Man Sentenced to 13 Months for Dealing Illicit Cigarettes and Alternative Smoking Products in Hong Kong

Man convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and possessing alternative smoking products for sale

A man was sentenced to 13 months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on January 14 for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and possessing alternative smoking products for sale, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance.

During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in a commercial building in Tsuen Wan on October 20, 2025, Customs officers intercepted a 40-year-old man who claimed to be a warehouse assistant for inspection and seized a total of about 980 000 illicit cigarettes and 620 000 alternative smoking products from his trolley and a unit inside the building. The total estimated market value was about $6.3 million, and the duty potential of the illicit cigarettes was about $3.2 million.

Customs welcomes the sentences. 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, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Moreover, under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

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).

Man convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and possessing alternative smoking products for sale Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Applications invited for Main Fund of Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation

The following is issued on behalf of the Sir David Trench Fund Committee:

The Sir David Trench Fund Committee is inviting eligible organisations to apply for projects funded by the Main Fund of the Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation for 2026-27.

The Fund is to be used for the provision of facilities and purchase of equipment for projects in the furtherance of the objectives of the Fund. In keeping with the donor's wishes, emphasis is placed on encouraging the purposeful use of leisure by young people.

Three categories of grants are available under the Fund. Details are as follows:

Type of project

Funding scope

Amount of grant per application

Application

deadline

Non-Capital Works Project

Purchase of sports and recreational equipment

for collective use

Between $2,000 and $90,000

March 31, 2026

Capital Works Project

Building of new

recreational facilities

The grant ceiling is $700,000

March 31, 2026

Special Project

Construction and improvement of sports facilities as well as procurement of sports equipment for promotion of sports development in Hong Kong

Between $700,000 and $4,000,000

March 31, 2026

(first batch), and

August 31, 2026 (second batch)

Each applicant organisation can only submit one application under each type of project within that year. The application guidelines and application forms are available on the website of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (www.cstb.gov.hk/en/councils-boards-and-committees/sir-david-trench-fund-committee.html).

For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Sir David Trench Fund Committee at 3509 7068 or 3509 8039.

Source: AI-found images