Month: February 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, chaired Customs’ 2025 year-end press conference held at the Customs Headquarters Building today (February 12) to review the department’s efforts in the past year. The department continued to spare no efforts in guarding the southern gateway to the country, intercepting various smuggling activities on all fronts, combatting illicit cigarette and dangerous drug activities, and preventing prohibited/controlled items into or out of Hong Kong, as well as strengthening collaboration with the Chinese Mainland, different countries and regions in implementing various measures to facilitate trade and clearance. All these help Hong Kong proactively capitalise on its role as a bridge linking the country and the world, hence contributing to the high-level opening up and high-quality economic development of the country.
 
Overall enforcement situation
———————————
 
     In 2025, Customs detected a total of 38 869 cases, an increase of 24 per cent from the 2024 figure. About 75 per cent of the cases are related to illicit cigarettes, followed by cases related to dangerous drugs and intellectual property rights infringement.
 
Illicit cigarettes
——————–
 
     On the anti-illicit cigarette operation front, 29 037 cases were detected and 28 580 persons were arrested in 2025, increases of 36 per cent and 39 per cent from 2024 respectively, with 604 million cigarettes seized, which was about the same as the 2024 figure.

     The significant increase in the number of cases and arrestees mainly stemmed from a huge surge in cases of inbound persons bringing in cigarettes exceeding the duty-free concessions by imposing a penalty on offences compoundable at passenger clearance channels, in which about 27 000 inbound persons were involved. This showed an increase of 41 per cent from 2024. Customs also noticed that syndicates exploited travelers and adopted an “ant-moving-home” approach to smuggle tobacco products into Hong Kong.
 
     In addition, 2 600 cases involving alternative smoking products, with seizures of about 9.35 million pieces of relevant products, including electronic cigarettes and heat-not burn products, were detected last year. 2 559 persons were also arrested. 
Illicit fuel 
———————————–
 
     In 2025, 961 drug cases were detected, which was a decrease of 29 per cent from 2024. A total seizure of about 7.5 tonnes of drugs was made, representing an increase of 19 per cent from 2024. 
Smuggling
————
 
     A total of 286 smuggling cases were detected last year, an increase of 22 per cent from 2024, with a seizure value of $4.217 billion in total made, representing a drop of 2 per cent from 2024.——————–
 
     Customs last year detected 12 money laundering cases with 24 persons arrested and $12.8 billion involved. The number of cases showed an increase of 9 per cent while the number of arrests and amount involved dropped 27 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.
 
Intellectual property rights
——————————
 
     Customs detected 723 intellectual property rights infringement cases last year with about 970,000 infringing goods seized. The seizure value of infringing items increased 35 per cent to around $420 million as compared to the figure for 2024.———————————————————– 
Clearance 
     (1) The Single E-lock Scheme was extended to the Fuzhou Customs District in July last year, increasing the number of Customs clearance points under the scheme to 99. Thousands of cross boundary routes were provided to the industry and a “green lane” for facilitating logistics flows between Hong Kong and Guangdong was built.———————————————————-
 
     Hong Kong Customs last year continued to reinforce connections with both the Mainland and the world, promoting regional and global exchanges and co-operation. 
New uniform
—————–
 
     To enhance occupational safety, work efficiency, and the department’s professional image, Hong Kong Customs has designed a new uniform. The new design fully considers feedback from frontline staff, meeting their needs for comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. Customs has been replacing the uniforms of 4 500 frontline officers with the new ones starting last June, and the full implementation will be completed in the second quarter of this year, hoping to give the department a refreshed image while improving the work efficiency of staff.—————— 
Conclusion
————–
     Mr Chan said that the department will embrace changes and be bold in promoting trade and clearance measures, as well as in executing daily tasks, so as to pursue the most ambitious goals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA congratulates Japan on successful completion of general election

Date：2026-02-09
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

February 9, 2026No. 045Japan held its 51st House of Representatives election on February 8. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, won 316 of 465 seats, exceeding the two-thirds threshold and marking the highest number of seats ever secured by a single party in the lower house in postwar Japan. Combined with the 36 seats won by the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, the LDP-led bloc now holds 352 seats. On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung extends his sincere congratulations to Japan on the smooth completion of the election. He has instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan to promptly send congratulatory telegrams to Prime Minister Takaichi, members of the cross-party caucus Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, and other lawmakers friendly to Taiwan.Taiwan and Japan are important partners and friends that share the core values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. Bilateral interactions have long been close and cordial, with cooperation conducted through values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic diplomacy yielding fruitful results in a wide range of domains. In recent years, Japan has called on the international community to pay attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. There has been a high degree of consensus across political parties and society as a whole on supporting Taiwan’s international participation and deepening friendly exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.Building on this existing solid foundation and in the spirit of integrated diplomacy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looks forward to furthering substantive cooperation with the government of Japan and all political parties to steadily elevate bilateral relations, promote a mutually beneficial comprehensive partnership, and advance peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Customs & Excise Department handled a total of 38,869 cases in 2025, up 24% on the figure for 2025.

Commissioner of Customs & Excise Chan Tsz-tat announced the figures today during a press conference reviewing the department’s work last year.

Among the cases handled by the department, a majority of 75% were in relation to illicit cigarettes. This was followed by cases involving dangerous drugs and intellectual property rights infringement cases.

Mr Chan highlighted that the number of cases involving illicit cigarettes in 2025 was up by 36% on 2024, reaching 29,037. The number of cigarettes seized stood at 604 million, about the same as in 2024.

