â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 11) seized about 3 000 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid water pipe tobacco with an estimated market value of about $8.3 million and a duty potential of about $6.9 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a container arriving in Hong Kong from the United Arab Emirates via Singapore declared to be carrying molasses. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected duty-not-paid water pipe tobacco in the container.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid tobacco 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 tobacco activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Three new names, Yamaneko, Yun-yeung and Koinu, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2019 to replace the old names Hato, Kai-tak and Tembin respectively.
 
     The new names were endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee at its 51st session held in Guangzhou. The meanings of these three new names and the contributing countries/regions are as follows:
 

 
     According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. In August 2017, Hato momentarily attained super typhoon intensity over the sea area south of Hong Kong and brought damaging winds and severe storm surge to the coast of the Pearl River estuary. While 129 people were injured in Hong Kong, there were at least 10 deaths and more than 240 injuries in Macao. The direct economic loss in Macao exceeded MOP9 billion. In Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Guizhou and Yunnan, there were at least 15 deaths and one missing during the passage of Hato. Around 740 000 people were affected and over 6 500 houses collapsed. The direct economic loss exceeded RMB28.2 billion. Tropical storm Kai-tak and typhoon Tembin hit the Philippines in succession within a week in December 2017, triggering severe flooding and landslides. At least 294 people were killed and more than 204 people were missing in total. Over 70 000 people were made homeless.
 
     The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings is available at the Hong Kong Observatory website at www.weather.gov.hk/informtc/sound/tcname2019e.htm.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

     Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 12) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District have been suspended until further notice.

     First aid services will be maintained at the beach.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     In view of the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity of Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai this morning, the Labour Department (LD) today (June 12) urged employers to give due consideration and be flexible if employees cannot resume work in time because of commuting problems. 

Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Here is an Education Bureau special announcement concerning schools:

     Since students' attendance of school may be affected by abnormal traffic conditions in the Wan Chai and Central and Western districts today (June 12), the Education Bureau suggests that schools adopt contingency measures under school-based mechanisms and exercise flexibility when handling individual students' lateness or absence.

     The bureau calls on schools to make suitable arrangements, take proper care of students on campus, maintain communication with parents and, when class is dismissed, allow students to return home only under safe conditions.
     â€‹
     The bureau reminds students to put their personal safety above everything else at all times, stay away from potentially dangerous places and not to take part in unlawful activities.