A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (March 26) that the latest positive serology test results of the Pomeranian which previously tested weak positive for COVID-19 virus prove… read more
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the third meeting of the Anti-epidemic Fund Steering Committee today (March 26). The Steering Committee examined the lat… read more
Hong Kong Customs today (March 26) seized about 570 000 suspected illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products with an estimated market value of about $1.6 million and a duty potential of about $1.1 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 20-foot container declared as containing foods and daily goods arriving in Hong Kong from Kobe, Japan. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit HNB products inside 79 cartons mix-loaded with other goods inside 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 (DCO), tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. All HNB products containing tobacco in content are also dutiable goods subject to the control of the DCO. Any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Following a series of measures adopted in mid-March to combat collective illicit activities at the Tai Lam Correctional Institution, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (March 26) launched another operation to combat illicit activities.
Intelligence has revealed that following the operations launched in mid-March by the CSD, some aggrieved persons in custody had planned to incite a large group of persons in custody to engage in certain collective activities with a view to acting against the institution’s management personnel, who immediately closely monitored the target persons in custody. At around 7.30am today, during the issue of the morning meal, a male person in custody disrupted order in a dining hall, whereupon correctional officers immediately took disciplinary action against him. A group of persons in custody then lodged a collective complaint to exert pressure on the institution’s management to rescind the disciplinary action and stop combating the illicit activities in the institution. Intelligence also revealed that the persons in custody have incited others to participate in the collective illicit activities with the aim of worsening the situation.
Following an assessment and detailed planning, the CSD deployed at 2pm today reinforcements of more than 70 staff to the Tai Lam Correctional Institution, including the Regional Response Team, staff of Security Section, a Dog Unit and other reinforcement staff to conduct a surprise search on the target persons. A total of 22 persons in custody suspected of being involved in the collective illicit activities were removed from association and put under investigation. The operation is still in progress and the CSD will continue to closely monitor developments.
In order to assist persons in custody to rehabilitate in a safe and orderly environment, the CSD spares no effort in combating illicit activities of all kinds in its institutions.
Tai Lam Correctional Institution is a minimum security prison for the detention of male adult persons in custody who have records of repeated imprisonment.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at noon today (March 26), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 210 patients (97 male and 113 female, aged 7 months to… read more