Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 28) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted the incoming 70-year-old male passenger on April 26 at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and seized 4 585 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $18,700 and a duty potential of about $15,100. He was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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).
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Remarks by DFS at media session on follow-up arrangements for Wang Chi House at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (with photo/video)
The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; and the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, together with the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; and Deputy Secretary for Housing Ms Estrella Cheung, met the media today (April 28) regarding the follow-up arrangements for Wang Chi House at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Following are Mr Wong's remarks at the media session:
Reporter: What difficulties Wang Chi House residents should expect to face if they want to move back to their homes? Is the Government recommending these residents to join the rehousing offer that you have proposed to the other seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court?
Deputy Financial Secretary: Thank you for your two questions. Firstly, we do think the proposal is a good one for them, so that's our basic position. But it doesn't mean that we'd like to force them to accept the proposal. At the end of the day, it is their decision, having regard to their own circumstances. But we do think that what we have put on the table is very reasonable and should actually be quite attractive.
Your first question. In terms of actual difficulties, there are actually a lot. In terms of maintenance issues, they will have to put up quite a bit of money in order to carry out all the maintenance works necessary. And there are also, fundamental problems relating to the underlying lease, relating to the underlying deed of mutual covenant which, if they want to modify, under the current law, you require the agreement of each and every one of the 1 984 households, which is really, really, very difficult to reach. And I think Secretary Mak (Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak) has explained all these difficulties quite clearly in many different situations.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Remarks by DFS at media session on follow-up arrangements for Wang Chi House at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
