Hong Kong Delegation Visits Beijing to Advance University Town Development Plans

CS concludes visit to Beijing

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (April 2) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG) under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to continue their visit to Beijing.

The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with Mr Chan and other members of the delegation in the morning. Mr Chan thanked Mr Xia for his care and guidance for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's work on planning and constructing the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). He also reported that, in the past three days, the delegation of the WG had visited several places, including the Ningbo Higher Education Park, the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou, the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining), the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, and Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. Through on-site visits to higher education developments in different places, and exchanges with experts and scholars on their successful experiences and development strategies, the delegation gained practical inspiration for the top-level design of the NMUT. This will help advance the deep integration of Hong Kong's academic excellence with industry, promoting industrial development through education. Mr Chan said that the WG will continue to push forward the development of the NMUT with enhanced quality, speed, and efficiency, in proactive alignment with the outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, as well as contribute Hong Kong's strengths to the national goal of building China into a leading country in education, and helping Hong Kong better integrate into and serve the overall national development.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang. The Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, also reported on her work. The Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, Miss Linda So, and representatives from the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities attended the meeting together.

Mr Chan and other members of the delegation concluded their visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon. Dr Choi continued her visit to Beijing this afternoon, and will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (April 3).

CS concludes visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to between five to seven months' imprisonment and fined $500 to $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 2) for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted two incoming male passengers, aged 32 and 38, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on February 3 and seized about 73 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $328,500 and a duty potential of about $241,300, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were both sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $500 today.

As well, Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger, aged 33, at HKIA yesterday (April 1) and seized 82 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $369,900 and a duty potential of about $271,700, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.

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

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).

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases