Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,800 and two months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,800 respectively by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 8) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 61-year-old female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on April 6 and seized 20 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $84,000 and a duty potential of about $67,000 from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,800 by the Courts today.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 34-year-old female passenger yesterday (April 7) at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and seized 16 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $67,000 and a duty potential of about $54,000 from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,800 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).
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Auction of traditional vehicle registration marks to be held on April 25
The Transport Department (TD) today (April 8) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks (TVRMs) will be held on April 25 (Saturday) in Meeting Room S221, L2, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
"A total of 420 traditional vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.
For the auction of TVRMs, only registration marks starting with "HK" or "XX" and special vehicle registration marks are put up for physical auction. Applicants should attend the auction and take note of the opening price as announced by the auctioneer before participating in the bidding of the mark.
People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:
(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.
(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(4) The display of a vehicle registration mark on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.
(5) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.
(6) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for reallocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.
For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes - Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website,www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html.
Source: AI-found images
