Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing/importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Three incoming passengers were sentenced to four weeks' to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for possessing or importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
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Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 69-year-old female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on May 28 and seized 181 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $700, and the duty potential was about $600. She was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 56-year-old male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 10). Customs officers seized about 34 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $140,000 and a duty potential of about $113,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.
Furthermore, Customs officers on the same day intercepted an incoming 49-year-old female passenger at the airport, seizing 34 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $140,000 and a duty potential of about $112,000, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' 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).
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing / importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HyD awards design and construction consultancy agreement for Northern Metropolis Highway (San Tin Section) and commences tender preparation work
The Highways Department (HyD) today (June 11) signed a design and construction consultancy agreement with the AECOM Asia Company Limited and AtkinsRealis Asia Limited Joint Venture for the Northern Metropolis Highway (San Tin Section) (the Project) to commence critical tasks including the preparation of reference design and tender documents for the Project, marking a prominent milestone of the Project toward the construction stage. The professional team formed by the Joint Venture also comprises Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., Mannings (Asia) Consultants Limited, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and professional members from various other disciplines. Leveraging successful experiences of local and international projects, the Joint Venture will refine the design of the Project, thereby further bolstering its overall cost-effectiveness and construction efficiency.
The Northern Metropolis Highway (NMH) is the largest single road project being undertaken in Hong Kong, spanning approximately 24 kilometres (km) in total length, which is equivalent to approximately five times the length of the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section). The HyD commenced the investigation study for the entire NMH in March last year and has accorded priority to taking forward the approximately 9 km-long San Tin Section in accordance with the principle of "Holistic Planning and Phased Implementation". Over the past 15 months since the commencement of the investigation study, the project team has been closely collaborating with relevant Government departments in progressively completing a series of critical tasks, including optimisation of the NMH alignment within three months as planned and subsequent endorsement by the Project Steering Group comprising more than 15 policy bureaux and departments, completion of the environmental impact assessment for the San Tin Section (including a 12-month ecological survey spanning across dry and wet seasons) with the application for environmental permit being considered by the Environmental Protection Department, and completion of a series of public consultation exercises followed by gazettal of the road scheme for the San Tin Section in accordance with statutory procedures. The overall progress of the Project has exceeded initial expectations.
A spokesman for the HyD said, "To tie in with the development of San Tin Technopole and Ngau Tam Mei area, we will accord priority to taking forward the San Tin Section of the NMH, with the target of achieving the technical readiness for tendering next year. Furthermore, we plan to widely adopt the Design and Build procurement approach for the works contracts, enabling contractors to concurrently commence detailed design and advance works, and to leverage their technical expertise with greater flexibility, with a view to further accelerating the construction programme and reducing the cost. We have also maintained close communications with the construction industry, including local and international contractors and professional bodies, to harness industry expertise in refining the design and introducing innovative technologies, thereby further enhancing cost-effectiveness of the Project. With the optimised alignment and the contract procurement approach, we are confident that the San Tin Section can be commissioned ahead of the original target of 2036."
HyD awards design and construction consultancy agreement for Northern Metropolis Highway (San Tin Section) and commences tender preparation work Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
