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Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled goods worth about $4 million  
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Enforcement operations were thus formulated, with two suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Iraq and Malaysia via ocean-going vessels being selected for inspection.
 
Customs inspected the two abovementioned containers that were declared as carrying shoes, clothes and bags, and metal copper plate and integrated circuit parts on April 11 and 17. Upon examinations, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including household products, small electrical appliances, kitchenware and printed circuit boards in the containers.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
 
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.
 
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 upon conviction.
 
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.hkIssued at HKT 17:16

Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland  
     During the upcoming Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland (from May 1 to 5), the Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 5.71 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points. The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 4.90 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on May 3 (Saturday) and May 5 (Monday), with around 590 000 passengers and 580 000 passengers respectively.
  
     The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 230 000, 210 000 and 150 000 passengers respectively.
  
     To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks.
 
     Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
 
     To avoid congestion and longer-than-usual waiting times for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk 
     For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
 
     Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to the reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
 
     About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, starting from March 31, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
 
     In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
 
     Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
 
     The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.
Issued at HKT 17:15

Office of Licensing Authority of Home Affairs Department steps up enforcement actions against unlicensed guesthouses during Easter holidays and before Labour Day holidays (with photo) 
A spokesman for the OLA said, “Based on intelligence gathered, the OLA carried out surprise inspections on 12 premises. Ten premises were suspected of operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses. The OLA will initiate prosecution on cases with sufficient evidence after completion of the investigation.”
 
The spokesman stressed, “Operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses is a criminal offence, and such an offence leads to a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender is liable to three years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. A fine of $20,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for a hotel or guesthouse involved in a repeated offence.”
 
Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA also steps up efforts to combat unlicensed guesthouses via online platforms. The OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse webpages, mobile applications, social media, discussion forums, etc, to search for information and intelligence on suspected unlicensed guesthouses. The OLA’s law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigations when information of unlicensed guesthouses advertised via online platforms is found. The OLA also conducts publicity work on Internet search engines outside Hong Kong to enable tourists’ access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips to Hong Kong.
 
Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA’s website to check whether the hotel or guesthouse concerned is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel or guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:00

Communications Authority grants consent to CMHK to cease its 3G services 
     Having considered various relevant factors, the CA approved the application pursuant to Special Condition 10.4 of CMHK’s Unified Carrier Licence. These include the very low proportion of customers affected (including customers of 3G pre-paid services and those who are still using 3G handsets/devices for connection to CMHK’s network), and CMHK’s provision of support services for the affected customers such as offers to upgrade service plans or to replace handsets/devices. For customers who choose not to continue the service or not to replace their handsets/devices, CMHK has made reasonable service termination arrangements and provided them with sufficient advance notification and customer service support. Moreover, the CA has required CMHK to maintain satisfactory 3G services until the scheduled service cessation date.
 
     Affected customers may refer to the relevant press releaseIssued at HKT 16:30

External merchandise trade statistics for March 2025 
     In March 2025, the value of total exports of goods increased by 18.5% over a year earlier to $455.5 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 15.4% in February 2025. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 16.6% over a year earlier to $500.9 billion in March 2025, after a year-on-year increase by 11.8% in February 2025. A visible trade deficit of $45.4 billion, equivalent to 9.1% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in March 2025.
 
     For the first quarter of 2025 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 10.9% over the same period in 2024. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 9.8%. A visible trade deficit of $80.7 billion, equivalent to 6.4% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
 
     Comparing the first quarter of 2025 with the preceding quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 12.7%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 9.9%.
 
Analysis by country/territory
 
     Comparing March 2025 with March 2024, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 22.4%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Taiwan (+61.3%), Malaysia (+57.3%), Vietnam (+41.3%), the Philippines (+34.5%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+25.4%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to Korea (-22.8%).
 
     Apart from destinations in Asia, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular the United Kingdom (+48.5%) and the USA (+11.4%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to the Netherlands (-29.0%).
 
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+95.1%), Taiwan (+75.8%), the United Kingdom (+55.6%), Malaysia (+46.9%) and the Mainland (+7.4%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-21.0%).
 
     For the first quarter of 2025 as a whole, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Vietnam (+69.1%), Taiwan (+40.6%) and the Mainland (+16.2%). On the other hand, decreases were recorded in the values of total exports to the United Arab Emirates (-36.9%) and India (-20.2%).
 
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+68.9%), the United Kingdom (+57.4%), Taiwan (+53.9%), Malaysia (+47.6%) and the Mainland (+4.1%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from Korea (-23.6%).
 
