Tobacco tax in Hong Kong stipulates that the tax per pack of cigarettes is 38.12 yuan, and the retail price of mainstream brand cigarettes is about 60 yuan per pack. File, commonly known as "white brand cigarettes."
The reporter visited many districts and found that the price of white brand cigarettes is as low as 32 yuan per pack, and there is even a "snack paper" delivery service.
Customs pointed out that several types of "white brand cigarettes" have import licenses, but they did not disclose information such as manufacturers and importers. Some brands do not have any information on the Internet, and the manufacturers cannot be found.
Lam Cheung-fu, chairman of the Hong Kong Newspaper Vendors Association, said that there are unidentified intermediaries selling "white brand cigarettes" to newspaper vendors at a very low cost. Legislative Council member Shao Jiahui also believes that the price of white brand cigarettes has been lower than the tobacco tax for a long time, which is suspicious .
In recent years, a number of emerging brands of cigarettes have entered stores and newspapers in various districts at a price lower than the tobacco tax, commonly known as "white brand cigarettes."
(Photo by Wang Haitu)
There is a Hong Kong version warning that the manufacturer's information cannot be found
"White brand cigarettes" have quickly entered stores and registrations in many districts since the epidemic. The appearance and packaging are the same as mainstream cigarettes. They have tar and nicotine content marked according to Hong Kong laws, and there are also Hong Kong health warnings covering 85% of the area. .
The reporter looked through different packages of "white brand cigarettes", and found that at least two brands were produced by the United Arab Emirates, some of which did not list the origin and manufacturer, and could not find any information on the Internet.
Youshiduo sells the cheapest two brands of white-brand cigarettes at 32 yuan per pack, and most other white-brand cigarettes range from 32 to 38 yuan. Some brands are even cheaper by buying a pack (10 packs) by 10 to 20 yuan.
(Photographed by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
A variety of retail prices of 32 to 38 yuan are lower than the cigarette tax of 38.12 yuan
In recent months, the reporter went to many stores and stores to inquire about the price of white-brand cigarettes. Some stores sell the cheapest two brands of white-brand cigarettes at only 32 yuan per pack. Most of the other white-brand cigarettes range from 32 to 38 yuan. It will be 10 to 20 yuan cheaper to buy one (that is, 10 packs) of the same brand.
The staff also introduced different flavors of "white brand cigarettes" and compared them with mainstream cigarettes.
The staff of Shiduo claimed that the foreign cigarettes they bought had a special price, so they could sell them at a low price.
The newspaper vendor revealed that the adjacent stall also sells "white brand cigarettes". The competition is fierce, so the price is very low. However, he said that relying on small profits but quick turnover, he does not need to lose money. He also told reporters that if he buys three packs, he will be able to deliver to Hong Kong Island .
(Photographed by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
Newspaper Vendor: Buy three packs of white-brand cigarettes for delivery on Hong Kong Island
In addition, there is a newspaper stall that also sells "white brand cigarettes". There are at least nearly a hundred cigarettes in the whole newspaper stall. One brand sells for 35 yuan per pack, and one pack costs 330 yuan. There are only a few places for newspapers and magazines.
The newspaper vendor revealed that the adjacent stall also sells "white brand cigarettes". The competition is fierce, so the price is very low. goods.
But when asked whether he would deliver the goods if he only bought mainstream cigarettes, he turned his head and said no, saying that he must buy "white brand cigarettes" before delivery, and only when he buys them together will the order be delivered. He also provided a card for the reporter to order.
In the past, smuggling syndicates would distribute leaflets commonly known as "snack paper" in public housing estates, listing the prices of various brands of cigarettes and including telephone numbers.
Public housing tenants only need to place an order by phone, and the smuggling syndicate will deliver the goods point-to-point, which is very similar to the delivery service provided by newspaper vendors.
Hong Kong Tobacco Tax stipulates that the tax per pack of cigarettes is 38.12 yuan. The retail price of mainstream cigarettes on the market is about 60 yuan per pack. Enter various districts and register files, commonly known as "white brand cigarettes".
The two packs on the left are mainstream cigarettes, and the two packs on the right are white brand cigarettes.
(Photo by Wang Haitu)
White brand cigarettes are twice as profitable as mainstream cigarettes
The newspaper vendor industry is in decline, and it is difficult to make a living by selling newspapers and magazines. At present, mainstream traditional cigarettes can earn 4 to 5 yuan per pack, but "white brand cigarettes" can earn about 10 yuan per pack, depending on the price of the goods on the newspaper .
Lam Cheung-fu, chairman of the Hong Kong Newspaper Vendors Association, said that there are unidentified intermediaries who will sell "white brand cigarettes" to newspaper vendors. Brand of cigarettes, and said there will be special prices.
