Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (June 16) 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 an incoming 44-year-old Chinesefemale passenger and her accompanying child at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (June 15) and seized 2 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $10,600 and a duty potential of about $8,500, from the backpack carried by her accompanying child. The female passenger 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 possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video)
The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, arrived in Hong Kong today (June 16) to conduct an inspection of Hong Kong's alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the advancement of the Northern Metropolis development.
In the morning, Mr Xia visited the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Community Liaison Centre in the company of the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. He was briefed on the planning and development of the new development area, particularly on the pilot area of large-scale land disposal in Hung Shui Kiu and the development of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park. During the visit, Mr Xia was also briefed on the transport planning as well as the construction of the railway and the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in the new development area.
Mr Xia later paid a visit to the Hung Shui Kiu University Town Area to inspect the planning, development vision and latest progress of the Northern Metropolis University Town. He also visited the Light Public Housing on Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, to listen to a briefing on the latest progress of the Light Public Housing projects. He then visited a family of four and had an exchange with them.
Next, Mr Xia visited the Microelectronics Centre in Yuen Long InnoPark to learn about the innovation and technology industry developments in Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Mr Xia went to the Kwu Tung North New Development Area to inspect the construction progress of housing, transport, government offices and other ancillary facilities in the area. He later visited the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop to learn about its overall development plan and latest position, as well as the construction progress of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster site. Mr Xia afterwards visited the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital in the Lok Ma Chau Loop to inspect its operations.
In the evening, Mr Xia visited AsiaWorld-Expo to learn about how Hong Kong transforms mega events into new economic impetus to help the city seize the development opportunities brought about by the National 15th Five-Year Plan.
Officials accompanying the visits included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.
Mr Xia will continue his visit to Hong Kong tomorrow (June 17).
Source: AI-found images
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong arrives in Hong Kong for inspection visit (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
