Judiciary expresses sorrow over passing of Gummow NPJ
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Judiciary today (September 17) expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Honourable Mr Justice William Montague Charles Gummow, Non-Permanent Judge (NPJ) of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA).
Mr Justice Gummow was appointed as an NPJ of the CFA of Hong Kong in 2013. He had sat on the CFA on many occasions, most recently in May 2026. He had also authored important judgments that have greatly enriched our jurisprudence.
Born in Australia in 1942, Mr Justice Gummow earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney. After 10 years in practice as a solicitor, he was called to the New South Wales Bar in 1976 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1986.
Mr Justice Gummow was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in 1986, followed by service as a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1995 to 2012. In recognition of his distinguished service, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1997.
Mr Justice William Montague Charles Gummow, Non-Permanent Judge (NPJ) of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA)
The Judiciary extends its deepest sympathies to his family.
Four incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Four incoming air passengers were sentenced to eight to nine months' imprisonment, each with a fine of $2,000, by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 16) and today (September 17) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).
Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a special enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers in recent days. Three Mainland male passengers aged 40, 22 and 36, arriving in Hong Kong from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and a Mainland male passenger aged 51, arriving in Hong Kong from Haikou, were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport. A total of about 260 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $1.17 million and a duty potential of about $860,000, were seized from their personal baggage.
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 and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Four incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
