Development Bureau receives 22 expression of interest submissions for the three pilot areas of large-scale land disposal in Northern Metropolis
The Development Bureau invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOI) for the three pilot areas of large-scale land disposal in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, Fanling North New Development Area and San Tin Technopole on December 31, 2024. The invitation for the EOI closed today (March 31), and a total of 22 submissions have been received.
The spokesperson said, "The enterprises/organisations making the submissions include local and Mainland developers, contractors, conglomerates and e-commerce logistic company, etc. We will immediately consolidate and analyse the collected feedbacks to determine the area, development parameters, works requirements and financial arrangements etc for the pilot areas, in order to finalise the tender details and conditions later."
The spokesperson added, "As the feedbacks involve commercially sensitive information from individual enterprises, they will not be disclosed. However, relevant views will be duly reflected in the tender conditions in due course as appropriate."
Large-scale land disposal is one of the innovative and diversified development approaches in the Northern Metropolis. Under this approach, the Government will identify sizeableparcelsofland, including those with commercial value and public facilities, for integrated development by successful tenderers. This aims to better leverage market forces to expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis while reducing the Government's financial outlay. The Development Bureau will take forward the three pilot areas in full steam, with a view to commencing the tendering work progressively from the second half of this year to next year.
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to seven months and five days of imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 3) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted a 38-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on February 6. About 34 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 12 000 alternative smoking products were seized from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. Upon investigation, Customs officers also discovered that the passenger had arrived at HKIA on July 10, 2024, and had not yet claimed his personal baggage, which contained about 14 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes. As such, a total of about 48 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 12 000 alternative smoking products, with a total estimated market value of about $239,000 and a duty potential of about $163,000, were seized in this case.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, 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.
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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 and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
