Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming passenger was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 10) 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 an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 23, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 9) and seized 62 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $312,000 and a duty potential of about $206,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
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).
An incoming passenger was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 10) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 10) released the first batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 10 survey areas, as follows:
| District | Survey Area | August 2026 |
| First Phase Gravidtrap Index | First Phase Density Index |
| Kwun Tong | Yau Tong and Cha Kwo Ling | 0.0% | N/A |
| Sham Shui Po | Lai Chi Kok | 5.4% | 1.3 |
| Wong Tai Sin | Wong Tai Sin East | 4.2% | 1.5 |
| North | Fanling North | 0.0% | N/A |
| Sai Kung | Sai Kung Town | 3.8% | 1.0 |
| Sha Tin | Sha Tin East | 6.5% | 1.0 |
| Kwai Tsing | Lai King | 9.8% | 1.4 |
| Tsuen Wan | Sheung Kwai Chung | 7.3% | 1.5 |
| Tsuen Wan West | 0.0% | N/A |
| Yuen Long | Hung Shui Kiu and Ping Shan | 2.1% | 1.0 |
During the rainy season, the FEHD continues to carry out a series of measures, including:
- interdepartmental collaboration: 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 mosquito control work at venues;
- precise risk assessments: carrying out intensive and targeted mosquito control work at locations with more serious mosquito infestations, 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;
- promotion and education: organising exhibitions with relevant departments and stakeholders, and distributing leaflets and posters to enhance public awareness of mosquito control and prevention; and
- rapid alert mechanism: notifying residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, and advising property management companies and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.
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 August Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
