Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing an alternative smoking product, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted a 20-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 26) and seized 75 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 7 600 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $364,100 and a duty potential of about $247,900 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.
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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 air passenger was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products seized in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Sexual Offences Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2026 to be gazetted on Friday
The Government will publish the Sexual Offences Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2026 (the Bill) in the Gazette on Friday (November 13).
A spokesperson for the Security Bureau today (November 11) said, "The Bill aims to achieve two policy objectives, namely, strengthening protection for victims of sexual offences, and modernising the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong to keep pace with the times.
The Security Bureau. Photo source: reference image
"At present, many of the sexual offences in Hong Kong are based on similar provisions in the laws of England enacted in 1956. Over the years, social perceptions related to sexual offences have been evolving. We also notice that there are inadequacies in the existing sexual offence provisions. For instance, some offences are gender-specific, resulting in a narrow scope; some provisions carry distinctions based on sexual orientation; some offences lack consistency on treatments across genders; the provisions and penalties of some sexual offences are not fully commensurate with the gravity of relevant acts; and some terminology used in some provisions is outdated. The Government considers it necessary to review and improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, so as to address the inadequacies of the current provisions and respond to changes in social perceptions related to sexual offences."
The spokesperson said, "The range of legislative amendment proposals is based on the coverage and recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in its review of relevant legislation, and on the study of developments in relevant legislation in other major common law jurisdictions (including Australia, Canada, England and Wales, New Zealand, Scotland and Singapore), covering different areas including non-consensual sexual offences, sexual offences involving children and persons with mental impairment, miscellaneous sexual offences, and other related amendments proposed to strengthen protection for victims of sexual offences.
Photo source: online image
"We consulted the Panel on Security of the Legislative Council (LegCo) on July 7 on the Government's legislative amendment proposal, and received its full support. We also conducted a one-month public consultation exercise from July 7 to August 5, with a total of 6228 written submissions received. Among them, 99.3 per cent (6182 written submissions) showed support and made positive comments, fully reflecting that the legislative amendment proposal has gained wide support from the community."
The spokesperson added, "Our legislative amendment proposal has also incorporated suggestions received by the Government during the public consultation exercise, including the creation of a new offence to deal with perpetrators' criminal acts of prolonged and repeated sexual abuse against children. We will also criminalise the cybercrime of 'cyberflashing' through the refinement of provisions."
The spokesperson emphasised, "We hope to improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, the earlier the better, to strengthen protection for victims of sexual offences while ensuring that the laws on sexual offences can keep pace with the times."
The Central Government Offices. Photo source: reference image
The Government will introduce the Bill into the LegCo on November 25 for First Reading and Second Reading, with the target of completing the legislative exercise within the current term of Government.
