Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing/importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Four incoming passengers were sentenced to three months' imprisonment and a fine of $4,000, two months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000, and two months' imprisonment with a fine of $5,000 respectively by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (March 30) for possessing or importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 37-year-old female passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point on March 28 and seized 11 981 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $49,000 and a duty potential of about $40,000, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $4,000 by the Courts today.
Customs officers on the same day intercepted a 27-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point and seized 12 981 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $53,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $4,000 by the Courts today.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming male passenger and an accompanying 53-year-old incoming female passenger yesterday (March 29) at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. The officers found a total of 2 362 duty-not-paid cigarettes in their personal baggage. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $9,700, and the duty potential was about $7,800. They were subsequently arrested. They were sentenced to two months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 and two months' imprisonment with a fine of $5,000 respectively by the Courts today.
Customs welcomes the sentences, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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).
Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing/importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing/importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing/importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD announces Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase II and first water-soluble commemorative facility "The Spring of Love" to open this Wednesday
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (March 30) that the newly built Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase II, dedicated to the keeping of abortuses of less than 24 weeks' gestation, will open this Wednesday (April 1) for public applications. The first water-soluble commemorative facility, "The Spring of Love", located within the garden, will also be open to the public for free use on the same day, allowing family members to commemorate their departed loved ones.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, "Since 2018, the Government has been examining and implementing proposals to enhance the handling of abortuses in a holistic manner. Adhering to the policy objective of funerary services 'Let the departed rest in peace, let the living find solace', various measures to facilitate the handling of abortuses have been introduced, including the provision of facilities for keeping and cremating abortuses. Following the setting up of the first Garden of Forever Love in Wo Hop Shek, Fanling (Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase I), in April 2019, the FEHD subsequently opened the second and third Gardens of Forever Love at Cape Collinson in 2021 and at Shek Mun last year respectively, continuously expanding the services."
The name, Garden of Forever Love, symbolises the everlasting care and love from parents, the community and the Government for the abortuses. The garden provides a tranquil and serene environment, serving not only as a resting place for the deceased young lives but also as a space for parents to maintain a connection with their children. Through formal farewell rituals, parents can face and process their grief, gradually finding solace and moving from sorrow towards healing. The FEHD hopes that the Garden of Forever Love will not only provide a resting place for abortuses but also offer support and strength to entire families, truly embodying the service tenet of "Let the departed rest in peace, let the living find solace".
As the interment spaces in the Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase I are currently nearly full, the FEHD proceeded with the Phase II construction to continue providing keeping services for abortuses of less than 24 weeks gestation. The newly completed Phase II facility offers 619 keeping spaces, which features a beautiful and tranquil environment with walls and three-dimensional columns for placing commemorative plaques. The softly coloured feature walls are adorned with patterns loved by young children, such as stars, moons, clouds and birds, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a nursery or kindergarten - a peaceful resting place for the deceased young lives.
Additionally, the FEHD added a new water-soluble commemorative facility named "The Spring of Love" adjacent to the Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase II, providing a commemorative experience with deeper symbolic meaning. "The Spring of Love" combines the imagery of spring water with a homophone for "enduring" (both pronounced "chuen" in Cantonese), signifying that love and remembrance flow endlessly, allowing love to last forever. Family members and friends can write their thoughts and blessings on specially made water-soluble paper, then place it into water and watch the paper slowly dissolve, letting their grief drift away with the ripples and thus transforming their love into eternal blessings.
FEHD announces Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase II and first water-soluble commemorative facility "The Spring of Love" to open this Wednesday Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD announces Wo Hop Shek Garden of Forever Love Phase II and first water-soluble commemorative facility "The Spring of Love" to open this Wednesday Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
