Mainland Woman Sentenced to 8 Weeks' Imprisonment for Possessing Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes in Hong Kong

An incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming Mainland female passenger was sentenced to 8 weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (August 31) 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 48-year-old Mainland female passenger and her accompanying child at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on August 29 and seized 1 581 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $7,900 and a duty potential of about $5,200, from the backpack carried by her accompanying child. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

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 Mainland female passenger was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (August 31) 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 in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Occupational safety and health training courses open for applications

The Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department (LD) will launch a wide range of occupational safety and health training courses from October to December in 2026. The courses aim to enhance the working population's awareness of occupational safety and health, as well as their understanding of the legal requirements and standards stipulated in occupational safety and health regulations.

The training courses cover a wide range of topics, namely:

1. Major Safety and Health Legislation related to Industrial Accident Prevention and Their Latest Amendments
2. Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation and Safety Inspection Programme and Accident/Incident Investigation
3. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention on Work in Confined Spaces and other Safety Legislation related to Risk Assessment
4. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention in Logistics Industry (including Use of Tail Lifts) and the latest revised Guidance Notes on Prevention of Trapping Hazard of Tail Lifts
5. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention in Office Work (including Storage Work)
6. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention in Property Management Industry
7. Industrial Accident Cases Analysis and Related Safety Legislation and Major Safety and Health Legislation related to Employees'Duties
8. Safety Legislation for Working in times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment
9. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention on Electrical Work on Construction Sites and Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention on Demolition Work on Construction Sites
10. A Brief Introduction to Safety Legislation and Codes of Practice related to Construction Work (including Renovation, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition Works)
11. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention on Working at Height (including Truss-out Bamboo Scaffolds and Suspended Working Platforms) and Codes of Practice on Scaffolds and Suspended Working Platforms (including the latest revised Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety)
12. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention on Lifting Work (including Tower and Mobile Cranes) and Codes of Practice for Safe Use of Tower and Mobile Cranes
13. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention on Loadshifting Machinery Operations (including Excavator and Compactor) and Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platform and the latest revised Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (new course)
14. Legislation on Comprehensive Smoking Ban on Construction Sites and Major Safety Legislation and Codes of Practice related to Fire Safety (new course)
15. Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and Regulation (with one class to be conducted in English)
16. Major Safety Legislation related to Accident Prevention in Catering Industry
17. Safety Legislation for Manual Handling Operations
18. Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Dangerous Substances) Legislation

Unless otherwise specified, the courses will mainly be conducted in Cantonese at the LD's Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre, 13/F, KOLOUR Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan. Enrolment is free.

Employers who wish to arrange for their employees to attend the courses can log in to the application website (www.oshtc.labour.gov.hk/wpas/?lang=en) or scan the QR code (see Annex) to learn about the course content and sign up for the courses. Interested employees can also enrol in the courses through the abovementioned channels on their own. For enquiries, please call 2940 7057.

Source: AI-found images