New appointment to Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board announced
Further to the announcement of the appointments to the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board (HKMPDB) on June 13, 2025, the Government today (January 30) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Lothair Lam Ming-fung as a non-official member of the Board for a term until June 30, 2028.
Welcoming the appointment, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, said, "Mr Lam is a maritime veteran with profound professional experience in the industry. He is also the incumbent Legislative Council Member representing the Transport Functional Constituency. I am confident that he will make valuable contributions to the work of the HKMPDB."
The HKMPDB was established on July 1, 2025, following the announcement in the Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address to reconstitute the former Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. It serves as a high-level advisory body to assist the Government in formulating policies and long-term development strategies for Hong Kong's maritime and port industries. The Board is supported by four committees covering port development, maritime services development, promotion and external relations, and manpower development.
The full membership list of the HKMPDB is as follows:
Chairman
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Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi
Members
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Mr Angad Banga
Ms Sabrina Chao Sih-ming
Mr Bjorn Hojgaard
Mr Wellington Koo Tse-hau
Mr Lothair Lam Ming-fung (*new appointee)
Mr Timothy Lee Kwok-lam
Mr Edward Liu Yang
Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi
Mr Alan Tung Lieh-sing
Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming
Ex-officio Members
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Secretary for Transport and Logistics or representative
Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development
Director of Marine
Director-General of Investment Promotion
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Source: AI-found images
Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets
Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, which were three stores located in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan, seizing a total of about 13 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $58,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000. Three persons were arrested.
According to the amended Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty must be proven to be duty-paid, otherwise the cigarettes are presumed to be duty-not-paid.
After the amended DCO took effect, Customs has been closely monitoring the market situation and stepping up patrols in various districts. Noting that there were still cigarette sales outlets selling cigarettes at a price lower than the tobacco duty, Customs officers took enforcement actions and seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in the abovementioned stores. Two women and one man, comprising two salespersons and one shop owner, aged between 37 and 75, were arrested.
Customs appeals to retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources. They must stay vigilant against cigarettes with a wholesale price lower than the tobacco duty in order to avoid criminal liability.
Customs reminds retailers and 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.
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).
Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
