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SCMP Reporter

Twelve accused in car smuggling operation

One person from Hong Kong and three from Macau are among 12 defendants facing trial in a  Foshan  court over alleged involvement in car smuggling. The defendants are accused of evading about 95 million yuan in import tariffs by buying cars in Hong Kong and Macau  and smuggling them to the mainland via Zhuhai  between 2001 and 2004. The group moved 285 cars with an estimated value of 200 million yuan, the Legal Daily reported.

Details on new posts  to be in Policy Address

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen  will outline his proposal that administrative assistants be appointed to ministers in his Policy Address in October, and it will then be opened for public consultation, the constitutional affairs secretary said yesterday.

Stephen Lam Sui-lung  told lawmakers  that those selected for the new posts were expected to stand for election to the Legislative Council after serving  in the government and could eventually return to the government as ministers.

Mr Lam said the proposal was aimed at widening the pool of political talent and improving public participation in political affairs.

Visa-free extension denied to transit visitors

The Security Bureau has declined a request from lawmakers to extend the seven-day visa-free period for mainland passport holders entering Hong Kong in transit, saying more prostitutes and illegal workers  from the north  might abuse the policy if it  were changed.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong told lawmakers  most transit visitors from the mainland spent only two to three days in Hong Kong.

The government has also ruled out granting visa-free status to Iranian citizens,  citing security reasons. A total of 170 countries enjoy visa-free status in Hong Kong.



In Brief