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New measures to deter use of duty-not-paid hydrocarbon oil
Customs officers of the Diesel Oil Enforcement Division of the Marine and Land Enforcement Command today (Friday) cracked down a smuggling venture which used cross-border dump trucks to deliver duty-exempted diesel oil from China.
The smuggled diesel oil was for distributing to illegal refuelling stations at an open ground in Sha Tau Kok Road near the border.
Three men were arrested and 2,500 litres of duty- exempted diesel oil worth $16,900 and attracting a duty potential of $7,225 was seized. Two cross-border dump trucks and one light goods vehicle were detained.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said that in view of the current rampant situation of illegal use of duty-not-paid hydrocarbon oil, the department was taking new measures to deter vehicle drivers and owners from using duty-not-paid hydrocarbon oil as fuel.
Two new measures will be implemented shortly. Firstly, a driver or owner of a vehicle who commits an offence of using duty-not-paid hydrocarbon oil as fuel will be fingerprinted by the Police and will therefore have a criminal record upon conviction. In sentencing an offender, the court may draw reference to his previous convictions. The criminal record might also have an adverse effect on the offender's future.
Secondly, Customs will detain and apply for forfeiture of vehicles which are found using contraband hydrocarbon oil twice within a six-month period.
The spokesman urged drivers not to use illicit hydrocarbon oil as fuel as the new measures would directly affect themselves. Vehicle owners will also cause themselves heavy financial losses instead of savings from using cheap contraband oil. The criminal record will also tarnish their status as good citizens.
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Tenders invited for engineering works at treatment plants
The Drainage Services Department is inviting tenders for two separate contracts for general engineering works and disposal of sludge and solid water at the department's various sewage treatment plants and pumping stations.
Both contracts will last for 24 months starting from April 1 next year.
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