Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette peddling activities
Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette peddling activities
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Hong Kong Customs mounted a large-scale special anti-illicit cigarette operation codenamed “Tempest” in February 19 to step up enforcement in combating illicit cigarette activities on all fronts at each control point and across various districts. During the operation, Customs not only cracked down on cross-boundary cigarette smuggling activities by interception in the upper stream and shut down storage and distribution centres in the middle, but also tackled peddling activities in the lower end. Today (April 15), Customs also conducted operations in Sham Shui Po and detected three illicit cigarette peddling cases.
Customs officers intercepted three suspicious men, aged 23, 59 and 67 respectively, in Sham Shui Po this afternoon and seized between 200 to 800 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes on each of them. They all claimed the cigarettes were for personal use. The three arrested men were charged with “possession of goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies”.
As of today, Customs has detected a total of 179 peddling cases of illicit cigarettes this year, with a total of about 150 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $610,000 and a duty potential of about $430,000, seized. A total of 179 individuals, including 160 men and 19 women, aged between 17 and 86, were arrested. Most of them are buyers of illicit cigarettes and there is a trend of young people being involved. Also, Customs found that more than half of the cases occurred in Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan districts. The number of illicit cigarettes seized from the arrested persons ranged from 100 to over 6 000 sticks, with the majority intended for personal use.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Among the illicit cigarette cases in 2023, the court sentenced a maximum penalty of four months’ imprisonment on individuals who purchased illegal cigarettes for personal use. Customs reminds members of the public, especially young people, to never become involved in illicit cigarette activities to avoid creating a criminal record that affects their future.
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).
FEHD steps up enforcement against suspected organised unlicensed hawking activities in Sham Shui Po District over past few days (with photos)
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The spokesman said that the department noticed that there have been a large number of suspected organised unlicensed hawking activities in Sham Shui Po recently in the evening and at night hours, including using vehicles as stalls to occupy the road for selling, causing serious nuisance to the public. Regarding unlicensed hawking activities near Pei Ho Street Market, the FEHD has received 156 complaints in the first three months of this year. Persons involved in unlicensed hawking activities have repeatedly ignored warnings issued by FEHD staff and even abused them. Intimidating behavior is unacceptable and it is necessary for the FEHD to step up its crackdowns.
The FEHD, together with the HKPF, conducted raids in the area of Tai Nan Street, Pei Ho Street Municipal Services Building and Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po for five consecutive days from April 8 to 12. During the operations over the past few days, the FEHD conducted a total of 27 prosecutions against relevant offenders for suspected unlicensed hawking and obstruction of public places, and seized approximately 3.2 tonnes of goods or articles. The age of the unlicensed hawking persons involved ranged from 25 to 59 years old. During the operations, the HKPF also prosecuted relevant vehicles that violated regulations and caused obstructions, and issued a total of 36 fixed penalty notices. The person who acted intimidatingly towards FEHD staff has been arrested by the HKPF and is under investigation.
According to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), no person is allowed to hawk on the streets unless he holds a valid hawker license issued by the FEHD. Offenders may be prosecuted. Upon conviction, first-time offenders may be fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for one month. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for six months, and the goods and equipment involved will be seized and confiscated. If unlicensed hawking activities obstruct passageways, law enforcement officers may use the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228) to charge offenders causing obstruction by placing items in public places. Upon conviction, they may be fined $25,000 or imprisoned for three months.
The spokesman pointed out that the FEHD will take appropriate actions based on the actual situation. Generally speaking, if the unlicensed hawking activities do not involve the sale of prohibited or restricted food or cooked food, and are not carried out on main thoroughfares or in places with a constant flow of pedestrians, FEHD staff will first give a verbal warning. If the warning is unheeded, prosecution action will then be taken. For elderly or disabled hawkers, FEHD staff will deal with them in a more lenient manner under reasonable circumstances. However, if unlicensed hawking activities cause serious nuisance to the public or severely affect environmental hygiene, it is necessary for the FEHD to take decisive enforcement actions.
If members of the public discover suspected unlicensed hawking activities, they may call the FEHD hotline 2868 0000 to report them.
Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during National Day Golden Week period (with photos)
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Government of Canada moves forward on commitments to strengthen the pesticide review process June 20, 2023 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring responsible pesticide management across the country. Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, along with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), announced next steps toward a sustainable approach to pesticides management while giving farmers the tools they need to keep providing reliable access to safe and nutritious food. In addition, Health Canada published a Notice of Intent, which began consultations on proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations (PCPR). These proposed amendments are a result of the 2022 consultations on targeted review of the Pest Control Products Act. Following consultation with stakeholders to better understand Canadians’ expectations about the pesticide regulatory review process and its transparency, Health Canada has restarted the science-based process of evaluating acceptable increases to pesticide residue limits, in line with international guidelines. The health and safety of Canadians will remain at the forefront of the process. Additionally, the Government of Canada is eliminating the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes on federal lands through amendments to the Greening Government Strategy (GGS), led by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS). The GGS specifies how the Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon and climate-resilient operations by 2050, while also reducing environmental impacts beyond carbon, including on waste, water and biodiversity. ECCC will generate real-world data to help make progress on this sustainable approach to pesticides management in Canada and to better understand the impacts of pesticides on the environment. These next steps from the Government of Canada are aligned with Canada’s commitment to implementing the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The Framework includes a focus on reducing the overall risk from pesticides by at least half by 2030. There are many ways to reduce risk that are not correlated to reduction in pesticide use, for example, the timing of application, the effectiveness of a given product, science, and other pest management approaches. As such, the GBF target focuses on the overall impacts and risk management of pesticides and does not command a specific target reduction in pesticide use. Health Canada has been and will continue to increase the transparency and accessibility of decisions, including posting plain language summaries of key decisions online and disclosing applicants’ names as applications enter the review stage for both pre- and post-market. Health Canada has also launched the external Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) for pest control products and consulted key stakeholders on a transition to a continuous oversight approach and systematic review of emerging science. “It is only through a whole of government approach that we will be more successful in creating a sustainable way forward in pesticide management for the safety of our health, the environment, and wildlife. By taking these initial steps today, we are paving the way towards stronger pesticide management in Canada.” The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Health “Real-world data is critical to enhancing our understanding of the impacts of pesticides on the environment. By increasing monitoring and research on this issue, and eliminating the unnecessary use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes on federal lands, the Government of Canada is taking important first steps to support its commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.” The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada “Pesticides are part of the toolbox agricultural producers use to protect their crops from pests and contribute to their productivity. The measures announced by our government today help to ensure responsible access, framed by reliable data, to these essential inputs, while protecting health and the environment.” The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada “Today, a new approach was put forward to eliminate the non-essential, cosmetic use of pesticides on federal lands. Our commitment to leading by example through the Greening Government Strategy is not just about the fight against climate change, but also about protecting biodiversity and greenspaces. This amendment will put these goals into action and further expand our efforts.” The Honourable Mona Fortier President of the Treasury Board of Canada To further strengthen the transparency and sustainability of pesticide management in Canada, on August 4, 2021, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $50 million in Health Canada’s PMRA and AAFC’s pest management research, to be supported by ECCC and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Health Canada, ECCC, CFIA and AAFC have been working in collaboration on PMRA’s Transformation Agenda. At the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) in December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted; this framework sets out direction for global actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, including four goals to achieve by 2050, and 23 targets to reach by 2030. ECCC is leading work on a whole-of-government approach to implement the GBF, including the development of Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy. The Science Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products (SAC-PCP) was launched in January 2022 and act as an advisory role to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is working to develop the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, which will be a coordinated approach to agri-environmental issues. Discussions that are currently underway provide an opportunity to consider the sustainable use of pesticides and potential impacts on water, soil health, and biodiversity. Working together with the agriculture sector, AAFC intends to set a shared direction for collective action to improve environmental performance over the long-term while supporting farmer livelihoods. Guillaume Bertrand Media Relations DH steps up organ donation registration promotion in 18 districts
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From June 19 to 30, the DH will set up 18 organ donation promotion booths at various District Health Centres, community halls and Home Affairs Enquiry Centres, etc. The public can register their wish to donate organs at the booths so as to bring hope to patients awaiting organ transplants and their families. For details of the promotion booths, please visit: www.organdonation.gov.hk/en/promotional_activities.html.
