Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 17) for possessing 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 private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday (August 16) and seized 11 600 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $52,200 and a duty potential of about $38,300, from a 30-year-old Mainland male passenger's personal luggage. The male 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 male passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 17) for possessing 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 concealed in the personal luggage of the 30-year-old Mainland male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 17) for possessing 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
SEE begins visit to Shanghai
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Shanghai today (August 17).
Upon his arrival in the afternoon, Mr Tse met with the President of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, Mr Chen Haibo, with leaders of the International Cooperation Department of the State Grid Corporation of China and the State Grid International Development Company Limited also participating. He then visited the Power Dispatching and Control Center of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company to learn about Shanghai's latest developments in the monitoring and management of the electricity grid system.
Mr Tse later attended the launching ceremony of the "Green Dreams Come True: HK Electric Green Energy, Innovation, Technology and Cultural Study Tour", organised by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited and supported by the State Grid Corporation of China. During his speech, he pointed out to the teachers and students from Hong Kong at the ceremony that the country has made swift progress in green and low-carbon transition in recent years. Under the 15th Five-Year Plan, the country is accelerating the formation of a new energy system, pursuing proactively the target of reaching carbon emission peak, enhancing the capability to address climate change, improving the quality of the ecological environment, and implementing the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".
He also shared with the teachers and students the work of the Environment and Ecology Bureau on green and low-carbon transition. It strives to reduce the carbon emissions by half by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, thereby making Hong Kong a low-carbon, green and liveable city.
Mr Tse further stated that Hong Kong's carbon neutrality by 2050 and the country's future development rest in the hands of the younger generation. He encouraged students to seize the opportunity to understand the country's achievements in green and low-carbon development as well as technological innovations, to experience the historical legacies and inheritance of the Chinese culture, to develop aspirations, and to make personal pursuits to become a part of the overall national development.
Mr Tse will continue his visit to Shanghai tomorrow (August 18).
SEE begins visit to Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit to Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit to Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
