EDB's response to media enquiries about resignation of CityU President
In response to media enquiries regarding the resignation of Professor Freddy Boey Yin-chiang as President of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), a spokesperson for the Education Bureau today (April 24) gave the following reply:
Professor Freddy Boey Yin-chiang, Photo source: FB@CityU
We are aware that CityU has announced that Professor Freddy Boey Yin-chiang, for personal reasons, tendered his resignation to the Council as President of CityU. CityU will initiate a global search process for the next President. The Government respects Professor Boey's personal wish and decision and would like to thank him for his contributions to the university during his tenure.
The recruitment of the President is part of the university's institutional autonomy and is taken care of by the CityU Council under the authority conferred on it by the CityU Ordinance (Cap. 1132). The Government has full confidence in the CityU Council in selecting the most suitable candidate for the post based on the university's long-term interests and development needs.
The City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Photo source: reference image
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products
Two incoming Chinese male passengers were sentenced to between eight to ten weeks' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products (ASPs), in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted the two Chinese male passengers, aged 40 and 28, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 26). Customs officers seized about 300 duty-not-paid cigarettes and a total of about 21 000 ASPs with an estimated market value of about $65,000 and a duty potential of about $1,000, from their baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were respectively sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment and a fine of $500, and ten weeks' imprisonment 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.
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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 importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
