Category: MIL-OSI

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes       
     Customs officers intercepted an incoming 75-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on March 21 and seized 1 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $7,300 and a duty potential of about $5,800, from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment and fined $1,800 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.
      
     On the same day, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying teenager at the Lo Wu Control Point and seized 5 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $24,000 and a duty potential of about $19,000, from their personal baggage. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.
      
     In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 22) and seized about 67 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $302,000 and a duty potential of about $222,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.
      
     Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes 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 $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.hkIssued at HKT 19:00

Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme 2027 calls for applications 
     Applicants should be registered local non-profit-making performing arts groups or artists that have been active in the performing arts scene in the past year, with experience in public performances. The Department encourages applicants to bring in young talents and set the stage for them to shine in community arts.
 
     Each applicant is required to submit one proposal with a brief description of the project theme and content. The proposal should cover one of the following five types of performing arts: Chinese opera/operatic singing, dance, music, theatre arts (including drama, mime, magic and puppetry), and multimedia. The proposed projects should mainly feature touring performances and may include other activities such as workshops, excerpts from full performances, demonstrations, talks, exhibitions, and more.
 
     Applications can be submitted online, by post or by hand to the Audience Building Office (10/F, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai). Application forms can be downloaded from the Audience Building Office website (www.abo.gov.hk 
     A briefing session on the scheme will be held at 3pm on March 31 (Tuesday) at Room AC1, 4/F, Administration Building of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, to introduce interested individuals and arts groups to the application details of the scheme. There will also be experience sharing by previous Community Cultural Ambassadors. For registration details of the briefing session, please visit the Audience Building Office website.
 
     For enquiries about the scheme, please call 2591 1611, email amab1@lcsd.gov.hk, or visit the Audience Building Office website.
Issued at HKT 12:00

2026 Implementation Rules for Amending the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region gazetted      
     Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law provides that, when handling cases concerning offences endangering national security, law enforcement authorities of the HKSAR may take various measures that law enforcement authorities are allowed to apply under the laws in force in the HKSAR in investigating serious crimes, and may also take the measures stipulated in that article. Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law also authorises the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the National Security Committee, to make relevant implementation rules for the relevant measures. The Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Implementation Rules) made by the Chief Executive in conjunction with the National Security Committee for the first time came into effect on July 7, 2020.
      
     In the course of handling cases concerning offences endangering national security and the application of the Implementation Rules over the past several years, the HKSAR has gained some practical and implementation-related experiences. With reference to these experiences, as well as relevant court cases, the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the National Security Committee, made the Amendment Rules to enhance measures that the law enforcement authorities of the HKSAR may take and further clarify relevant legal procedures and technical arrangements, so as to strengthen the enforcement power of law enforcement authorities, prevent and investigate cases concerning offences endangering national security more effectively, and prevent and mitigate risks to national security in a timely manner.
      
     Safeguarding national security is a continuous endeavour with no end point. Given the current complex and volatile geopolitical situation, national security risks faced by the HKSAR may arise suddenly and unexpectedly. Therefore, the HKSAR Government must at all times maintain a high degree of vigilance, be always heedful of Hong Kong’s constitutional duty, continue to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and formulate comprehensive measures to safeguard national security, in order to prevent and mitigate risks to national security in a timely manner that may arise suddenly. The Amendment Rules were made by the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the National Security Committee based on the valuable experience gained by the HKSAR in safeguarding national security, which will help enhance the HKSAR’s capability to continuously safeguard national security.
      
     Enhancements and amendments to the Implementation Rules have been made by the Amendment Rules. The HKSAR Government has proposed to the Chairpersons of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services and the Panel on Security of the Legislative Council that a joint panel meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services and Panel on Security be held tomorrow (March 24) for representatives of the Security Bureau and the Department of Justice to brief Members on the content of the amendments.

     The detailed provisions of the Amendment Rules can be accessed via this website      
     The spokesman added, “The offences under the Amendment Rules, which are necessary for ensuring the effective carrying out of the measures, are formulated with reference to similar offences which already exist and are common in the laws of Hong Kong. The Amendment Rules clearly define each element of the offences and make clear stipulations in respect of mental elements, exceptions or defences etc. Law-abiding persons will not contravene the law inadvertently. The Amendment Rules will not affect the lives of the general public and the normal operation of institutions and organisations.”
Issued at HKT 12:00

Dates announced for second and third rounds of evidential hearings of Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and online pre-registration for public observation of second round of hearings 
     The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today (March 23) that it will hold the second and third rounds of evidential hearings, comprising 13 sessions in total, in April to receive evidence. The evidential hearings will be conducted in Cantonese from 10am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 4.30pm at the Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place, Central. Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and English will be provided in the City Gallery. Members of the public may pre-register for selected hearings that they wish to observe via the online system.
 
     The Committee will hear evidence in the evidential hearings on matters in accordance with its terms of reference. The Committee aims to clarify the relevant facts through oral evidence, written submissions, and other forms of evidence presented by witnesses. This will provide an important basis for the preparation of its report and recommendations.
 
     The schedule for the second round of six evidential hearings is as follows: