the LCGE have reflected the principle of openness, honesty and fairness. The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) is satisfied with the arrangements," the Chairman of the EAC, Mr Justice David Lok, said on the conclusion of the LCGE.
The EAC is very thankful to the bureaux/departments (B/Ds) involved in the LCGE, especially the Crisis Management Committee members which include the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Digital Policy Office, the Home Affairs Department, the Information Services Department, the Department of Justice, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Observatory for their full support in various aspects. In addition, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and other law enforcement agencies have made appropriate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the LCGE. The EAC would also like to thank the Technical Advisory Committee for their valuable professional input to the election-related mission critical systems.
There were more than 600 polling stations in the LCGE with polling duration extended to 16 hours. Also added in the LCGE were various new electoral work under the pilot arrangements, including introducing Designated Polling Stations for the groups of electors with specific needs such as civil servants, healthcare staff and ethnic minorities residents; providing outreach polling service to electors residing in residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities; as well as increasing the number of Near Boundary Polling Stations. After the fire in Tai Po, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) needed to make adjustments for three polling stations in the district within a short period of time. With the full assistance by the Government Logistics Department, and the efforts of staff members of the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department under the "government-wide mobilisation" mechanism, free feeder transportation services were offered to the affected electors during the polling hours so that they can travel to the reallocated polling stations conveniently to cast their votes. The aforesaid arrangements posed substantial challenges to the whole election process. In this connection, the EAC extends its special thanks to the staff of the REO and the polling and counting staff for their contributions and efforts made in coping with a large amount of work in their respective positions; as well as the heads of various B/Ds for nominating electoral staff for the LCGE, and for approving them to leave their positions briefly to participate in trainings and drills arranged by the REO which enabled the election be held smoothly and orderly.
As prescribed by the law, the EAC will submit a report on the review of the electoral arrangements of the LCGE to the Chief Executive within three months.
Last but not least, the EAC would like to thank all electors who have voted for casting their sacred votes and electing the new Legislative Council. The EAC is also thankful to the media for reporting the electoral affairs; and candidates and their agents for their co-operation, so that the polling and counting processes were conducted openly, honestly and fairly, and in a safe, orderly and efficient manner.
Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
