Housing Bureau Clarifies Rent Support for Fire Victims in Tai Po Transitional Housing

Housing Bureau provides free accommodation support to residents affected by fire incident

A spokesman for the Housing Bureau said today (December 6) that, in light of the fire incident happened earlier in Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, the Housing Bureau and the Housing Department (HD) have not stopped for a moment, but have been continuously arranging transitional housing and projects of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) for residents in need. The interim housing and transit centres of the HD are also being actively prepared.

The Housing Bureau would like to clarify some misunderstandings once again. Media reports have consistently stated that victims affected by the fire incident only have a few months of rent-free period after moving into transitional housing before they are required to pay rent. The spokesman of the Housing Bureau pointed out that such statements are false.

The spokesman reiterates that, in consideration of the extremely emergency situation of the residents affected by the fire incident, special arrangements have already been made earlier by the Housing Bureau to provide accommodation support to those affected residents moving into transitional housing or other above-mentioned projects. The affected residents may stay with full rent exemptions. In other words, if needed, the affected residents can stay for a longer period of time. The Government will continue to support the affected residents in terms of accommodation, and the residents in need do not have to worry about the relevant rental expenses or the duration of their stay.

Affected residents who would like to stay in the transitional housing under the Housing Bureau may call 3611 8482. Affected residents who would like to stay in the units in dedicated rehousing estates flats, "T-Home" projects and rental estates under the HKHS may call 2839 1393 for enquiries. For enquiries on interim housing and transit centres of the HD, members of the public may call 2658 4430.

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