Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $4,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 9) 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 (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted a 29-year-old incoming Mainland female passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on September 7 and seized about 46 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 1 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $211,000 and a duty potential of about $153,000 from her 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 female passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $4,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 9) 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. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session held successfully as HK and Macao young people experience remarkable achievements of the country's manned space development (with photos/video)
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government, the Macao SAR Government, and the China Manned Space Agency successfully organised the "Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session today (September 9), enabling young people from Hong Kong and Macao to engage in interactive dialogues with space experts and the Shenzhou-23 crew currently carrying out a manned space mission on the Chinese Space Station. Mission commander, Dr Zhu Yangzhu, astronaut Zhang Zhiyuan and Hong Kong's first payload expert Dr Lai Ka-ying, served as "space teachers" to deliver expert lectures to students, conduct real-time science experiments, and engage in interactive "dialogue between space and Earth".
Held at Dr Lai's alma mater, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College, "Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session featured in-orbit demonstrations, expert lectures and a question-and-answer session with students. Over 200 participants attended, including primary and secondary school teachers and pupils from Hong Kong and Macao, tertiary students, researchers and technology professionals, as well as representatives from youth organisations. The session lasted approximately one hour and thirty minutes, during which Dr Lai introduced the operational process of the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO). Developed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the MUSICO undertakes the important task of monitoring global greenhouse gases, contributing to national aerospace programmes and global sustainable development.
The astronauts introduced the facilities of the Tiangong Space Station to the students, including the core module instruments and experimental facilities, the space vegetable garden, the space kitchen and space food, and shared their daily lives and scientific research work on the space station. The astronauts also gave live demonstrations of fascinating science experiments, such as the impossible wringing-wet towel and the water sphere table tennis experiment in a microgravity environment in space. During the "dialogue between space and Earth", student and youth representatives from Hong Kong and Macao seized this rare opportunity to pose questions to the astronauts, engaging in space-earth interactive dialogues.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, expressed his gratitude to the China Manned Space Agency for its support, as well as to the various organisations and departments for their joint efforts, which have enabled students from Hong Kong and Macao to learn from the astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station and experience the lofty aspirations and formidable capabilities of the country's aerospace development.
He said that, over the more than 30 years of the development of China's manned space programme, every step has embodied the Chinese nation's indomitable spirit of self-improvement and courage in exploration. When the delegation from China's manned space programme visited Hong Kong in 2023, it sowed three important seeds for the city: a seed to foster national pride, a seed to explore science and technology, and a seed to encourage the pursuit of dreams. As Hong Kong's aerospace research and development has progressed from ground-based support to in-orbit operations in space, enabling Hong Kong people to explore the cosmos, it demonstrates that these seeds have not only taken root and sprouted, but are also thriving.
As the Hong Kong SAR Government is currently organising science popularisation and awareness-raising activities under the theme "A Shared Cosmic Vision for National Rejuvenation", Mr Lee encouraged all sectors of the society, particularly young people, to actively participate. He also expressed the hope that the younger generation would take astronauts as role models, equip themselves diligently, boldly pursue their dreams, and, through wisdom and hard work, serving the nation in building a strong aerospace country, thereby writing a brilliant chapter for the Chinese nation.
Under the themed publicity campaign of "A Shared Cosmic Vision for National Rejuvenation", the HKSAR Government will continue to roll out a variety of popular science education and publicity events to ignite young people's passion for aerospace technology and their spirit of exploration. Information on activities are available on the dedicated webpage (www.itib.gov.hk/en/payloadexpert), and members of the public are welcome to participate actively. Content on the website will be updated from time to time and members of the public could be kept posted on latest updates of the Shenzhou-23 mission.
Guests attending today's "Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session included the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and the Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Dr Kong Chi-meng. Local aerospace experts participating in the lectures included Professor Wu Bo of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Su Hui of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Professor Yao Zhonghua of the University of Hong Kong.
"Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session held successfully as HK and Macao young people experience remarkable achievements of the country's manned space development (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session held successfully as HK and Macao young people experience remarkable achievements of the country's manned space development (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session held successfully as HK and Macao young people experience remarkable achievements of the country's manned space development (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session held successfully as HK and Macao young people experience remarkable achievements of the country's manned space development (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
