https://www.scmp.com/rss/522147/feed The latest news and top stories on Chan Tsz-tat, Commissioner of Customs and Excise for Hong Kong. He assumed the role in late 2024, bringing over 30 years of extensive experience within the department, having progressed through various ranks since 1994. His responsibilities include safeguarding national security, combating drug and illicit cigarette trafficking and protecting intellectual property. He is actively engaged with major cross-border e-commerce platforms to prevent contraband sales... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s new ban on possessing e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, and related products in public places will take effect on April 30. Residents and visitors caught violating the rule could face a fine of up to HK$50,000 (US$6,380) and a maximum of six months in jail. The South China Morning Post looks into the details of the ban, its penalties and what both residents and visitors who use the products should keep in mind to avoid trouble. 1. What is the new ban? From April 30, an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351426/what-smokers-need-know-about-hong-kongs-new-e-cigarette-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351426/what-smokers-need-know-about-hong-kongs-new-e-cigarette-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities launched 18 joint operations against illicit refuelling stations this year amid a global surge in energy prices, with the customs chief noting that the practice has become increasingly common in urban areas. But Commissioner for Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat said on Saturday that despite the upwards trend, illegal refuelling was not widespread locally. “The cost of owning a private vehicle in Hong Kong is very high, and petrol prices here are undoubtedly among the highest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351406/toughest-stance-hong-kong-launches-18-operations-against-illegal-fuel-stations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351406/toughest-stance-hong-kong-launches-18-operations-against-illegal-fuel-stations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:17:03 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong will step up law enforcement against coerced shopping, unlicensed tour guides and unfair sales practices targeting visitors during mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week”, the city’s tourism minister has said. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that hotel occupancy rates in Hong Kong were expected to exceed 90 per cent during the period, with the government estimating that 980,000 mainland travellers would visit, up by 7 per cent from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351402/hong-kong-step-crackdown-coerced-shopping-scams-during-labour-day-golden-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351402/hong-kong-step-crackdown-coerced-shopping-scams-during-labour-day-golden-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:58:03 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Taiwanese rock band Mayday has sought to calm fans angered by the abrupt cancellation of one of its concerts planned for Hong Kong by inviting them to a free rehearsal, as complaints over the scrapped show soared to more than 100. The city’s customs chief also weighed in on Wednesday, warning that enforcement action would be taken if any laws were breached. The Consumer Council said that as of 5pm, it had received 111 complaints about the cancelled show – 42 from local consumers and 69 from fans... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346268/taiwans-mayday-invites-fans-angered-axed-hong-kong-show-free-rehearsal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346268/taiwans-mayday-invites-fans-angered-axed-hong-kong-show-free-rehearsal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:52:29 +0000 Harvey Kong,Theodora Yu,Oscar Liu Harvey Kong,Theodora Yu,Oscar Liu Hong Kong customs officers have intercepted more cross-border vehicles suspected of smuggling petrol into the city as fuel prices surge amid the war in the Middle East. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat said some vehicles had even increased the capacity of their fuel tanks to carry more petrol for supplying illegal filling stations. “In the past few weeks, we have uncovered many such cases including private cars that had enlarged their fuel tank capacity and made other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346170/hong-kong-customs-seizes-more-fuel-smuggling-trucks-iran-war-lifts-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346170/hong-kong-customs-seizes-more-fuel-smuggling-trucks-iran-war-lifts-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 03:28:47 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities recorded a 36 per cent increase in illicit cigarette busts last year, seizing HK$2.7 billion (US$345.4 million) worth of goods, as the customs chief warned of a new tactic of children being used to smuggle tobacco across the border. At a press conference on Thursday to review its work in 2025, the Customs and Excise Department reported that the number of illicit cigarette cases rose to 29,037 – a 36 per cent increase from 21,283 the previous year – despite higher duties and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343350/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk27-billion-illicit-cigarettes-busts-jump-36?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343350/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk27-billion-illicit-cigarettes-busts-jump-36?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:42:00 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s Security Bureau, police and customs have joined the government’s push to boost voter turnout in the coming Legislative Council election by releasing a series of lighthearted videos featuring top officials getting hair makeovers while using Cantonese puns to urge residents to vote. These clips play on the shared Cantonese pronunciation for “hair” and “law”, encouraging residents to prioritise voting over styling their hair. The campaigns feature Secretary for Security Chris Tang... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332393/hair-raising-hong-kongs-top-officials-style-cantonese-puns-poll-day-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332393/hair-raising-hong-kongs-top-officials-style-cantonese-puns-poll-day-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:09:02 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong customs has launched a three-month pilot scheme to test using laser labels on duty-paid tobacco products to help tackle the sale of untaxed cigarettes in the city. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat said on Tuesday that he was confident the labels would be difficult to counterfeit, adding that local tobacco companies were equipped to produce the laser labels. “They are capable of [producing the labels] and can quickly stick them onto each pack of cigarettes. Both we and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3328110/hong-kong-tests-laser-labels-tobacco-products-3-month-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3328110/hong-kong-tests-laser-labels-tobacco-products-3-month-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:27:39 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong police have unconditionally released a customs officer who was arrested in January after he tried to intercept a motorcyclist who later crashed and died. The police force announced the decision on Thursday almost eight months after the off-duty officer’s action became the subject of widespread debate over its appropriateness and legality. “After further investigation and seeking legal advice, police were informed by the Department of Justice that no criminal prosecution would be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323553/hong-kong-customs-officer-unconditionally-released-over-fatal-motorbike-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3323553/hong-kong-customs-officer-unconditionally-released-over-fatal-motorbike-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:06:12 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Fresh seafood and fruits arriving by air in Hong Kong for re-export can now be transferred directly to mainland China for clearance as one of several new measures to help the city remain competitive in a tariff-laden global trade environment, the customs chief has said. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat also told the Post in an exclusive interview that mainland-made electric vehicles (EVs) exported to Hong Kong could now be stored for free at Nansha port in Guangzhou, with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3321333/hong-kong-eases-seafood-fruit-and-electric-car-rules-tackle-us-tariff-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3321333/hong-kong-eases-seafood-fruit-and-electric-car-rules-tackle-us-tariff-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 13:21:29 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong customs will set up an armed escort team and boost collaboration to quickly dispose of tonnes of confiscated drugs kept in a secret warehouse, otherwise some substances may take 35 years to destroy, the agency’s chief has revealed. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat told the Post in an exclusive interview that his department had sped up procedures for disposing of confiscated drugs to enhance efficiency and as a measure to improve internal operations. The head of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3320613/hong-kong-customs-sets-armed-escort-team-drugs-pile-secret-warehouse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3320613/hong-kong-customs-sets-armed-escort-team-drugs-pile-secret-warehouse?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong customs has launched talks with major cross-border e-commerce firms, including Pinduoduo and Taobao, in a bid to block contraband from being sold to buyers in the city, the head of the disciplined service has revealed. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat told the Post in an exclusive interview that his agency had a robust communication mechanism with e-commerce platforms and had asked Pinduoduo to take down relevant products after a teenage boy was found to have bought... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320611/hong-kong-customs-talks-e-commerce-firms-such-pinduoduo-control-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320611/hong-kong-customs-talks-e-commerce-firms-such-pinduoduo-control-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:30:14 +0000