HKETO San Francisco Welcomes New Year with Reception for 300 Guests, Highlights Hong Kong's Business Initiatives

HKETO San Francisco hosts New Year Reception in California

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco) ushered in the New Year with close to 300 guests at the New Year Reception on January 9 (San Francisco time) in San Francisco, California.

Guests attending the event included consuls-general, mayors, supervisors, academia, business and community leaders as well as representatives of cultural institutes in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Speaking at the reception, the Director of HKETO San Francisco, Mr DC Cheung, provided an overview of Hong Kong's latest business environment and highlights of new government initiatives, including the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global and the Economic and Trade Express as well as the development of the Northern Metropolis.

"While the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global aims at providing one-stop customised support services to Mainland enterprises venturing overseas through Hong Kong, the Economic and Trade Express is a new functional platform supporting Hong Kong's small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups to explore high-potential overseas markets," he said.

"The Northern Metropolis is another new engine for Hong Kong's economic development and holds immense potential. The Government will accelerate its development and formulate preferential policy packages covering land grants, land premiums, financial subsidies and tax incentives to attract high value-added industries and high-potential enterprises to set up businesses in Hong Kong, particularly in the Northern Metropolis," he added.

"Beyond business, Hong Kong also offers unforgettable experiences for visitors, including world-class arts, culture and sports competitions and shows. Hong Kong is a must-visit global city not only for business, but also for fun and new experiences," Mr Cheung said.

The reception concluded on a high note with a recital on sanxian, a traditional Chinese string instrument, by Hong Kong musician and ethno-musicologist Stella Chan.

HKETO San Francisco hosts New Year Reception in California Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco hosts New Year Reception in California Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco hosts New Year Reception in California Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco hosts New Year Reception in California Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes

Four incoming passengers were sentenced from four months' to seven months' imprisonment, and three of them were fined $500, by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 22) for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger, a 37-year-old incoming male passenger and a 55-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on November 26, 2025. About 98 600 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $404,000 and a duty potential of about $326,000 in total, were seized from their baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

The three passengers were each sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 33-year-old incoming male passenger at the airport on January 21 and seized 28 400 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $127,800 and a duty potential of about $93,800 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences impose a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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).

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases