Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 7) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted two incoming Mainland male passengers, aged 32 and 42, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 5 and 6 respectively, seized a total of 61,816 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $280,000 and a duty potential of about $205,000 from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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).
Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 7) for importing 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 from the personal baggage of the 42-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 7) for importing 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 from the personal baggage of the 32-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Third batch of HKSAR young public officers to work at United Nations
The third batch of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) young public officers recommended by the Central Government of the People's Republic of China will be taking up positions in the United Nations (UN). The Launch Ceremony was held at the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (OCMFA) today (September 8).
With the support of the Central People's Government and the assistance of the OCMFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) recommended 16 young public officers to participate in the UN Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme in the current round, marking a record high. This fully reflects the nation's recognition of the capabilities of the HKSAR's civil servants, and underscores the nation's care, trust and aspirations for Hong Kong's youth. The 16 officers come from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Census and Statistics Department; the Civil Engineering and Development Department; the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department; the Department of Justice; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Hong Kong Observatory; the Hong Kong Police Force; the Intellectual Property Department; the Lands Department and the Independent Commission Against Corruption of the HKSAR Government. They will be working in the UN Headquarters, and the UN offices in Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; and Nairobi, Kenya, as Chinese personnel, and will begin departing from this month for two-year tenures.
Addressing the Launch Ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that the HKSAR Government will soon promulgate The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), which will fully align with the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, improve mechanisms for Hong Kong to assume a greater role in the country's opening up to the world, and harness Hong Kong's role as an important window for exchange and mutual learning between the Chinese and Western cultures. Hong Kong youth applying their professional expertise and perseverance on the international arena exemplifies the HKSAR's alignment with national strategies and contribution to overall national diplomacy. It is also Hong Kong's responsibility and mission to contribute to the nation's endeavours to promote the building of a global community with a shared future. The young public servants sent by Hong Kong to international organisations bring together the city's professional strengths and practical experience across a number of key fields. They will represent Hong Kong's glorious contributions towards helping the country fulfil its commitments as a leading nation to work with the international community in addressing the challenges of the times.
Mr Lee encouraged the third batch of officers with three "hearts", a heart for the nation, a heart for Hong Kong and a heart for the world. He urged them to serve as pioneers in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as the driving force in promoting the high-quality development of the HKSAR, and as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" connecting the nation with the world. Mr Lee expressed his hope that the third batch of officers would build on the achievements of the preceding two batches, and tell authentic and compelling stories of Hong Kong on the international stage. He also encouraged them to transform their takeaways into an innovative mindset and momentum for propelling the socio-economic development of the HKSAR in the future.
Accompanied by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Mr Lee had an exchange with the third batch of officers to learn about their preparation before departure, and wished them every success in their work in the UN. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, and a number of Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments also attended the Launch Ceremony.
The primary objective of the UN JPO Programme is to provide young professionals with opportunities to work and learn under the guidance of professional officers, thereby accumulating practical experience in the field of multilateral international co-operation. The HKSAR sent five and 12 young public officers recommended by the MFA to participate in the Programme in 2019 and 2023 respectively. They performed outstandingly and were highly commended by the UN side, with some having their tenures extended.
Third batch of HKSAR young public officers to work at United Nations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Third batch of HKSAR young public officers to work at United Nations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
