Hong Kong Customs Delegation Signs MoC for Fresh Fruit Transhipment in Guangzhou Visit

Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to visit Guangzhou Customs District

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, yesterday (November 6) led a Hong Kong Customs delegation to Guangzhou for a two-day visit.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Chan attended the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) regarding the regulations of air-to-air transhipments of fresh fruits to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport via Hong Kong International Airport. Witnessed by Mr Chan; the Vice Mayor of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government,Mr Zhang Rui; the Director General in Guangzhou Customs District,Mr Li Quan; the Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), Mr Bi Kexin; the Director General of the Guangzhou Airport Economic Zone Management Committee, Mr Li Xiaodong;the Director General of the Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau, Mr Wei Min; and the Director General in Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Customs House of Guangzhou Customs District, Ms Yao Mei, the Assistant Commissioner (Boundary and Ports) of Customs and Excise, Mr Lie Yan-ning, and the Deputy Director General in Guangzhou Customs District,Mr Zhuo Hantao, signed the MoC.

The signing of the MoC is to comply with the GACC's regulatory requirements for transhipment of fruits, which took effect in November 1, and to strengthen co-operation between the two customs authorities in facilitating the smooth air-to-air transhipment of fruits from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. Through an innovative regulatory model, Hong Kong Customs issues Certificates for Transhipment Confirmation to eligible fruit consignments, ensuring that the transhipments of fruits remain in their original packaging together with original phytosanitary certificates, thereby promoting the high-quality development of fruit trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

During the visit, Mr Chan met with the Director General in Guangzhou Customs District,Mr Li Quan, to exchange views on deepening collaboration between the two Customs administrations. The delegation also visited Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourseto learn about how the Guangzhou Customs District appliessmart technology in the clearance of passengers, air cargo as well as cross-boundary horses.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to visit Guangzhou Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to visit Guangzhou Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to visit Guangzhou Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to visit Guangzhou Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to visit Guangzhou Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 7) 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 44-year-old Mainland female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (November 6) and seized about 26,800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $134,000 and a duty potential of about $88,600 from her 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 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).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases