DH clarifies false information on private dental online platform
The Department of Health (DH) clarified today (September 11) regarding the false information and practice status of government Dental Officers published on a private dental online platform. The DH urges members of the public not to trust unverified information.
The Department of Health, Photo source: reference image
The DH recently received a complaint regarding several government Dental Officers working at a private dental clinic. The DH's preliminary investigation revealed that a private dental online platform listed a dental clinic located in Mong Kok, where there are over 340 practicing dentists, including information on more than 200 serving full-time government Dental Officers.
The DH clarified that no currently serving full-time government Dental Officers are engaged in outside work at private dental clinics. The DH reiterated that all the practice information of the listed full-time government Dental Officers on the online platform is entirely false and mispresented. The DH has reported the incident to the Police.
The DH appeals to members of the public to verify the names, professional qualifications and practice addresses of registered dentists through the List of Registered Dentists published online by the Dental Council of Hong Kong. To ensure safety, they should not trust unverified information on the Internet.
Photo source: reference image
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
