Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming passengers were respectively sentenced to four and eight months’ imprisonment and each fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 5) 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 an incoming 54-year-old Mainland female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on April 14 and seized about 12 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $50,000 and a duty potential of about $40,000, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 31-year-old Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, at HKIA on October 3 and seized a total of about 38 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $172,000 and a duty potential of about $126,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
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.
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).
Two incoming passengers were respectively sentenced to four and eight months’ imprisonment and each fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 5) 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 from the personal baggage of the incoming male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers were respectively sentenced to four and eight months’ imprisonment and each fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 5) 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 from the personal baggage of the incoming female passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Tung Chung today
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Tung Chung this afternoon (October 7), in which a male worker fell from height while dismantling a working platform on the external wall of a building under construction. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the erection, alteration, dismantling and use of the working platforms on the external walls of buildings at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."
The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take action pursuant to the law if any violations are found during the investigation."
To prevent workers from falling from height while dismantling working platforms, the LD reminds contractors to take adequate preventive measures against falls, including providing every worker with a suitable full-body harness that is attached continuously to a suitable and secure anchor point, an independent lifeline or a fall arresting system, and ensuring that workers concerned properly use the above safety equipment throughout the work.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of the family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
Source: AI-found images
