Two incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to eight months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).
Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a special enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers. Two Mainland male passengers aged 30 and 33, arriving in Hong Kong from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 9). A total of about 130 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $590,000 and a duty potential of about $433,000, were seized from their personal baggage.
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 and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to eight months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). Photo shows the illicit cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of one of the incoming passengers. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in July
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 10) released the first batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in July, covering 11 survey areas, as follows:
| District | Survey Area | July 2026 |
| First Phase Gravidtrap Index | First Phase Density Index |
| Eastern | North Point and Quarry Bay | 9.7% | 1.7 |
| Southern | Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau | 9.1% | 1.8 |
| Wan Chai | Happy Valley and Tai Hang | 3.4% | 1.0 |
| Tin Hau and Causeway Bay | 1.9% | 1.0 |
| Wan Chai | 1.9% | 1.0 |
| Kowloon City | Kai Tak | 16.3% | 1.1 |
| Yau Tsim | Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei | 6.3% | 1.0 |
| Sha Tin | Tai Wai | 0.0% | N/A |
| Kwai Tsing | Kwai Chung East | 2.3% | 1.0 |
| Tsuen Wan | Tsuen Wan Town | 6.8% | 1.3 |
| Tuen Mun | Tuen Mun South | 5.6% | 1.7 |
The FEHD continues to carry out a series ofmeasures, including:
- convening special meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders, such as construction site contractors, schools and property management companies, in strengthening venues' mosquito control work;
- conducting risk assessments to identify locations with more serious mosquito infestationto carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control work, including stepping up inspections, eliminating mosquito breeding and potential breeding grounds, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at appropriate locations;
- organising exhibitions with the relevant departments and stakeholders, and distributing leaflets and posters; and
- notifying residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management companies and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.
During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at a public housing estate in Kowloon City District, the FEHD has issued a statutory notice to the responsible person-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:
- tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside the premises;
- remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
- check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
- change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
- properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
- properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
- scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
