Tag Archives: China

     A total of 93 persons in custody (PICs) at Shek Pik Prison (SPP) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (November 23) in recognition of their study efforts and academic achievements.

     In the past year, a total of 196 PICs at SPP have passed 309 papers with 168 distinctions and credits in various distance learning courses and public examinations covering different subjects including Chinese language, English language, mathematics, economics, business finance, business statistics, business administration, Putonghua, accounting and book-keeping organised by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, Caritas Institute of Community Education, the British Council and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The 93 PICs who were awarded certificates today passed 199 papers with 127 distinctions and credits. Among them, one PIC was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, one was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies, three were awarded Associate Degrees in Business Administration and four were awarded Associate Degrees in General Studies by the HKMU.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), Mr Herman Wai, said that the TWGHs is highly supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD. It set up the TWGHs Positive Life Education Fund in 2019, which runs for six years, to encourage PICs to continue their studies and assist rehabilitated offenders to reintegrate into the society.

     During the ceremony, renowned singer Anthony Lun was invited to partner with PICs to perform live music onstage. Moreover, a band composed of PICs at SPP staged a steel tongue drum performance to express gratitude to their families and people who had helped them rehabilitate. In the sharing session, two PICs shared their experiences in the course of rehabilitation and thanked their family members for their support.

     Also attending the ceremony today were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of certificate recipients.

     Situated on Lantau Island, SPP is a maximum security institution with a capacity of 426 penal places for male adult PICs.

          

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 22) raided a suspected illicit cigarette storage centre in Tsuen Wan and seized about 850,000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $3.2 million and a duty potential of about $2.1 million.
      
     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Tsuen Wan yesterday afternoon, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes at an industrial building unit. A 28-year-old man and a 33-year-old man, both claiming to be unemployed, who were suspected to be connected to the case, were arrested.
      
     Customs believes that the illicit cigarette syndicate used that unit as an illicit cigarette packaging centre. Criminals used audio speakers with internal structures hollowed out as a cover, and converted them into containers for storing illicit cigarettes in a bid to deter law enforcement efforts by Customs. An initial investigation revealed that the suspected illicit cigarettes involved in the case were intended to be exported to foreign locations before Christmas. Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
      
     The two arrested persons were charged with “dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies” and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (November 24).
      
     With the Christmas holidays approaching, Customs will continue to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts through a multi-pronged approach.
      
     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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

    

     Police Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters conducted an inter-departmental major incident exercise codenamed “BROKENPIN” with the Fire Services Department, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club, St. John… read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 22) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in Lau Fau Shan and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a speedboat. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, with an estimated market value of about $16 million, was seized.

     Customs yesterday conducted an anti-smuggling operation in Lau Fau Shan and spotted several suspicious men on the waterfront moving carton boxes onto a speedboat. Customs officers then took action and the men immediately jumped onto the speedboat and fled to the Mainland waters. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including mobile phones, computer tablets, dried deer tails, dried bird’s nest, suspected scheduled dried totoaba fish maws and suspected scheduled shark fin was seized on the ground nearby.

     An investigation is ongoing. 

     Being a government department specifically responsible for tackling smuggling, Customs has all along been combating various smuggling activities proactively at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to land a solid blow against relevant activities.

     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. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

          

     The Transport Department (TD) reminded the public today (November 23) that the HKeToll will be implemented in the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel from 5am this Sunday (November 26). Motorists can drive through the toll plaza and pay tunnel tolls using the HKeToll without having to stop or queue at toll booths for payments. All manual toll booths and Autotoll lanes will be cancelled.
      
     To tie in with the implementation of the HKeToll, temporary traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases in the vicinity of the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel and its slip roads starting from 1am on November 26. Both directions of the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel will be closed from 4am to 5am. During the closure of the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel, overnight franchised bus route No. 680 (Kam Ying Court – Central (Macau Ferry)) will be diverted via the Lion Rock Tunnel. Please refer to Annex 1 for the temporary traffic and public transport arrangements.
      
     At present, over 810 000 vehicle tags were issued, accounting for more than 99 per cent of the licensed vehicles in Hong Kong. About 92 per cent of vehicles have opened HKeToll accounts, and about 73 per cent of vehicles have set up automatic payment means. With the progressive implementation of the HKeToll in government tolled tunnels, the TD appealed to vehicle owners to complete the three steps for HKeToll service as soon as possible: (1) install a vehicle tag, (2) open an HKeToll account and (3) set up an automatic payment means, so as to fully enjoy the convenience of the HKeToll.
      
     In addition, the TD reminds vehicle owners with outstanding tolls that they must pay them within 14 business days after passing through the tunnels. They can log in to the HKeToll website (hketoll.gov.hk) or mobile app to check and pay the outstanding tolls. Motorists should note that late payments will incur a surcharge of $175, and that the maximum penalty for evading tolls is a fine of $5,000 (per trip), and the license of the vehicle concerned will not be renewed.
      
     If vehicle owners need assistance, they can browse the HKeToll website, call the 24-hour customer service hotline 3853 7333, or visit the four customer service centres, four service outlets, and consultation counters located at designated MTR stations. The locations and service hours of the facilities are shown in Annex 2.
      
     Following the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel, the Government plans to implement the HKeToll at the Aberdeen Tunnel in December. Details and exact dates will be announced separately.