He explained that the increase in the number of illicit cigarette cases stemmed from a huge surge in those involving inbound individuals exceeding their duty-free allowances.

Mr Chan also outlined that the department handled 961 drug cases in 2025, down 29% from 2024. About 7.5 tonnes of drugs were seized, a 19% rise year-on-year.

Customs also detected 43 cases involving etomidate last year. About 25.2kg of etomidate and 4,387 etomidate capsules were seized, and 43 people were arrested.

Meanwhile, a total of 286 smuggling cases, comprising a seizure value of $4.217 billion, were handled last year, representing a 22% increase in the number of cases, and a 2% drop in the seizure value as against the figures for 2024.

As regards intellectual property rights infringements, Customs detected 723 cases last year, with the value of infringing items seized rising 35% to around $420 million.

Mr Chan also outlined the department’s work on clearance and trade facilitation, noting that the Single Window Phase 3 services will be implemented in batches, with the first-batch service rolling out in the middle of this year to replace the existing Road Cargo System.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government held the commendation ceremony for the Hong Kong SAR Delegations to the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) of the People’s Republic of China at the Ma On Shan Sports Centre this afternoon.

Chief Executive John Lee officiated at the ceremony and presented certificates of commendation to medalists and prize winners in the games.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee said that the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG were jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, which fully demonstrated the country’s firm support for the collaborative development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It also signified Hong Kong’s practical integration into the overall development of the country which is of great significance and profound impact.

Mr Lee noted that the Government’s estimated expenditure for promoting sports development in this financial year exceeded $9.2 billion, more than doubling the $4.3 billion allocated 10 years ago.

He added that the athletes’ outstanding achievements reflected the enhancement of Hong Kong’s sports prowess as well as the results of athletes’ strenuous training, while affirming that the Government’s long-standing commitment to training elite athletes and strengthening the policy on sports developments is on the right direction.

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism and Head of the Hong Kong SAR Delegations Rosanna Law and National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) Head Yeung Tak-keung also attended the ceremony.

The 15th NG was held from November 9 to 21, 2025 and was followed by the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG from December 8 to 15.

The ever largest Hong Kong SAR delegations comprised more than 1,300 athletes at the 15th NG, and over 280 athletes at the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.

They achieved the best-ever performance at the 15th NG, having won 31 medals, comprising 12 gold, eight silver and 11 bronze.

At the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, they bagged 142 medals, comprising 52 gold, 50 silver and 40 bronze.

Click here for the competition results and relevant information.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

To facilitate festive events occurring on the first two days of the Lunar New Year, the Government will roll out special traffic and transport arrangements at various locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon.

In connection with the International Chinese New Year Night Parade due to be held in Tsim Sha Tsui at 8pm on February 17, the first day of the Lunar New Year, special road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases starting from 3.30pm that day. They will remain in place until the roads reopen at about 11.45pm.

With regard to the Lunar New Year fireworks display, which will be staged at 8pm on February 18, special traffic arrangements will be in force on both sides of Victoria Harbour starting from 5pm.

During the road closure hours for both events, taxi stands, including pick-up and drop-off points, public light bus stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks on the roads affected will not be in use.

In addition, the Marine Department will implement marine traffic control measures and strengthen inspections of spectator vessels to ensure that safety requirements are met.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the “Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles”.

The updated roadmap reviews the development of electric vehicle (EV) technology over the past decade, summarises the progress that has been made to promote EV popularisation in Hong Kong since the Government formulated the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles in 2021, and updates the strategies and measures adopted by the Government to promote EV popularisation.

The Environment & Ecology Bureau said that the roadmap in 2021 set a target of ceasing new registration of fuel-propelled private cars, including hybrid vehicles, in 2035 or earlier, with a view to achieving zero vehicular emissions before 2050 and supporting Hong Kong’s goal of carbon neutrality before 2050. The Government also announced the Green Transformation Roadmap of Public Buses & Taxis in 2024.

The bureau highlighted that the updated roadmap summarises the Government’s aims of pragmatically and continuously promoting the development of the EV market in Hong Kong in order to achieve zero vehicular emissions before 2050.

Building on the original roadmap, the updated version covers five areas and includes a total of 28 measures.

Policy promotion

The bureau will co-ordinate relevant policy bureaus and departments in establishing an EV charging network, underpinned by fast chargers, to fully support EV applications in Hong Kong, and establish a working group to identify suitable electric commercial vehicles for local use and support their popularisation.

To address the inconsistency in EV charging standards between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, and to promote the internationalisation of charging standards, the National Energy Administration and the bureau will collaborate to launch a pilot scheme for the next-generation EV charging technology ChaoJ.

Electric private cars
The gradual popularisation of electric private cars is driven by market forces. Going forward, the Government will support the green transition of private cars by improving supporting facilities and user convenience, primarily through charging network expansion, maintenance training, and battery recycling.

Electric commercial vehicles
At present, the overall electrification of commercial vehicles is still in its early stages of technological and market development. The Government will adopt a pragmatic approach to progressively promote the large-scale application of these vehicle types.

Charging network
The Government will leverage market forces in the future through policy guidance to build a public charging network with fast chargers as the backbone. The target is to increase the number of fast chargers to no less than 4,000 by 2030, supporting approximately 200,000 EVs.

Supporting measures 
Hong Kong’s first large-scale EV battery recycling facility is under construction at the EcoPark and is expected to commence operation in the first half of 2026.

To keep pace with the latest developments of EVs, the Government recently commenced work to update the Technical Guidelines on Charging Facilities for EVs and aims for completion by the end of 2026.

Click here for the updated roadmap.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region