For example, Lin pointed out that if an intermediary sells a cigarette for 400 yuan, they will "buy one get one free" or "buy two get one free", and the cost of "white brand cigarettes" will be greatly reduced.
However, the intermediary is from an unknown company, and the receipt provided is only a handwritten list. No one knows the source and quality of the goods. I urge experts not to sell "white brand cigarettes" of unknown origin. If you see "white brand cigarettes" that are lower than the tobacco tax "The public should also choose carefully.
Lam Cheung-fu, chairman of the Hong Kong Newspaper Vendors Association, said that there are unidentified intermediaries who sell "white brand cigarettes" to newspaper vendors. They will "buy one get one free" or "buy two get one free", and the cost of "white brand cigarettes" will decrease Great reduction.
(Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Unknown intermediaries sell only handwritten slips to newspaper vendors
A number of "white brand cigarettes" brands have registered import permits in Hong Kong. The packaging of such "white brand cigarettes" sold in the market is accompanied by labels such as Hong Kong warnings.
The current regulations in Hong Kong do not regulate the price of cigarettes. Therefore, many shopkeepers and newspaper vendors buy unidentified white-brand cigarettes for their livelihood.
A multinational tobacco group, who did not want to be named, revealed that it is impossible for big brands to mix in unidentified duty-free cigarettes in Hong Kong-style packaging that are sold in Hong Kong, and will also trace the sales. Retailers dare not sell smuggled goods in non-Hong Kong-style packaging, but miscellaneous brands Smoke may have loopholes.
The number of illicit cigarettes seized in the first nine months of this year was 7 times higher than before the epidemic
Customs seized a total of 445 million illicit cigarettes in the first nine months of this year, which is already more than the total of 427 million seized in the whole of last year, and seven times more than the 55.5 million in 2019 before the epidemic. cigarette".
At the beginning of October this year, the Customs held five press conferences on the seizure of illegal cigarettes, and the most intensive meeting with reporters lasted for two consecutive days.
Member of the Legislative Council Shao Jiahui pointed out that citizens do not know how to distinguish between duty-paid and unpaid cigarettes, and the customs should conduct regular random inspections and crack down on illicit cigarettes, especially random inspections of merchants selling cigarettes from unknown sources.
(File photo/photo by Zhang Haowei)
The customs pointed out that there is an import license but the manufacturer's information is not disclosed
The customs pointed out that the reporter inquired about the four "white brand cigarette" brands whose retail price is lower than the tobacco tax, all of which have registered import permits in Hong Kong.
However, the reporter asked about the manufacturers, importers, agents, license applicants and other information of several types of white brand cigarettes. The relevant dutiable brand license issued by the Customs. License applicants must submit an application for a dutiable brand license through the "Dutable Commodities System".
"Hong Kong 01" contacted the first two companies by e-mail, asking whether they sold cigarettes to Hong Kong merchants for less than the tobacco tax, but they did not respond before the deadline; the other two brands could not find relevant contact methods online.
Shao Jiahui: Customs should conduct spot checks on a regular basis
Legislative Council member Shao Ka-fai pointed out that the current law does not regulate the price of cigarettes, and the price of white brand cigarettes in the market has been lower than the tobacco tax for a long time, which will arouse suspicion.
He did not rule out that some tobacco manufacturers may reduce the price of cigarettes significantly in order to promote cigarettes, but if the relevant price is lower than the tobacco tax for a long time, they will question the supply channel of the batch of cigarettes.
He pointed out that citizens do not know how to distinguish between duty-paid and non-duty-paid cigarettes. Customs should conduct regular spot checks and crack down on illicit cigarettes, especially spot checks on merchants selling unidentified cigarettes.
Customs cracked down on smuggled cigarettes and seized 54 million yuan in 4 warehouses in the New Territories. Two men, 14 years old in Tsing Yi, were arrested for express delivery of illicit cigarettes. Cigarette case seized 120 million yuan for illicit cigarettes. Driver and car workers were arrested. Customs broke Yuen Long illicit cigarette storage warehouse. 2.2 million yuan were seized for illicit cigarettes. 2 people including 21-year-old auto beauty technician Kwai Fong kicked and dragged a man in a private car. Suspected to have hidden 10,000 illicit cigarettes and was wanted by the Customs in Kwai Fong. 16-year-old boy seized $760,000 of methamphetamine and 120,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes. 4 suburban illicit cigarette warehouses seized $16 million of illicit cigarettes and arrested two people. Customs cracked 2 more cases of illicit cigarettes. For two days in a row barges were intercepted to search trucks and 120 million yuan of illicit cigarettes were seized. 6 people were arrested