Focus on safety and compliance

Marcus Lum

Customs Commissioner Chan Tsz-tat said that discussions among customs officers have intensified following the arrest of an off-duty customs officer involved in a fatal motorbike crash on January 3.

Chan stressed the importance of compliance and the need for safety in all actions taken by personnel.

"Citizens must adhere to current laws, and in any situation, it is essential to comply with legal requirements," he said.

Chan weighed in on the necessity of considering the safety of others.

"Individuals should evaluate whether their actions are safe, factoring in both personal safety and the safety of others."

However, he refrained from commenting on whether the officer involved acted negligently in attempting to stop the motorcyclist, who subsequently crashed and died.

In efforts to combat the issue of illicit cigarettes, the Customs Department plans to amend the law this year, increasing the fine for tourists caught bringing in excessive duty-free cigarettes from HK$2,000 to HK$5,000. Offenders will face a penalty equivalent to five times the duty payable on goods.

Chan said that the law aims to enhance the deterrent effect against illicit cigarette trafficking.

Additionally, the department intends to trial a labeling system for cigarette packs by mid-2025. The labels will feature advanced security measures similar to those found on banknotes, along with digital components.

"The labels can be affixed during production, but they will remain inactive until duty is paid rather than on individual cigarettes," he explained, adding that labels will be destroyed once a pack is opened, preventing reuse.

He stated that cost considerations and effectiveness drove the decision to label duty-paid packs rather than individual cigarettes.

"In Hong Kong, cigarettes are only sold by the pack, so our focus must be on identifying whether a pack has paid duty," he said.

marcus.lum@singtaonewscorp.com