Two Passengers Sentenced to Six Months for Smuggling $372,000 in Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes at Hong Kong Airport

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

One incoming male passenger and one incoming female passenger were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 13) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 24-year-old male passenger and a 34-year-old female passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on November 19, 2025. A total of about 82 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with a total estimated market value of about $372,000 and a duty potential of about $273,000 in total, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Under the DCO, tobacco products 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).

One incoming male passenger and one incoming female passenger were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 13) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO). Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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

Source: AI-found images

HA statement on violations of patient privacy on improper social media post

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

In response to a series of recent incidents involving staff working in public hospitals posting clinical images or patient information on social media, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson issued the following statement:

As a provider of public healthcare services, the HA requires all staff to strictly adhere to professional codes of conduct, uphold integrity, and observe the principle of safeguarding patients' rights and privacy. Leakage of patient privacy by staff in any form will not be tolerated. The HA deeply regrets any suspected disregard for patient privacy by its staff.

Upon receiving a public complaint on April 10, Princess Margaret Hospital immediately reviewed the incident and conducted investigation. The staff member involved is a medical intern in the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics at Princess Margaret Hospital. The HA has discussed the matter with the university to which the intern belongs. The intern's duties will be suspended in the interim, and the individual will be temporarily on leave starting tomorrow.

The HA has consistently provided training on patient privacy protection for its staff and medical interns. Medical students and interns are also required to complete patient privacy training and sign a confidentiality agreement before being granted access to the Clinical Management System.

Should any staff member be found to have violated the regulations, the HA will strictly follow up the matter and handle it in accordance with established personnel procedures. Case concerned will be referred to the Medical Council where necessary, in order to demonstrate the HA's commitment to protecting patient privacy.

The HA expressed its serious concern that healthcare staff, when using social media, must at all times be guided by a spirit of professionalism, and above all, place the best interests of patients as their foremost consideration, thereby upholding their responsibility to protect patient privacy.

Source: AI-found images