Woman Sentenced to 30 Days for Smuggling $23,000 in Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (July 18) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the 60-year-old incoming female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on July 10 and seized 5 611 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $23,000 and a duty potential of about $18,000 from her personal belongings. 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, tobacco products 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 $1 million and imprisonment for two 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).

CS chairs meeting of steering committee on inter-departmental handling of typhoons

With Tropical Storm Wipha approaching Hong Kong, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired a meeting of the steering committee on inter-departmental handling of typhoons this afternoon (July 18) to ensure comprehensive and adequate preparations and response planning by relevant departments to cope with possible threats of Wipha. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; and representatives from relevant bureaux and departments attended the meeting.

At the meeting, members were briefed by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory on the latest assessment on Wipha. According to the present forecast, Wipha will enter within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong around midnight tonight. The Observatory will issue the Standby Signal No. 1 then, and consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 during the day on Saturday (July 19). Wipha will be rather close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday (July 20). There will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. The Observatory will assess, on Saturday afternoon, the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals thereafter based on the latest weather information, including Wipha’s distance to the Pearl River Estuary, its intensity and the change in local winds. The public is advised to pay close attention to the latest weather forecast and warnings from the Observatory.

In response to the possible adverse weather conditions, Mr Chan co-ordinated the preparatory work of relevant departments at the meeting, which includes:

The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) under the Security Bureau has made advance preparation and stands ready for activation. It will be fully activated upon the issuance of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8. Utilising the Common Operational Picture, the EMSC will conduct real-time citywide monitoring, and integrate updates from various departments to swiftly assess risks and formulate response plans and measures. Various emergency response teams, including the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service have completed all necessary preparatory work and are on standby, with sufficient manpower deployed to handle possible emergencies during heavy rainstorms and high wind, and to provide assistance to those in need.

The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will continue to operate round-the-clock. It will also closely monitor traffic and transport conditions with public transport agencies, and disseminate emergency traffic information and public transport service arrangements to the public in a timely manner.

The Development Bureau (DEVB) is co-ordinating preparation work to deal with flooding, landslides and fallen trees and ensure safety of building structures. Emergency control centres of various departments are fully prepared to respond. The DEVB has also pooled the resources from contractors of works departments to ensure that sufficient manpower and resources are available for handling emergency situations.

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) completed the special inspection and carried out necessary clearance at about 240 locations which are prone to flooding due to blockages today. The “just-in-time” arrangement will continue, with at most 180 emergency response teams to conduct inspection and clearance of drainage channels in different districts across the territory. For coastal low-lying or windy residential areas with high risks, the DSD and the Civil Engineering and Development Department have established management measures in advance, including early warning systems and emergency response arrangements.

The Geotechnical Engineering Office and the Observatory closely monitor weather conditions and will issue a landslip warning when appropriate. Relevant departments have completed inspections of government man-made slopes with relatively higher potential impacts.

The Buildings Department has reminded property management companies to inspect building maintenance facilities, such as bamboo scaffolding, gondolas, signboards, solar panels and the like, to ensure their stability.

Relevant departments have completed tree risk assessments and mitigation work at locations with high risks.

The Highways Department (HyD) inspected again the flood warning systems installed at Kwun Tong Road Underpass and 16 pedestrian subways along Shing Mun River in Sha Tin, Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po and Tai Po River with a higher risk of flooding fromJuly 16 to 18 to ensure normal operation. In collaboration with the DSD, the department also carried out special inspections and clearance of public road sections which are prone to flooding due to blockages, including high speed road sections, such as San Tin Highway. The HyD also carried out special inspections and clearance of the drainage channels at roadside man-made slopes. In addition, the HyD has reminded relevant staff members and contractors to pay close attention to weather conditions and information released by the Observatory in order to make early preparations for the activation of the Emergency Control Centres.

District Offices have initiated relevant response measures, including co-ordinating with other departments and organisations to enhance preparedness, preparing sandbags and water-stop boards, etc. They will also mobilise District Council members, members of “the three committees” and Care Teams to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas, reminding them to make necessary preparations.

The Education Bureau will closely monitor the weather conditions and announce the arrangement for schools as early as necessary to facilitate parents and students in making early preparations.

The Labour Department reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees in times of typhoons and rainstorms as early as possible, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable). In drawing up and implementing the arrangements, employers should give prime consideration to employees’ safety and the feasibility of employees travelling to and from their workplaces, etc. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations and actual difficulties faced by individual employees, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach.

The Government departments will continue to serve with dedication and make preparations on all fronts to safeguard the lives and property of the public as well as public safety. The Government urges the public to stay alert and stay away from dangerous places such as rivers and slopes in adverse weather conditions, refrain from water sports, and continue to pay attention to the latest news released by the Government.