Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and fined $600 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (February 2) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on January 11 and seized 2 665 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $11,000 and a duty potential of about $8,800 from his personal baggage and on his body. He was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.
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).
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HA announces clearance and rehousing arrangements for redevelopment of Sai Wan Estate and Phase 1 of Ma Tau Wai Estate
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (February 2) the clearance and rehousing arrangements for the redevelopment of Sai Wan Estate (SWE) and Phase 1 of Ma Tau Wai Estate (MTWE).
The HA's Strategic Planning Committeediscussed the above two plans this morning. The Commercial Properties Committee and the Subsidised Housing Committee, at a joint meeting, subsequently approved the rehousing and associated arrangements for the domestic and commercial tenants affected by the SWE and MTWE (Phase 1) redevelopment plans.
Clearance and rehousing arrangements for redevelopment of SWE
The clearance and rehousing of SWE will be carried out in one go. Affected tenants will have a notification period of more than 40 months before the target clearance date in September 2029 for making arrangements to move out of their units. Phase 1 of the Ka Wai Man Road public housing development nearby will serve as the reception estate, providing sufficient public rental housing (PRH) units for SWE tenants to move together with their neighbours, maintaining warm neighbourhood relationships and continuing the sense of community.
Clearance and rehousing arrangements for Phase 1 redevelopment of MTWE
MTWE will be redeveloped in two phases, with Phase 1 clearance covering Geranium House and Narcissus House. Affected tenants will have a notification period of more than 40 months before the target clearance date in July 2029 for making arrangements to move out of their units. The To Kwa Wan Road public housing development and part of the new Mei Tung Estate public housing development will serve as the reception estates for tenants affected by the Phase 1 clearance, reducing the number of redevelopment phases from three to two, hence significantly shortening the rehousing period for all MTWE residents from 14 years to seven years.
Public participation to improve the community
Based on the views of stakeholders collected during the community engagement activities and District Council consultation, the HA will carry out the associated arrangements of the redevelopment.
(1) Diverse rehousing options
Affected households can select from different rehousing options to suit their needs. Tenants affected by the SWE and MTWE (Phase 1) redevelopment plans may choose to move either to reception estates or to suitable and refurbished PRH units in other districts, and will be accorded priority to purchase subsidised sale flats launched for sale before the target clearance date.
(2) Details of allowance
Affected households will be offered a Domestic Removal Allowance ranging from $10,350 to $33,050, depending on the household size, to help cover part of their moving expenses. Eligible one-person and two-person households may also opt for cash in lieu of rehousing to a PRH unit under the Alternative Rehousing Allowance, with the rates for one-person households and two-person households endorsed at the joint meeting today standing at $82,700 and $100,220 respectively.
(3) Community service teams
The HA will set up on-site community service teams at SWE and MTWE to maintain communication between the HA and affected households, in particular elderly people, and to provide them services, including support in moving out of their current units and adapting to their new living environment.
(4) Internal transfer arrangements
The HA will take care of the households in need during the MTWE (Phase 1) redevelopment (for families of two or more, especially elderly households) through internal transfer. Tenants who have special circumstances may apply for transfer to a unit in Phase 2 of MTWE. The applications will be considered with discretion. No internal transfer arrangements are necessary for SWE as the reception estate can accommodate all of the affected tenants in one go.
(5) Preserving featured shops in the estate
The tailor-made tender arrangements previously adopted for the commercial tenants in Wah Fu Estate and Choi Hung Estate will also apply to the retail shops in Phase 1 of the MTWE redevelopment. To preserve featured shops with cultural affinities in the estate, the HA will identify shops with unique characteristics and values of retention through community engagement exercises, and engage the shop tenants in bidding for new commercial premises reserved in the reception estates or the redeveloped estates by way of restricted tenders. The HA will gauge the views of the community as well as the intention of affected shop tenants before finalising the detailed arrangements. Moreover, all eligible commercial tenants affected by the MTWE (Phase 1) redevelopment will be offered ex-gratia allowances equivalent to 15 times the monthly exclusive rent as specified in the tenancy agreement applicable on the day of the formal announcement of the clearance, and will be allowed to participate in the restricted tender exercises to lease selected vacant shops in the HA's existing retail facilities. If the retail tenants choose not to participate or are unsuccessful in the restricted tender exercises, they will be granted a lump sum payment of $113,500 in lieu.
The HA will continue to communicate with the residents and announce the latest news and development in due course based on the progress of the SWE and MTWE (Phase 1) redevelopment plans.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), Photo source: reference image
