pProperty owner fined nearly $60,000 for not complying with removal order
An owner was convicted and fined $59,350 in total, of which $44,350 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday (June 30) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts, Kwun Tong Law Courts Building
The case involved an unauthorised structure of about 25 square metres on the roof of a commercial building on Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. For failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.
A spokesman for the BD said today (July 3), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety."
Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
Source: AI-found images
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming Chinese male passenger was sentenced to five months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 3) 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 a 35-year-old incoming Chinese male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 2). About 28 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from his personal baggage. The estimated market value was about $142,000, and the duty potential was about $93,800. He was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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).
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
