Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products
Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six to seven months' imprisonment and fined $800 to $1,000, by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 10) and today (September 11) for importing and dealing with 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 an incoming Mainland female passenger, aged 49, and an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 30, at Hong Kong International Airport on June 10 and seized 9 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 81 600 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $282,500 and a duty potential of about $30,400, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were respectively sentenced to seven months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and six-months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 today.
In addition,Customs officers intercepted a 56-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on September 9 and seized about 38 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 8 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $195,000 and a duty potential of about $125,000 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $800 yesterday.
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.
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).
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by DSJ at graduation ceremony of Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice
Following is the speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the graduation ceremony of the Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice today (September 11):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. In the blink of an eye, the one-week Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice has come to a close. On behalf of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, I would like to congratulate you on the successful completion of the course. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Commerce for their invaluable support throughout the course.
Over the past week, we have explored a broad range of issues at the heart of international trade and investment. Our discussions began with geopolitical developments shaping the international trade, before turning to other sensitive issues such as export control measures and sanctions. We also examined legal drafting and dispute resolution issues, explored the global trade rules and emerging trade policy instruments, and discussed the impact of technological developments concerning virtual currencies and artificial intelligence. Finally, we concluded the course with an insightful panel discussion on Chinese enterprises going global and the role of Hong Kong's professional services sector.
I am sure that you would now have a better understanding of the various issues covered by this course, and would also appreciate how Hong Kong's legal and professional services can support Chinese enterprises in their global expansion. Allow me to add a few words on the last point by introducing the relevant initiatives of the Department of Justice, the DoJ.
To strengthen the connection between enterprises and Hong Kong's professional services sector, the DoJ has launched a number of new initiatives. First, we have been bringing Hong Kong's legal and other professionals directly into contact with enterprises pursuing global expansion. Second, in April this year, the DoJ published the Panel List of Hong Kong Legal Services Providers Supporting "Go Global". The list provides enterprises with a convenient reference point when looking for suitable Hong Kong legal service providers. Besides, we have compiled two collections of success stories. These publications highlight the experience and capabilities of Hong Kong's legal, accounting, financial and business consultancy sectors. Taken together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to strengthening Hong Kong's role as a premier centre for international legal and professional services.
As the course draws to a close, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the success of this programme. In particular, I would like to thank our distinguished speakers, including the moderators. Their time, preparation, and generosity in sharing their knowledge and practical experience have greatly enriched the course, and have made this course both intellectually stimulating and highly practical.
And of course, I would also like to thank all of you. Your active participation, your thoughtful questions, and valuable contributions have made this course far more than a series of lectures. I have just had the pleasure of hearing some of you sharing your reflections on the course. It has been most encouraging to hear your positive feedback, and the practical insights you have taken away for putting those insights into practice in your work. We hope that the knowledge, perspectives, and connections developed during the course will be useful in your current work, and will continue to support your professional development in the years ahead.
Before we conclude, I invite all of you to take a few minutes to complete the feedback form. Your views and suggestions are invaluable to us, and will help us further enhance our future training programmes.
I am sure that, after this week, many of you will leave Hong Kong with good memories of the city. We would be delighted to welcome you back for the Hong Kong Legal Week 2026, which will be held from November 2 to 6, 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Hong Kong Legal Week is an annual flagship event of the DoJ, bringing together legal professionals, business leaders, policymakers, academics and representatives from leading international organisations from Hong Kong and around the world. This year's theme is "Collaboration & Innovation: Legal Synergy for a Shared Future". It will feature practical exchanges and forward-looking discussions on cross-border trade, international legal co-operation, lawtech, etc, while showcasing Hong Kong's role as an international legal and dispute resolution hub and a gateway to the Greater Bay Area and other markets. We very much look forward to welcoming you back to Hong Kong in November.
On this note, I wish you every success in your future endeavours, and a safe and pleasant journey home.
Speech by DSJ at graduation ceremony of Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by DSJ at graduation ceremony of Training Course on International Trade and International Investment Legal Practice Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
