Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes and liquor
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 11) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and liquor, and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 56-year-old local woman at the Lo Wu Control Point on August 9 and seized about 14 300 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 150 millilitres of duty-not-paid liquor from her personal baggage, with a total estimated market value of about $58,600, and a duty potential of about $47,300. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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 female passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 11) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and liquor, and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and liquor seized and the personal baggage used to conceal them. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE attends Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development and APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Beijing
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting (EMM) in Beijing yesterday (September 10) and today (September 11), and met with officials of the National Energy Administration (NEA).
Mr Tse attended the Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development yesterday morning. The discussion topics included promoting openness and collaboration, unlocking investment opportunities in sustainable energy development in the Asia-Pacific region; enhancing connectivity across APEC economies to strengthen global sustainable energy industrial and supply chains; and driving a new paradigm for energy development in the Asia-Pacific region through technological innovation and emerging technologies.
Mr Tse also met with Vice Administrator of the NEA Mr Wang Jianbo during the Forum to exchange views on deepening regional energy co-operation, and introduce the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in achieving net-zero electricity generation and carbon neutrality.
In the afternoon of the same day, Mr Tse attended the opening session of the APEC EMM. The theme of this year's meeting is "Forge an Innovative and Synergistic Asia-Pacific Energy Community for All".
Speaking at the opening session, Mr Tse stated that the HKSAR continues to be the freest economy in the world and a trusted common law jurisdiction. Moreover, as an international financial centre, the HKSAR is well positioned to promote green finance, which benefits regional co-operation and innovation. He also emphasised that the HKSAR is fully aligned with APEC's goals to reduce energy intensity and increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. Based on the achievements already made in carbon emissions reduction, the HKSAR has been striving to reduce carbon emissions by half before 2035 against the 2005 level, and attain carbon neutrality before 2050.
This morning, Mr Tse also attended thematic discussion sessions of the APEC EMM, joining representatives from APEC member economies to discuss areas such as universal access to high-quality energy services, AI, and energy, and challenges and strategies for collaborative energy governance in the Asia-Pacific region, jointly promoting energy co-operation and innovation in the region.
During the discussion session on high-quality energy services, Mr Tse said the two power companies of Hong Kong import fuel from diverse sources globally and maintain a stable energy supply. The HKSAR Government also monitors the companies' financial, technical and environmental performances through the Scheme of Control Agreements, and keep electricity tariffs generally affordable through annual tariff reviews. The HKSAR Government will continue to explore and study different energy solutions in accordance with development needs, with a view to maintaining a stable and safe energy supply on the one hand, and contributing to the sustainable development of the APEC region on the other.
Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong tonight (September 11).
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministerial Meeting in Beijing on September 10. Photo shows Mr Tse speaking at the opening session. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministerial Meeting in Beijing today (September 11). Photo shows Mr Tse (sixth right) speaking at the thematic session on high-quality energy services. The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying (fifth right), also attended. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (third left), attended the Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development in Beijing yesterday (September 10) and met with Vice Administrator of the National Energy Administration Mr Wang Jianbo (third right). Looking on are the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Mr Eddie Cheung (fourth left), and the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying (second left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (third right), attended the Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development in Beijing yesterday (September 10). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
