LegCo to Discuss Key Bills and Motions in Upcoming Meeting on July 8.

Northern Metropolis Development Bill to be introduced into LegCo for First Reading and Second Reading

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (July 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Northern Metropolis Development Bill, the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Employees Retraining (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.

Meanwhile, the Second Reading debate on the Stamp Duty (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

The Second Reading debate on the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2026 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

On government motion, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a proposed resolution under the Banking Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.

On Members' motions, Ms Nixie Lam will move a motion on "Enhancing the governance efficacy of civil service". The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Wu Yingpeng, Mr Chau Siu-chung, Mr Chan Cho-kwong and Mr Dennis Leung will move separate amendments to Ms Lam's motion.

Ms Julia Lau will move a motion on "Seizing the development opportunities of the Northern Metropolis and green transport and building an innovation-driven smart city". The motion is set out in Appendix 3. Ir Michelle Tang, Mr Kenneth Lau and Mr Yiu Ming will move separate amendments to Ms Lau's motion.

Meanwhile, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 4.

During the meeting, Mr Chan Yung and Mr Chan Hok-fung will present the "Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Annual Report 2025 and Reports of ICAC Advisory Committees" and the "ICAC Complaints Committee Annual Report 2025" respectively, and address the Council.

Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: AI-found images

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing / possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes

One incoming Mainland male passenger and two incoming local female passengers were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 to ten months' imprisonment and a fine of $500 by the Courts today (July 6) for importing or possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 33, at Hong Kong International Airport on May 15 and seized 136 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $681,000 and a duty potential of about $450,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 80-year-old local female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on June 29 and seized 381 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her backpack. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $1,900, and the duty potential was about $1,200. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,200 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 30-year-old local female passenger and her accompanying child at the same control point on June 30. Officers discovered that the female passenger had concealed 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $3,000 and a duty potential of about $1,980, in the backpack carried by her accompanying child. She was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling 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 importing / possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing / possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing / possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases