Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes
Three incoming passengers were each sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 29) 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 two Chinese male and one Chinese female incoming passengers, aged between 35 and 43 years old at the Passenger Clearance Building of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port yesterday (June 28) and seized 9 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $34,200 and a duty potential of about $29,800; 7 401 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $28,100 and a duty potential of about $24,500; and 8 615 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $32,700 and a duty potential of about $28,500, from their personal baggage respectively. The three passengers were subsequently arrested.
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, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who 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 possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by SITI at 2025/26 HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2025/26 HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony today (June 29):
Ir T K Chiang (Deputy Chairperson of Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA), Mr Chiang Tung-keung), Professor Susanna Hui (Executive Committee and Council Member of HKMA), Professor Randy Lai (Deputy Chairperson of HKMA), Ir Professor Sunny Lee (Chairperson, Organising Committee of HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you all today at the Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony organised by the Hong Kong Management Association and sponsored by Hong Kong Telecom (HKT).
In Hong Kong and across the globe, businesses are transforming at unprecedented speed. Industries are being reshaped, business models reinvented, and technologies deployed in ways that redefine how value is created. In this fast-evolving landscape, innovation and technology (I&T) has become the lifeblood of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term success.
The launch of this Award is therefore both timely and visionary. It recognises organisations that have not only adapted to change, but have embraced it. I had the honour of attending the Kick-off Ceremony of this Award in 2022. It is a pleasure to return today and witness how it has grown from strength to strength, attracting 800 entries across its first three editions, including close to 100 non-local submissions from the Chinese Mainland and overseas economies. These achievements reflect not only the Award's rising influence, but also the vibrant spirit of innovation that defines Hong Kong's business community.
Hong Kong is now entering a new chapter of development under the National 15th Five Year Plan, which positions Hong Kong as an international I&T centre. Over the past few years, the Hong Kong SAR Government has been investing heavily in I&T infrastructure, talent development, cross-border collaboration, and the transformation of the industrial base. From the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park in Hetao to the San Tin Technopole; from the Sandy Ridge Data Cluster Facility to the expansion of our InnoHK research clusters, we are building the foundations of a world-class I&T ecosystem that connects the international market with the innovation engine of the Greater Bay Area.
At the same time, we are accelerating our embrace of AI and digital transformation at full speed. The Government is moving toward full digitalisation of its services. Today, all licensing and government services involving application and approval now support submission, payment and document collection by electronic means. We have rolled out over 100 new digital government and smart city initiatives by end-2025, covering the use of AI, blockchain technology, geospatial analysis and automation. The HKGAI (Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center), one of our InnoHK centres, has launched a series of generative AI applications built on a locally developed large language model, such as HKPilot and HKChat, and has received positive feedback with more than 720 000 registered users. These initiatives, together with the collective effort of stakeholders across sectors, have propelled Hong Kong to place second globally this year in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, with particularly outstanding performance in "Government efficiency" and third in "Business efficiency".
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate all the awardees and finalists. Your achievements are a testament to what Hong Kong's talent and enterprises can accomplish when they innovate with ambition and purpose. As we celebrate your success, I encourage all organisations in Hong Kong to continue investing in innovation, not only as a one-off project, but a continuous journey.
I would also like to thank the HKMA, HKT and all supporting partners for launching this meaningful Award to recognise excellence and encourage innovation across sectors. Let us continue to embrace new ideas and build a Hong Kong that is not only competitive today, but ready for the opportunities of tomorrow. Thank you.
Speech by SITI at 2025/26 HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
