Local man convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
A local man was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 8) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 60-year-old man for inspection at the Chung Ying Street Checkpoint in Sha Tau Kok on June 24. Upon inspection, a total of 700 duty-not-paid cigarettes were found on him and in his shoulder bag, with an estimated market value of about $3,500 and a duty potential of about $2,300. He was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offence.
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).
A local man was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 8) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes around the waist of a 60-year-old man. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
A local man was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 8) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKUST and consortium of French companies ink pact to advance low-carbon retrofit via new investment model
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 8) welcomed the signing of the first works contract and a second-phase Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and a consortium of French companies, marking a progressive step that translates the low-carbon retrofit partnership commenced in September 2025 into concrete action.
Signed by HKUST, Schneider Electric and Veolia, the works contract sets a retrofit pilot in motion at the Lee Shau Kee Business Building on the HKUST campus. It adopts a groundbreaking Energy Performance Contract (EPC) model, under which both French companies finance the upfront investment, to be recovered over a 15-year term through verified energy savings, while HKUST bears no construction or equipment costs. At its heart is an AI-powered system that senses real-time classroom occupancy and adjusts the cooling mechanism automatically, keeping users comfortable while cutting wasted energy. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
As well, HKUST,Bouygues-Dragagesand Veolia signed the second-phase MOU that aims to extend the collaboration beyond the initial building to student residences and other campus blocks. It will also explore innovative financing mechanisms to support the broader retrofitting across Hong Kong. Together, these two agreements move the partnership toward a scalable, data-oriented, and market-driven model for decarbonising the city's built environment.
These latest initiatives build upon the publication of the Team France Green Paper by a coalition of French diplomatic, trade, and commercial entities in Hong Kong back in April 2024 - collectively known as Team France - dedicated to accelerating the city's path to carbon neutrality by 2050. Supported by the strategic advisory of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau and the facilitation of InvestHK, this groundwork led to a pilot retrofit partnership with HKUST in 2025.
Officiating the signings, the Consul-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Christile Drulhe, said, "After the signing of the first-phase MOU last year, I am delighted to see HKUST and our partners in Team France press ahead and turn ambition into action through this pioneering project. By leveraging the HKUST campus as a pilot to drastically reduce energy consumption and French investment as a test case of public-private partnership, this initiative powerfully demonstrates how French innovation and Hong Kong excellence can accelerate the low-carbon transformation of our built environment."
The Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "Carbon neutrality is crucial to communities and businesses alike, while offers immense business opportunities. This collaboration highlights how world-class European green technology aligns with Hong Kong's targeted green ambitions. In this groundbreaking pilot, we do not just facilitate investment but also help build an addressable sustainability market that connects government, industry, academia, research and investment."
Acting President of HKUST, Professor Tam Kar-yan, said, "Our partnership with Team France began in 2025 with an MOU to explore opportunities in building decarbonisation and retrofitting. That MOU laid a strong foundation for what we formalise today: a performance-based model defined by measurable outcomes and clear accountability under this EPC. We are moving from intention to implementation, and through a second-phase MOU with Team France, expanding collaboration to the broader retrofit initiative, reflecting HKUST's enduring commitment to decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and a net-zero future."
Given that over 90 per cent of Hong Kong's existing buildings are expected to still be standing in 2050, the retrofit sector offers substantial opportunities for European and international companies to invest, innovate, and grow, while contributing to the high-quality development of the city.
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 8) welcomed the signing of the first works contract and a second-phase Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and a consortium of French companies, marking a progressive step that translates the low-carbon retrofit partnership commenced in September 2025 into concrete action. Photo shows the second-phase MOU signed by the Acting President of HKUST, Professor Tam Kar-yan (front row, centre); the President of Schneider Electric Hong Kong, Mr Jonathan Chiu (front row, right); and the Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Laurent Pelletier (front row, left). The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Consul-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Christile Drulhe (back row, fifth right); the Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau (back row, centre); the Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Sammy Yeung (back row, fifth left); and the Chief Development Strategist of the Institute for the Environment at HKUST, Professor Christine Loh (back row, fourth right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 8) welcomed the signing of the first works contract and a second-phase Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and a consortium of French companies, marking a progressive step that translates the low-carbon retrofit partnership commenced in September 2025 into concrete action. Photo shows the first works contract signed by the Acting President of HKUST, Professor Tam Kar-yan (front row, centre); the Chief Executive Officer Asia Pacific of Bouygues-Dragages, Mr Bruno Botella (front row, right); and the Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Laurent Pelletier (front row, left). The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Consul-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Christile Drulhe (back row, centre); the Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau (back row, second left); the President of Schneider Electric Hong Kong, Mr Jonathan Chiu (back row, first right); the Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Sammy Yeung (back row, first left); and the Chief Development Strategist of the Institute for the Environment at HKUST, Professor Christine Loh (back row, second right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
