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
Speech by SITI at 2nd International Cerebro-cardiovascular Medical Innovation Summit
Following is a speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2nd International Cerebro-cardiovascular Medical Innovation Summit (ICMIS) today (December 8):
Professor Yang (Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Professor Michael Yang), Professor Noble (Technikos Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professorial Fellow of St Hilda's College of the University of Oxford Professor Alison Noble), Professor Shum (Vice-President (Research) of CityU, Professor Anderson Shum), Professor Chan (Director of the Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering, Professor Kannie Chan), Terry (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you all today at the 2nd International Cerebro-cardiovascular Medical Innovation Summit organised by the Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering, COCHE in short.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Today's Summit provides a vital platform for interdisciplinary exchange and dialogue among world-class experts. We are happy to see the gathering of experts from different disciplines dedicated to addressing critical challenges and advancing medical innovation in cerebro-cardiovascular health - a domain that directly impacts millions of lives worldwide.
Pursuant to the country's 14th Five-Year Plan and the 15th Five-Year Plan proposal to develop Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to building a vibrant I&T ecosystem. Amongst our efforts, InnoHK stands out as a flagship I&T initiative that has successfully established a total of 30 research centres in Hong Kong, collaborating with more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes from 12 economies, pooling more than 3 000 researchers locally and from all over the world.
The COCHE, one of the InnoHK centres in the area of life and health sciences and the organiser of this Summit, specialises in developing innovative technologies for the early prediction and intervention of cardiovascular diseases. With strategic partnerships with world-leading institutions including the University of Oxford and the Karolinska Institutet, the Centre has made significant advancements in AI-powered imaging, biosensing, and drug delivery systems by strategic partnership since its establishment in December 2020. This shows us how breakthroughs can be achieved through global research collaboration. Through shared datasets and cross-border clinical validation, the participating institutions integrated the Centre's technical innovation and clinical applications. Besides, students from the University of Oxford visited the COCHE in 2024 with an aim of strengthening academic exchange and cultivating future talent. Such exchanges of talents lay a fertile ground for Hong Kong to develop an international research hub.
Building on the successes of the first two InnoHK clusters which focus on life and health sciences as well as AI and robotics, we are expediting the establishment of the third InnoHK research cluster which focus on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing, and materials. This cluster aims to drive the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong and promote the development of advanced technologies and the related industries.
Ladies and gentlemen, innovation does not happen in isolation. It thrives through collaboration. As we gather here today, let us reaffirm our commitment to working together for the betterment of humanity. With the concerted efforts of the Government, academia, research institutions and industry partners, I am confident that our I&T ecosystem will not only thrive, but also strengthen Hong Kong's competitive edge. May I wish the 2nd ICMIS every success. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by SITI at 2nd International Cerebro-cardiovascular Medical Innovation Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
