Hong Kong Customs raids suspected illicit cigarette and manufactured tobacco storage centre in Tsuen Wan
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 9) raided a suspected illicit cigarette and manufactured tobacco storage centre in Tsuen Wan and seized about 2.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 280 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of about $12.3 million and a duty potential of about $8.8 million.
During the anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Tsuen Wan last night, Customs intercepted a suspicious man moving suspected illicit cigarettes into a warehouse in an industrial building on Wang Lung Street, Tsuen Wan. Subsequently, Customs seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes and manufactured tobacco from the warehouse and a truck. The man, aged 35, who claimed to be a driver, was arrested.
Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
The arrested man has been charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on October 12.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes.Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs raids suspected illicit cigarette and manufactured tobacco storage centre in Tsuen Wan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
TD urges public and motorists returning to Hong Kong to travel outside peak periods as far as possible
The Transport Department (TD) today (October 12) urged members of the public who drive their private cars to and from the Mainland/Macao to note that it is anticipated more inbound cross boundary vehicles will travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) tomorrow (October 13). Members of the public are advised to plan their journeys ahead and travel outside peak periods as far as possible in response to the inbound travel peak after Chung Yeung Festival.
The public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile application to access the snapshots of traffic conditions at the inbound and outbound vehicle plaza of HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check the real time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts (or visit traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/).
The TD has worked with relevant Mainland authorities and operators to formulate plans to strengthen services at various ports, including increasing the frequency of the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), as well as arranging dedicated public transport lanes at the HZMB Port, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Shenzhen Bay Port as necessary, with a view to ensuring smooth public transport operations. Subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port to facilitate public transport vehicles to enter the above control points smoothly. Motorists are advised to pay special attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the road.
In addition, the TD has approached various public transport operators proactively to enhance the capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. Among them, the MTR will enhance train service of railway lines (including East Rail Line) until October 13, with a total of about 950 extra trips, so as to facilitate the travelling of local residents and visitors.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic and transport situation of various districts, boundary control points and major stations, and implement response measures where appropriate. Members of the public are advised to keep in view the latest traffic news through radio, television broadcasts and the TD's HKeMobility mobile application.