The CODR, set up by the DH in 2008, aims to facilitate voluntary registration of prospective donors and to record their wish to donate organs reliably and securely. The CODR enables healthcare personnel responsible for organ donations to know about the wish of the deceased to donate their organs, and the bereaved families to acknowledge and honour such wishes to rekindle the lives of others.
A spokesman for the DH said that there are currently over 2 000 patients in Hong Kong with organ failures in imminent need of organ transplants. Without matched organs, these patients have to depend heavily on devices and drugs to sustain their lives. Many of them have lost their lives before the right organ match became available. To shorten the waiting time of patients and give them a new lease of life in time, active support for organ donations by the public is exceptionally important.
Hong Kong has been adopting an “opt-in” system for cadaveric organ donations, under which even if a deceased person has registered in the CODR, organ donation co-ordinators would seek the consent of the deceased’s family members. Should there be any objection from the deceased’s family members, the relevant transplant operation will not be performed. In this regard, the CODR is an effective way for donors to clearly express to their families and healthcare personnel their wish to donate organs after death. Moreover, it is also vital that donors speak to their family members about their organ donation wish. Experience demonstrates that when the bereaved are apprised of their loved ones’ expressed wish to donate organs before their death, family members are likely to be inclined to respect and fulfil the wish. By sharing the decision with their family members, donors can ensure that their spirit of benevolence will be realised after their passing.
The DH is calling on members of the public to actively support organ donations and garner support from their families and friends for this benevolent act to rekindle the lives of others, and help spread the message to every corner of society.
In addition to registering at the promotion booths, the public can also register at the CODR website (www.codr.gov.hk) or submit completed registration forms to the CODR Office by post or by fax. For more information about organ donations, please visit the thematic website at: www.organdonation.gov.hk or the “Organ Donation at HK” Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/organdonationhk.
Hong Kong – FEHD steps up enforcement against suspected organised unlicensed hawking activities in Sham Shui Po District over past few days (with photos)
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (April 13) that the FEHD and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) have conducted law enforcement operations in Sham Shui Po over the past few days to combat the increasingly rampant and suspected organised unlicensed hawking activities in the district, so as to keep streets clear of obstruction and maintain environment hygiene.Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during National Day Golden Week period (with photos)
Hong Kong Customs launched an operation today (September 28) to step up patrols during the National Day Golden Week period at popular shopping spots in various districts and to remind traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors.
Apart from patrolling popular shopping spots, Customs officers will also drive publicity at dried seafood and ginseng shops, pharmacies and jewellery shops in different tourist shopping areas such as Yau Tsim Mong and Causeway Bay. Retail shops and workers in the tourist industry will be reminded to comply with the requirements of the TDO.
Customs will also remind local consumers and visitors that they should have a good understanding of a product’s specifications and make comparisons before purchase. They should patronise shops with a good reputation. They are also reminded to check carefully the total price and unit price of the goods before making payment, and to retain the transaction receipts and related records, which can become basic information in case a complaint is lodged in the future.
Customs has all along been concerned about visitors being misled to make purchases by unfair trade practices and has established a Quick Response Team to handle urgent complaints lodged by short-haul visitors. The complaints will be promptly referred to investigators to handle with priority.
Under the TDO, any trader who adopts unfair trade practices, including making false trade descriptions in relation to goods, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices as well as bait and switch practices, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report suspected violations of the TDO to the 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/).Canada – Announcing the next steps toward a sustainable approach to pesticides management in Canada
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
media@ec.gc.caHong Kong – DH steps up organ donation registration promotion in 18 districts
The Department of Health (DH) today (June 15) appealed to members of the public to actively support organ donations. The DH has been committed to promoting registration for organ donations and will further strengthen its efforts by setting up promotion booths in 18 districts during the two weeks following next Monday (June 19). Members of the public can obtain information about organ donations and register in the Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR) on-site.Ads
