Murder and suicide in Kwai Chung
Police are investigating a murder and suicide case in Kwai Chung yesterday (May 13) in which a woman and a man died. At 11.56am yesterday, Police received a report from a woman that she suspected her… read more
Police are investigating a murder and suicide case in Kwai Chung yesterday (May 13) in which a woman and a man died. At 11.56am yesterday, Police received a report from a woman that she suspected her… read more
A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 160 hours’ community service order at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (May 14) for illegal possession of alternative smoking products (ASPs) and Part 1 poison.
On December 20, 2022, the Police found the man involved in the case transporting ASPs using a lorry parked near Ping Yeung Chuen, Fanling. Over 50 000 pieces of nicotine-containing electronic cigarette product were found inside the lorry. The case was referred to the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) for further investigation.
The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) prohibits the promotion, manufacture, sale and possession for commercial purposes of ASPs. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), nicotine (except tobacco) is listed as a Part 1 poison, which can only be sold at pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists. Illegal sale or possession of Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
Since the ban on ASPs came into effect on April 30, 2022, the TACO has issued 635 summonses to offenders for importing ASPs, resulting in 353 convicted cases with fines up to $24,000 as at March 31, 2024. Over the same period, the TACO has issued 18 summonses to offenders for suspected sale or possession for commercial purposes of ASPs, of which 11 cases (involving 17 summonses) were convicted with a maximum penalty of two months’ imprisonment.
A spokesman for the DH said that the department will continue to take stringent enforcement action. The spokesman also cautioned against the use of any ASPs and stressed that these products contain amounts of nicotine similar to those of conventional cigarettes in order to sustain addiction. In addition, health hazards of long-term exposure to these new products are unknown. The Government appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. They are encouraged to call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses and provides professional counselling services on smoking cessation. Information on smoking cessation can also be obtained from www.livetobaccofree.hk/en/index.html. read more
The Chief Executive in Council approved today (May 14) adjustments to the urban, New Territories (NT) and Lantau taxi fares, with increases of $2 in flagfall charge, $0.2 in the incremental charge for the first-tier distance after flagfall, and $0.1 in the incremental charge for the second-tier distance after flagfall. Details of the new fares are as follows:
Flagfall charge for the first 2 kilometres or any part thereof |
|||
Urban taxis | NT taxis | Lantau taxis | |
Existing fare | $27 | $23.5 | $22 |
New fare | $29 | $25.5 | $24 |
Incremental charge for each 200 metres travelled after flagfall | |||
Urban taxis | NT taxis | Lantau taxis | |
First-tier distance | 2-9km | 2-8km | 2-20km |
Existing fare | $1.9 per jump | $1.7 per jump | $1.7 per jump |
New fare | $2.1 per jump | $1.9 per jump | $1.9 per jump |
Second-tier distance | after 9km | after 8km | after 20km |
Existing fare | $1.3 per jump | $1.3 per jump | $1.5 per jump |
New fare | $1.4 per jump | $1.4 per jump | $1.6 per jump |
Hong Kong Customs on May 7 detected a suspected case of using an ocean-going vessel to smuggle goods to Taiwan at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. A large batch of unmanifested goods with an estimated market value of about $160 million was seized inside two containers.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities, and identified an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for inspection. After examination, Customs officers found a large batch of unmanifested goods, including suspected scheduled dried shark fins and skins, suspected scheduled wood furniture, electronic components and electronic products, inside two containers on board the vessel.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
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 Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a required licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (May 14) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of April 2024.
Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, decreased during the month by HK$60.9 billion to HK$3,460.2 billion.
The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,916.2 billion.
Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$305.1 billion.
Foreign liabilities amounted to HK$22.3 billion.
The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
*********************************************************
At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund’s data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s SDDS. The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund’s Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA’s policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of May 2024, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
May 7 (Issued) |
SDDS International Reserves (Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
May 14 | SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank (Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
May 31 | SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity |
May 31 | Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account |