HKETO Berlin Supports Hong Kong Delegation’s Mission to Boost Investment in Slovakia

HKETO Berlin supports Hong Kong Productivity Council delegation’s “go global” visit to Slovakia

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin), supported a Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) delegation visit to Bratislava, the Slovak Republic, on June 16 and 17 (Bratislava time).

The HKPC’s European study mission aimed to promote investment and co-operation opportunities between Hong Kong and the Slovak Republic. The Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, highlighted that Hong Kong provides a “go global” platform, which leverages Hong Kong’s business advantages and professional services to support enterprises expanding overseas.

“Against the backdrop of technological advancements and globalisation, overseas expansion of enterprises in pursuit of sustainable growth has become commonplace. Hong Kong’s professional services providers have extensive experience across various sectors and can help companies upgrade and transform their operations,” said Mr Wong.

During the visit, the delegation met with senior representatives of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency as well as the National Innovation and Technology Centre to promote Hong Kong’s strengths in supply chain management and intellectual property protection. The delegation also visited the production site of Volkswagen to understand the needs of local operators.

On June 17, Mr Wong met with the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic to exchange views on finance and taxation matters. Mr Wong also visited the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislavaand Comenius University Bratislava to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand and explore strengthening higher education collaboration between the two places.

About HKETO Berlin

HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to two months’ imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (June 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 43-year-old local female passenger and an incoming 69-year-old Chinese female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on January 5 and seized 1 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes from their baby stroller, with an estimated market value of about $6,500 and a duty potential of about $3,900. Both passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).