Enhancement and improvement works to commence in Mong Kok Cooked Food Market
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (August 24) that enhancement and improvement works in the Mong Kok Cooked Food Market will commence on September 1 (Tuesday) to improve its operating environment and enhance the dining experience for the public. The works are expected to be completed by November this year. To facilitate the smooth implementation of the works, the cooked food market will be temporarily closed with effect from the same date.
The enhancement and improvement works in the Mong Kok Cooked Food Market will mainly focus on upgrading the entrance and dining areas of the cooked food market, including replacing ceilings, fans, roller blinds and ceiling lighting fixtures, as well as installing thematic lighting fixtures, electronic information panels, wash basins and umbrella dryers. The FEHD will also undertake other repair and maintenance works, including the replacement or repair of electrical and mechanical equipment and building services installations in the cooked food market.
The Government has been implementing the Market Modernisation Programme (MMP) since 2018. Through overhaul or redevelopment projects, stall enhancement projects and minor refurbishment or improvement works, the MMP improves the operating environment of existing public markets, facilitates tenants' business operations and provides a more pleasant shopping environment. The Queen Street Cooked Food Market is the first stall enhancement project under the MMP. The relevant works commenced in February 2024 and the Queen Street Cooked Food Market resumed full operation in September of the same year. Following its reopening, the average daily footfall of the Queen Street Cooked Food Market has increased compared with that before the enhancement works. The Queen Street Cooked Food Market has generally been operating smoothly and provides a modern and comfortable dining environment for the public. Moreover, stall enhancement works in the Ap Lei Chau Market Cooked Food Centre and the Luen Wo Hui Market Cooked Food Centre were completed in April and July this year respectively. Stall enhancement works in the Yue Wan Market Cooked Food Centre commenced in March this year and are expected to be completed by December this year.
The FEHD will continue to take forward the MMP to implement projects of various scales at suitable markets, with a view to keeping public markets abreast with the times to meet public needs.
Source: AI-found images
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 combats illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
