Hong Kong Customs combats illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers
Hong Kong Customs mounted a three-day enforcement operation codenamed "Tempest" between August 19 and 21 and detected illicit cigarette smuggling cases involving air passengers. A total of about 1.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $6.2 million and a duty potential of about $4.5 million were seized. Fourteen persons connected with the cases were arrested.
To combat the smuggling of illicit cigarettes by crime syndicates using inbound passengers, Customs strengthened enforcement and mounted a special operation at the airport.
During the operation, Customs arrested 14 passengers, aged between 23 and 56, and arriving in Hong Kong from the Southeast Asian region. An investigation revealed that the check-in baggage carried by the arrestees was fully packed with duty-not-paid cigarettes and contained no other personal belongings.
All the arrestees have been charged with dealing with, possessing, importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, or failing to declare to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). Nine of them were convicted at the Magistrates' Courts and sentenced to immediate imprisonment ranging from eight months to 20 months. One of the arrestees was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for smuggling over 180 000 illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong. Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.
Customs believes that the operation displayed its enforcement effectiveness in intercepting illicit cigarette at the source. The operation is ongoing. Customs will keep strengthening passenger clearance based on risk assessment to combat cross-boundary illicit cigarette activities. Passengers are reminded not to engage in illicit cigarette smuggling to avoid the risks of getting caught. Customs will also closely monitor illicit cigarette syndicates and continue the multipronged enforcement strategy to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities.
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).
Hong Kong Customs mounted a three-day enforcement operation codenamed "Tempest" between August 19 and 21 and detected illicit cigarette smuggling cases involving air passengers. A total of about 1.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $6.2 million and a duty potential of about $4.5 million were seized. Fourteen persons connected with the cases were arrested. Photo shows some of the suspected illicit cigarettes seized at the airport. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Statement by ExCo Non-official Members
The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (October 29) issued the following statement on the Government's follow-up work in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court:
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today released the report of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The Chief Executive and Principal Officials also held a press conference to give an account of relevant matters to the public. ExCo Non-official Members expressed full support for the Government in facing up to the problems, shouldering responsibility, and pursuing comprehensive reforms.
The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "The Chief Executive and Principal Officials have clearly explained to the public the Government's follow-up work, and, on behalf of the HKSAR Government, apologised to the residents of Wang Fuk Court and the community, demonstrating sincerity and political commitment. The Chief Executive also called on his team to continue to give their utmost in their respective positions in pressing ahead with various reforms and the extensive work ahead, while drawing lessons from the incident and better exercising leadership to step up the implementation of the result-oriented governing approach. I support this position."
"The Government's plans to implement comprehensive reform on the basis of the Independent Committee's report are comprehensive and pragmatic, addressing the crux of the issues. I concur with the seven major directions of systemic reform put forward by the Government. These include combatting bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation projects, establishing a cross-departmental task force to combat crimes related to bid-rigging in such projects, establishing a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, reforming the operation and regulatory system for building maintenance and renovation, reforming the structure of the Buildings Department, establishing a centralised data system and reforming the complaint mechanism, and establishing a steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration to follow up on the Independent Committee's recommendations."
As regards accountability, the Government has demonstrated its determination to pursue responsibility comprehensively and enforce accountability at various levels. On criminal liability, law enforcement authorities have successively instituted prosecutions against the companies and individuals involved in the incident. The Government has also initiated the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism under the Heads of Department Accountability System, and is strictly following up on the administrative responsibility of the civil servants concerned. As for political accountability, the Chief Executive, having considered a wide range of factors, decided that the Secretary for Housing should take political accountability, and has accepted the Secretary's resignation.
The fire at Wang Fuk Court has exposed a number of long-standing inadequacies at different systemic levels, and the issues involved are complex and intertwined. Properly addressing these issues requires firm resolve as well as precise and decisive decision-making. ExCo Non-official Members will give their full support to the Government in taking forward comprehensive reforms and will continue to fully support its governance. ExCo Non-official Members firmly believe that, as long as society works together with dedication to turn grief into the strength to move forward, learns from the experience, and thoroughly implements systemic reforms, similar incidents can certainly be prevented, making Hong Kong a safer and better home.
