ISITD Hosts Open Day, Engaging 2,500 Citizens on National Security Education and Awareness

2026-04-18 22:42 Last Updated At：22:58

National Security Education Day - Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development Open Day held today

To support National Security Education Day, the Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development (ISITD) held an open day today (April 18), drawing the participation of over 2 500 citizens. Through activities such as exhibitions, guided tours of training facilities, interactive experiences and booth games, the open day aimed to showcase the Immigration Department (ImmD)'s unwavering commitment to fending off national security risks and firmly guarding the country's southern gateway, raise public awareness of national security, and strengthen public sense of national identity.

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National Security Education Day - Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development Open Day held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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National Security Education Day - Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development Open Day held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The open day featured a rich programme, with many thematic exhibitions and interactive booths set up to introduce the public to the technologies used by the ImmD in areas such as the detection of forged documents, counter-terrorism operations, management of detention centres and tactical equipment. The ISITD also opened training facilities, including the mock immigration clearance hall and the mock courtroom, so that members of the public could gain a deeper understanding of the ImmD's work in safeguarding national security.

In addition, the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) set up a game booth with the theme "food security", one of the 20 major fields of national security. Apart from sharing the crops harvested during their earlier farming experiences in local farm and the Chaoshan region, IDYL members also illustrated in a fun and engaging manner to the public the important concept that "food is closely related to the fate of the country and the livelihood of the people", thereby enhancing public awareness of food security.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the open day. Accompanied by directorate officers of the ImmD, he toured the exhibition booths and interacted with the public. He also encouraged members of the Immigration Service to continue to uphold their mission and remain steadfast in safeguarding national security.

Eight men sentenced for smuggling duty-not-paid cigarettes into Hong Kong, facing imprisonment and fines.

Eight incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes

Eight incoming male passengers aged 25 to 56 were sentenced from eight to twelve months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 18) for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted eight incoming passengers at Hong Kong International Airport on April 17 and seized duty-not-paid cigarettes from their personal baggage during customs clearance.

The first case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 44, Customs officers seized about 50 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $254,000 and a duty potential of about $168,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The second case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 25, Customs officers seized about 66 700 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $273,400 and a duty potential of about $220,400, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The third case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 27, Customs officer seized about 66 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $272,200 and a duty potential of about $219,500, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The fourth case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 32, Customs officer seized about 66 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $273,100 and a duty potential of about $220,200, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The fifth case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 51, Customs officer seized about 66 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $270,700 and a duty potential of about $218,300, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The sixth case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 56, Customs officer seized about 50 900 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $208,400 and a duty potential of about $168,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The seventh case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 27, Customs officer seized about 90 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $372,300 and a duty potential of about $300,200, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts today.

The eighth case involved an incoming male passenger, aged 31, Customs officer at Hong m seized about 25 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $115,200 and a duty potential of about $84,600, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Courts 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/en).

ISITD Hosts Open Day, Engaging 2,500 Citizens on National Security Education and Awareness

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