DSJ and SCED to visit Beijing
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, will depart for Beijing this afternoon (May 25) to call on relevant central ministries to exchange views on assisting Mainland enterprise in going global.
Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Dr Cheung will return to Hong Kong on May 26. Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on May 27, and the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau's absence.
Mr Algernon Yau, Photo source: reference image
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and five months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 26) 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 two incoming male passengers, aged 36 and 44, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (May 25) and seized 51 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $209,000 and a duty potential of about $169,000, as well as around 38 500 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $158,000 and a duty potential of about $127,000, from their personal baggage respectively. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were respectively sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and five months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 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).
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
