Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 28) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 45-year-old Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (September 27) and seized about 9 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $40,000 and a duty potential of about $30,000, from his 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.
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 male passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 28) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
National Day Fireworks Display to be held at 8pm on October 1
The National Day Fireworks Display will light up the sky over Victoria Harbour at 8pm on October 1 (Thursday) to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. More than 30 000 firing shells will be discharged in an approximately 23-minute extravaganza. The event is co-ordinated by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and sponsored by Sun Life Hong Kong Limited.
The display, themed "Eternal Radiance Fireworks in Bloom, Illuminating our Country", comprises eight scenes. The first scene, "Praise our Motherland", features golden brocade crowns surging into the sky with green and blue shells tracing majestic mountain ranges and flowing rivers, capturing the grandeur of China's vast landscape. The second scene, "You are the Sunshine of my Life", showcases layered gold and red rings forming sunflower patterns, symbolising hope and steadfast confidence. The fourth scene, "Dreams in the Starry Galaxy", presents an interstellar panorama with multicoloured changing shells and swimming stars, reflecting the courage of Hong Kong people to pursue their dreams. The grand finale, "Celebration to our Prosperous Nation", features a spectacular burst of red and gold fireworks like the rising sun, conveying best wishes for the country's continued prosperity and for Hong Kong to shine even brighter.
The display can be viewed from both sides of the harbour, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Mid-Levels, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Hung Hom. Members of the public are invited to tune into Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 (FM 97.6 to 98.9) for synchronised music to enhance their fireworks experience.
To facilitate the Police's implementation of special crowd management measures at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade for the display, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Space Museum will close earlier at 5pm on that day.
Members of the public are urged to keep public areas clean, respect public property, and take care in crowded areas.
National Day Fireworks Display to be held at 8pm on October 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
National Day Fireworks Display to be held at 8pm on October 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
National Day Fireworks Display to be held at 8pm on October 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
National Day Fireworks Display to be held at 8pm on October 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
