Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to a total of five months' imprisonment by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (March 14) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted an incoming female passenger, aged 50, at Hong Kong International Airport on March 12. A total of 13 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 22 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $168,000 and a duty potential of about $42,000, were seized from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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.
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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 dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units
Today (April 21) is the second day of phased arrangements for residents of seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units. Ten middle-zone floors of Wang Sun House were opened. The access arrangements were carried out in an orderly manner and operated smoothly.
A total of 77 households (271 people) registered to return to their units today through the "one social worker per household" service, while 78 households (275 people) actually turned up (one household reported sick and absent yesterday joined the arrangement today). The average time residents spent entering and leaving the building today was one hour and 48 minutes, with the shortest time being 21 minutes and the longest three hours and 25 minutes. About 13 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than one hour. A total of 14 households (34 people) went up and down the building more than once within three hours. Among them, eight households (23 people) made one additional trip, four households (eight people) made two additional trips, while one household (one person) made four additional trips, with the highest record of one person of one household making five additional trips and another making four additional trips.
The integrated enquiry counter set up by relevant departments today received 11 cases of requesting police assistance and two cases involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort, as well as two cases seeking psychological counselling services.
The 11 cases of requesting police assistance involved suspected loss of property, including camera, jewellery and gold items. Officers were immediately deployed to assist in searches, and lost property was recovered in four cases. In another four, the units concerned were severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. For the remaining three cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units and the residents could not provide details on the concerned property.
After reviewing the experience from the first day of arrangements, two adjustments have been made on site starting today:
(1) expanding the personal protective equipment donning area at Kwong Fuk Community Hall, adding more tables and chairs, and setting up more marquees for rain protection; and
(2) adding more tables and chairs in the resident waiting area at Tai Po Baptist Public School, and expanding the on-site storage area to facilitate residents while they wait for transport.
Each day, the Government deploys over 1 000 personnel from various departments, including the Police, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Department, and the Housing Bureau, and staff mobilised from other departments, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams members to fully support residents returning to their units.
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
