Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 15) 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 30-year-old Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 14) and seized about 82 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $371,000 and a duty potential of about $273,000, 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 duty-not-paid 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 nine months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 15) 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
Enhancement works to commence in Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced today (October 15) that the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital (CGAEH) located in the Loop will undergo facilities enhancement works starting from October 20 (Tuesday), to provide patients with a better treatment environment. The works are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. Services at the CGAEH will be temporarily suspended during the works and will resume upon the completion of the project.
The spokesperson said, "The CGAEH has been in operation for over three years since April 2023, and hospital facilities generally require maintenance works every two to three years. The HA will carry out enhancement works based on facility usage and service needs. The project covers replacing the ceiling insulation materials, reinforcing and repairing frequently used flooring, and conducting routine maintenance of air-conditioning systems to maintain the stable temperature and humidity control required for precision medical equipment. Supplementary water tanks will also be installed to enhance the resilience of the water supply system and maintain water supply during emergencies."
The project aims to improve the hospital's environment and relevant facilities, making them better suited to daily operational requirements, providing patients with a more comfortable environment for examination and treatment, supporting healthcare workers in delivering services, and enhancing the patient experience. The works are scheduled to take place during the autumn and winter seasons to avoid the rainy season as much as possible, thereby minimising the impact of heavy rain and other adverse weather conditions on the progress. This will facilitate the completion of the works as planned, allowing the CGAEH to resume services at the earliest possible time.
In view of the works, the CGAEH will make appropriate arrangements for patients to ensure continuity of care and follow-up services. Patients scheduled for diagnostic radiology services, including computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging scan and ultrasound scan, will be arranged to receive follow-up services at hospitals within their respective clusters. The hospital will contact the patients concerned in due course regarding their new appointment dates and examination venues.
For patients who have booked sleep study services, urgent cases will be arranged to undergo testing at hospitals within their respective clusters, while the remaining non-urgent cases will be scheduled for testing after the CGAEH resumes services. Patients concerned will be notified of the relevant arrangements.
The CGAEH has also contacted patients with scheduled endoscopy and intravitreal injection appointments and made arrangements for their services.
The HA will issue push notifications through the mobile application HA Go to keep patients informed of the latest service updates. Patients may also check their latest appointment details via the "My Appointments" function on HA Go. For enquiries, patients may contact the CGAEH during office hours (see table below).
| Service | Enquiry hotline (during office hours) |
| Diagnostic radiology (including computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging scan and ultrasound scan) | 2683 7132 |
| Endoscopy | 9759 1790/5640 0710 |
| Intravitreal injection | 3505 3316 |
| Sleep study | 9829 8460/5640 0716 |
(during office hours)
Source: AI-found images