Analysis by major commodity
 
     Comparing March 2025 with March 2024, increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $51.2 billion or +133.5%) and “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $20.8 billion or +11.1%). 
 
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $44.4 billion or +130.8%) and “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $22.2 billion or +11.5%).
 
     For the first quarter of 2025 as a whole, increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $86.7 billion or +82.6%) and “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $43.3 billion or +8.6%).  On the other hand, a decrease was registered in the value of total exports of “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $12.1 billion or -9.0%).
 
     Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $74.8 billion or +91.1%) and “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $52.4 billion or +10.6%). On the other hand, a decrease was registered in the value of imports of “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $10.0 billion or -24.0%).
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports grew sharply by 18.5% in March over a year earlier.  Exports to the Mainland grew strongly, while those to other major Asian economies showed mixed performance. Exports to the United States increased visibly, and those to the European Union registered a marginal increase.
 
     Looking ahead, global trade tensions have escalated abruptly due to the significant increases in tariffs by the United States in early April. This will pose challenges to Hong Kong’s merchandise trade performance. Nevertheless, the steady growth in the Mainland economy, together with Hong Kong’s proactive efforts in enhancing economic and trade ties with different markets, should help buttress trade performance. The Government has been providing support to enterprises through various measures in coping with the external challenges, and will monitor the situation closely.
 
Further information
 
     Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for March 2025. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2022 to March 2025, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
 
     The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for March 2025 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.
 
     Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for March 2025.
 
     All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for March 2025 will be released in mid-May 2025.
 
     The March 2025 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in March 2025 and will be available in early May 2025. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020005&scode=230 
     Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4691).
Issued at HKT 16:30

Response to issues related to High Island Reservoir East Dam The relevant departments will continue to properly deploy and enhance the supporting facilities and measures in the area around the East Dam, making it more convenient for visitors.
Issued at HKT 16:00

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Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards opens for enrolment 
The first Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards focuses on fostering stable family relationships for building good family values and virtues and promotes good family values to the public. The awards recognise families that cultivate a positive and supportive family relationship built on love and respect as well as care and support, and pass on good family traditions and virtues to younger generations. There are 15 awards in this event, including 10 Excellent Families Awards and five Passage of Good Family Values and Virtues Awards. The winning families will receive trophies, admission tickets and a hotel stay at a theme park, family photography services and gift coupons.
 
Participating families are required to submit a written narrative in either Chinese or English, sharing their family’s real-life experiences and stories together with not more than five family photos, on or before June 27. The narrative should demonstrate strong family bonds, the family’s ability to cope with various challenges in life together, and passing on of good family traditions and virtues to the younger generation. Participants can submit the entries online or download the entry form from the thematic webpage, and submit the completed form along with the narrative and photo(s) in person or by post to the HYAB Family Council Secretariat (13/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong). Shortlisted families will be invited to attend a meeting in early August.

Details of the awards are available on the thematic webpage (www.familycouncil.gov.hk/en/promotion/hkefa.htmlIssued at HKT 15:00

Applications invited for Equal Opportunities (Sexual Orientation) Funding Scheme 
     “The Government is committed to fostering the culture and values of inclusiveness, mutual respect and non-discrimination, and promoting equal opportunities for people of different sexual orientations and transgenders. The funding scheme provides funding support to worthwhile community projects which aim at promoting equal opportunities on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, or seek to provide support services for the sexual minorities,” a spokesman for the CMAB said.
 
     Information on making applications is available on the CMAB website (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/equalsdofs_sex.htm 
     An online briefing session will be held on May 9, 2025, to brief interested parties on the scope and operation of the Funding Scheme.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Unit of the CMAB at 2810 3205.
Issued at HKT 15:00

Applications for funding from Elder Academy Development Foundation invited 
     The Elder Academy Scheme aims to promote continuous learning for elderly people, active ageing and intergenerational harmony. The EADF mainly provides funding for primary and secondary schools as well as post-secondary institutions to set up EAs to provide learning opportunities in a school setting for the elderly. Funding is also provided for activities that encourage elderly learning and intergenerational harmony.
 
     Each approved EA in a primary or secondary school will be provided with funding of $122,000 for implementing a three-year programme. EAs which completed the first three-year programme may apply for funding of $60,000 for running a two-year programme.
 
     As regards applications for organising EA courses in post-secondary institutions and other applications, the Committee on EADF will assess and decide the funding amount according to the merits of individual proposals.
 
     Details of the funding applications can be downloaded from the website of the EA Scheme (www.elderacademy.org.hkIssued at HKT 15:00