Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with the Ministry of Finance of Laos today (July 20):

Your Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Phomvihane (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Laos, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this very significant signing ceremony today. The Memorandum of Understanding we are about to sign marks a milestone in the deepening friendship and economic partnership between Hong Kong and Laos. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, our two sides are building upon warm and growing ties to create new opportunities for mutual interests and prosperity.

Hong Kong has long served as an international financial centre with world-class infrastructure, deep capital markets, and a robust regulatory environment. We are now accelerating our development as a leading gold trading, clearing, and reserve hub for Asia and beyond. Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s new central gold clearing and settlement system commenced trial operation, and we have announced a comprehensive package of targeted initiatives to support our gold market development. These include a co-operation initiative with the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the launch of a new HAU price ticker in which AU is the reference to gold in the periodic table while H refers to Hong Kong, expansion of storage capacity to beyond 2 000 tonnes in three years’ time, diversification of gold investment products such as ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and futures, exploration of tax incentives, co-ordinated insurance arrangements, and the establishment of an industry-led trade association. These steps closely align with our country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and will support Hong Kong in building and enhancing our commodity trading ecosystem. These initiatives will enhance physical delivery, risk management, connectivity with the Mainland, and our overall market depth – creating new investment opportunities and injecting fresh momentum into our financial sector.

Our MOU with Laos to be signed today on fostering gold market co-operation perfectly complements these developments. It represents our shared commitment to strengthen communication and knowledge exchange in financial services, with a particular focus on gold market development. Through this partnership, we will work together to realise a seamless, efficient, and trusted gold corridor that benefits producers, refiners, traders, and investors in both our economies.

The MOU outlines clear areas of collaboration. We will promote physical gold flows by facilitating access for qualified Lao gold owners to Hong Kong’s accredited refining network and encouraging the use of refined gold bars meeting international standards in our market. We will strengthen financial market linkages – leveraging Hong Kong’s capital markets and infrastructures – to provide Lao market participants with liquidity, efficient price discovery, and international capital. We will also pursue joint international promotion across Belt and Road partner countries, foster talent development and fintech collaboration including tokenisation solutions, enhance regulatory collaboration on AML (anti-money laundering) and best practices, and promote a conducive business environment. Hong Kong’s competitive tax regime – with no sales tax nor import duty on investment-grade gold, and no capital gains tax – positions us as an efficient hub, and we look forward to exploring more targeted initiatives with Laos.

Co-operative activities will be flexible and practical, including exchange of best practices, joint projects, workshops and exchange visits. Each side may involve relevant regulators, institutions, and industry representatives as appropriate.

Ladies and gentlemen, today’s signing is the beginning of a dynamic and evolving partnership. By combining Laos’ natural gold endowment with Hong Kong’s world-class infrastructure, expertise, and international connectivity, we can transform resources into investable, transparent assets that drive sustainable economic growth for both markets.

I extend my sincere appreciation to our Laos’ counterparts for their vision and collaborative spirit. Thank you.