Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SCMA visits Shenzhen
Miss Tse met with member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Director General of the Qianhai Authority, Mr Wang Shourui, and the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen, Ms Li Lirong, to explore ways to deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen with regards to Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, and to support Qianhai in continuing to leverage its role as a major co-operation platform to pursue more policy breakthroughs on a pilot basis.
“The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is working at full speed to draw up Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, which will set out the city’s development vision and strategic directions for the next five years. The Plan will definitely have a close connection with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), of which Hong Kong is a part. Hong Kong will work more closely with Shenzhen to jointly explore forward-looking and strategic development directions, and to leverage respective strengths to promote the development of the GBA,” said Miss Tse.
The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, was among the officials joining the visit.
Issued at HKT 19:40
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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled alternative smoking products worth about $12 million
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs on June 29 seized a large batch of suspected smuggled alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $12 million, at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound.
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected a 40-foot container, declared as carrying plastic lunch boxes, arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland. After inspection, Customs officers found 64 486 suspected smuggled alternative smoking products in the container.
An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport
In the first case, a 33-year-old local female arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million inside her check-in baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.
In the second case, a 49-year-old Taiwan female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $5.9 million inside her check-in baggage, and the batch of suspected Part I poison inside her carry-on tote bag. The woman was subsequently arrested.
In the third case, a 48-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $0.7 million in the shoes worn by him. He was subsequently arrested.
The arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 20). The investigations of the second and the third case are ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 23:15
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Hong Kong Customs seizes live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 18) seized 11 live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species at Hong Kong International Airport, with an estimated market value of about $205,000.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted a parcel declared to contain pet chew stick imported from Australia to Hong Kong yesterday. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species mix-loaded with pet products and concealed in multiple metal boxes in the parcel.
The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million
Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday inspected a 20-foot seaborn consolidated container, declared as aluminum sheet, arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam. Officers seized 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes inside one of the consignments. The criminals had modified hollowed-out aluminum sheets as a container to conceal the illicit cigarettes in an attempt to deter detection by Customs.
Customs stresses that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:45
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Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (July 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).
Customs officers intercepted two inbound private cars at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port on July 17. A 38-year-old Mainland female passenger and a 32-year-old Mainland male passenger, arriving in Hong Kong from Macao were arrested. A total of 88 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $450,000 and a duty potential of about $290,000, were seized from their personal baggage.
Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.
Customs reminds members of the public and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Appeal for information on missing man in Happy Valley
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police today (July 18) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Happy Valley.
Chung Wing-kai, aged 77, went missing after he left his residence on Shiu Fai Terrace yesterday (July 17) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.
He is about 1.7 metres tall, 55 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a light-coloured short-sleeved shirt, grey trousers, dark sneakers, a beige cap, a white mask, carrying two hiking poles and a black backpack.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drug case and seizes suspected drugs worth about $51.4 million
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drug case on July 16, and seized about 131 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $51.4 million. Three persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
Through intelligence exchange with Mainland anti-smuggling counterparts and risk assessment, Customs on July 14 inspected an air cargo consignment, declared as carrying rock sugar and arriving in Hong Kong from Germany, at Hong Kong International Airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers found about 131kg of suspected ketamine inside 17 plastic buckets and arrested a 58-year-old local male who came to collect the consignment. Upon follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation and further arrested two 24-year-old Bangladeshi males in Pat Heung, Yuen long, on July 16.
The arrested local male has been released on bail pending further investigation; while the two arrested Bangladeshi males have been jointly charged with one count of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on July 20.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
SFST signs MOU on gold market co-operation with Ministry of Finance of Laos
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, started his visit to Vientiane, Laos, today (July 20) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Finance of Laos on fostering co-operation in gold market and financial services between the two places.
The MOU was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Laos, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, and Mr Hui on behalf of the Ministry of Finance of Laos and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau. Aiming to strengthen bilateral co-operation in gold market and financial services industry development, the MOU outlines clear areas of collaboration, including promoting physical gold flows by facilitating access for qualified Lao gold owners to Hong Kong’s accredited refining network, encouraging the wider use of refined gold bars meeting international standards for trading and delivery in Hong Kong, and fostering talent development and fintech collaboration including tokenisation solutions.
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $159 million in “Clean Sheet” operation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
With a view to combating counterfeit goods activities related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup involving cross-boundary transshipments and online sales, Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation codenamed “Clean Sheet” between May 26 and yesterday (July 19). A total of 50 related cases were detected and about 240 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, with a total estimated market value of about $159 million, were seized.
During the operation, 13 local men, aged between 15 and 59, were arrested.
Investigations into the cases are ongoing, and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. The likelihood of further arrests has not been ruled out.
Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or websites to avoid buying counterfeit goods. Practitioners in the logistics industry should also comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and check with the trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime, and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat different types of counterfeit and infringing goods activities.
Under the TDO, any person who imports or exports or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).