Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 16) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 39-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on April 14. Around 51 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $255,100 and a duty potential of about $168,700, were seized from his 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.
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 importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKTE visits Netherlands to attract talent
The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Felix Chan, led a delegation to pay the HKTE's first visit to the Netherlands from April 10 to 16, proactively promoting Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent. The seven-day visit was concluded today (April 16).
During the visit, the HKTE delegation visited Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Delft, and held seminars and participated in job fairs under the Top Talent Pass Scheme at six eligible universities, namely Delft University of Technology, Hotelschool The Hague, the University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Leiden University. The delegation introduced Hong Kong's unique advantages and opportunities as well as various talent admission schemes to students and alumni of these universities, with a view to attracting local talent to Hong Kong.
The delegation also comprised representatives of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as a finance professional originally from the Netherlands who has now settled in Hong Kong. They shared information on employment opportunities in innovation and technology as well as in financial sectors, etc, and their experiences in settling in Hong Kong.
In addition, the delegation exchanged views with representatives of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association and Junior Chamber International Netherlands, over 20 Chinese students and scholars in the Netherlands, and innovation and technology enterprises at a start-up campus in Amsterdam.
Mr Chan said: "Hong Kong is committed to developing itself as an international hub for high-calibre talent. We hope to attract outstanding professionals with diverse backgrounds to pursue development in Hong Kong, thereby capitalising on opportunities on the Mainland and injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of Hong Kong and the country."
HKTE visits Netherlands to attract talent Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKTE visits Netherlands to attract talent Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKTE visits Netherlands to attract talent Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
