Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for dealing with and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to two months' imprisonment and four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 12) for dealing with and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted a 32-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on December 10 and seized about 20 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 11 400 alternative smoking products with an estimated market value of about $127,000 and a duty potential of about $68,000 from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 in contravention of the DCO and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment in contravention of the IEO today. Parts of the two sentences run concurrently, making for a total of four months' imprisonment.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 21-year-old incoming male passenger at HKIA yesterday (December 11) and seized 5 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $23,000 and a duty potential of about $17,000 from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 in contravention of the DCO today.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
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.
Under the IEO, a person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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/en).
Source: AI-found images
Speech by SJ at Law Society of Hong Kong's Pro Bono and Community Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2025
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the Law Society of Hong Kong's Pro Bono and Community Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2025 today (December 12):
Chief Justice (Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung), President of the Law Society (President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Roden Tong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am very honoured to join you here today at the Law Society Pro Bono and Community Service Award Ceremony 2025. This is an important annual event that I never miss. I would like to begin by extending my warmest congratulations to all the awardees.
In the present context, the Latin phrase "pro bono publico" means "providing free legal services for the public good", in particular for those who cannot afford legal representation. As we all know, an essential element of the rule of law is that justice should be accessible to all. Access to justice is indeed a fundamental human right guaranteed by Article 35 of the Basic Law. However, in practice, access to justice will only be effective and meaningful if legal representation is available to all, but not just those who can afford instructing lawyers. This is why legal aid and pro bono legal services are essential to the maintenance of the rule of law.
I am pleased to say that, in Hong Kong, we have a very strong tradition of providing legal aid and pro bono legal services. The response of the legal sector to the tragic fire in Tai Po provides the best evidence. To begin with, I must pay tribute to the Law Society's swift action in establishing the temporary panel under the Emergency Free Legal Helpline for Tai Po Tragic Fire to provide preliminary free legal advice to the public. On the other hand, the Legal Aid Department announced two days ago that it has established a dedicated task force and will implement a series of support measures to assist residents and other affected persons in applying for legal aid in accordance with the statutory requirements to handle litigation and related matters. Solicitors on the legal aid panel will be heavily involved in due course. In addition, the Judiciary has also announced that all potential legal proceedings, including probate proceedings, relating to the incident will be handled with priority and expeditiously through a series of facilitative measures. At this difficult time, the whole legal sector, including lawyers and judges, are standing together with the victims and all those affected. I would strongly encourage all those in need to make use of the legal services that I have just mentioned.
Turning to community service, its scope is, of course, very wide. But I would like to highlight one particular type of community service which depends on lawyers and those who are legally trained. And that is rule of law education. To enhance the general public's awareness and general knowledge about the rule of law, and our legal and judicial system, is of crucial importance. In this respect, the Law Society has always been an invaluable partner to the Department of Justice.
We are extremely grateful to the Law Society for its most helpful input and dedicated support, from providing constructive and practical ideas to assist in the formulation of our rule-of-law education programmes, to providing experienced and passionate members to serve as speakers and group leaders in seminars and mock trial activities that we organised as part of our rule-of-law education programmes. Without the staunch support of the Law Society, our programmes could not have been successful.
Ladies and gentlemen, the provision of pro bono and community service ensures that the practice of law is not merely a means to enable lawyers to make a living. It enables lawyers to contribute in the building of a more fair and just society based on the rule of law, which indeed should be the ultimate objective of practicing law.
The awards to be presented today not only serve as a recognition to the services provided by well-deserved members but also an encouragement to other members to take part. On this note, may I conclude by extending my congratulations to all the awardees once again. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
