Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 3) mounted an anti-smuggling operation and seized about 105 kilograms of suspected smuggled birds' nests with an estimated market value of about $3.5 million.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing private car at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday afternoon and seized about 7kg of birds' nests on board the vehicle. The 42-year-old male driver was arrested and the private car was detained.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers further seized about 79kg and 19kg of birds' nests at an industrial building unit in Kwai Chung and a residential unit in Sham Shui Po respectively. A 47-year-old woman in the industrial building unit was arrested and a private car parked at the industrial building suspected to be involved in the case was also detained.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees will hold 27 open meetings during the week from April 8 to 13 in the LegCo Complex. Details of the meetings are available in the meeting schedule attached.
 
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo Committees. Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on fraudulent website and phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The latest test results of the opening-up investigation in the second stage of the holistic assessment strategy for the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project (as at April 4) are now available at the Highways Department's website for the SCL project (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/railway_projects/scl/index.html) for reference by the public.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients who presented with respiratory symptoms in a female ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital gave the following update today (April 4):
 
     One more 26-year-old patient in the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patient. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.