Hong Kong Customs Hosts Session on New Duty Stamp System for Tobacco Industry Stakeholders

Hong Kong Customs holds information session on Duty Stamp System to listen to industry opinions and deepen collaboration

Hong Kong Customs held an information session on the Duty Stamp System at the Customs Headquarters Building today (January 29), comprehensively introducing the latest developments and future arrangements of the system to the tobacco industry. About 180 industry representatives attended the information session, including representatives of tobacco manufacturers, importers and exporters, bonded warehouse operators, logistics, retailers, and the newspaper stalls industry.

During the session, Customs provided a detailed overview of the conclusion of the Pilot Run of the Duty Stamp System early this year, as well as an explanation of the overall framework and operational details of the system, covering the entire supply chain from the manufacturing premises to their sale at retail outlets. Customs will carefully study various suggestions put forward by industry representatives during the information session to continuously optimise the design and implementation details of the system.

Following this information session, Customs also met with representatives of the newspaper stalls industry to specifically introduce the Duty Stamp System. Customs emphasised that the existing sales model will not change due to the Duty Stamp System, and Customs has always encouraged the industry to purchase cigarettes from trustworthy suppliers. In response to the industry's concern regarding stamp authentication arrangements, Customs is conducting an in-depth assessment with technical consultants, researching options including distribution of dedicated authentication devices and enhancing auxiliary duty stamp recognition solutions to meet the practical needs of various retail environments. In addition to this meeting, Customs has previously held meetings with industry representatives through various channels, including the Dutiable Commodities Customer Liaison Group, tobacco affairs concern groups, and an association of the newspaper stalls industry. In the future, Customs will continue to actively communicate with the industry regarding the advancement of the Duty Stamp System and encourage industry participation to jointly promote the system and combat "cheap whites".

Customs reiterated that the successful implementation of the Duty Stamp System relies on the participation and support of all stakeholders. Customs will continue to maintain close communication with all stakeholders and timely release the latest information to the tobacco retail industry through various channels, striving to build a collaborative platform with the industry. Hong Kong Customs will continue to organise more similar exchange activities and ongoing promotional efforts to foster a shared understanding before the system's implementation, ensuring its effective rollout.

Customs plans to implement the first phase of the Duty Stamp System in the fourth quarter this year, with full implementation in the second quarter of 2027, thus achieving the ultimate goal of effective distinguishment of duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones, and to combat "cheap whites".

Hong Kong Customs holds information session on Duty Stamp System to listen to industry opinions and deepen collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs holds information session on Duty Stamp System to listen to industry opinions and deepen collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs holds information session on Duty Stamp System to listen to industry opinions and deepen collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs holds information session on Duty Stamp System to listen to industry opinions and deepen collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases