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 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 and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products (ASPs), in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and ASPs seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CAD and aviation management personnel complete National Studies and Visit Program
The seven-day National Studies and Visit Program for the management personnel of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and Hong Kong's aviation industry concluded today (June 28). On the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the department, CAD invited the management personnel from various local civil aviation organisations to take part in the national studies course at the National Academy of Governance (NAG) together and conduct site visit to a number of aviation facilities there. The program aimed at enhancing participants understanding of the country's development and visionary strategy, so as to continue to work together to promote the aviation development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, said that with full support by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the course is tailor-made to meet the professional needs of CAD and local aviation industry. Mr Liu expressed his sincere gratitude to the Administrator of the CAAC, Mr Song Zhiyong, for attending the first day of the course as keynote speaker, in which he shared the high-quality development of the civil aviation in China, and provided participants with high-level professional guidance and forward-looking insights. He also acknowledged the support of the Vice President of the National Academy of Governance, Mr Li Wentang, in meeting with the course participants, and providing guidance to the teaching team.
The course covers various topics including national policy, national security, foreign affairs, technologies and civil aviation. The participants also had opportunity to visit Beijing Daxing International Airport, as well as the trio of the CAAC (namely the Operation Management Centre, Aviation Meteorological Centre and Aeronautical Information Service Centre), with a view to deepening connection with the Mainland authorities, as well as the experts and scholars there.
A total of 30 management personnel from CAD and aviation sector participated in the program. The Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation, Ms Clara Wong, represented CAD to attend the graduation ceremony. After that, she joined the participants to proceed to Tianjin, and paid visit to the "Uprising of the Two Airlines" Exhibition Hall and Civil Aviation University of China, to gain a deeper understanding of our country’s civil aviation development.
CAD and aviation management personnel complete National Studies and Visit Program Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CAD and aviation management personnel complete National Studies and Visit Program Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CAD and aviation management personnel complete National Studies and Visit Program Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CAD and aviation management personnel complete National Studies and Visit Program Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CAD and aviation management personnel complete National Studies and Visit Program Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
