Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming passenger was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 6) 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 32-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (December 5). About 13,200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $59,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000, 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
FEHD orders restaurant in Sham Shui Po to suspend business for 14 days
The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a general restaurant in Sham Shui Po to suspend business for 14 days, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR)for illegal extension of the food business area and dirty food room.
The restaurant, located at Shop H and the outside seating accommodation at the shop front on the ground floor of Career Court on 56-58 Tonkin Street, was ordered to suspend business from today (December 6) to December 19.
"Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant licensee in July and September this year. A total fine of $5,500 was levied by the court, and 15 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
The licensee concerned had a record of two convictions for extending the business area illegallyin February and November last year. A total fine of $7,700 was levied, and 30 demerit points were also registered, leading to a seven-day licence suspension between January and February this year.
The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises has been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html).
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)
