Hong Kong Customs detected seven suspected drug trafficking cases during passenger clearance at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal from November 15 to yesterday (December 12). About 100 grams of suspected cocaine as well as different kinds of suspected dangerous drugs including a small amount of methamphetamine and cannabis with an estimated market value of about $110,000 were seized.

     Customs today (December 13) revealed that a total of seven persons, comprising one incoming passenger and six outgoing passengers, aged between 16 and 37, were arrested in the cases. Among the arrested persons, three of them were aged 21 or below. 

     The suspected dangerous drugs seized in the cases were mostly found on the body of the arrested persons and were packed in small packages ready for distribution.

     With the imminent arrival of the Christmas and New Year holiday period, it is anticipated that criminals may make use of websites and social media platforms to lure people into carrying various prohibited or controlled items such as dangerous drugs. Customs reminds members of the public, in particular young people, to stay alert to suspicious recruitment posts on unfamiliar websites and social media platforms. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Noting that the recreational use of cannabis has recently been legalised in individual overseas jurisdictions, Customs in particular reminds members of the public that cannabis is a dangerous controlled drug in Hong Kong. Illicit import of cannabis or any products that contains controlled cannabinoids (such as tetrahydro-cannabinol), including any food products and drinks, is also controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

     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.

     Customs will continue stringent law enforcement at boundary control points.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, members of the public can share the joy of the festive season by patronising the social enterprise (SE) booths at the 53rd Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo (HKBPE) and FarmFest 2019 for heartwarming gifts for family and friends, as well as showing their support to SEs for bringing social good to society through sustainable business models.
      
     The HKBPE will be held at Victoria Park from this Saturday (December 15) to January 7. Members of the public are welcome to visit the SE booths at Booths No. 4A10 to 4A12. Fifteen SEs will take turns to showcase their products, including handicrafts and health and organic products. Please refer to Annex A for details. People purchasing products at the SE booths reaching the spending requirement or completing the booth game at the booth of the Home Affairs Department at Booth No. 4A13 will receive a free souvenir on a first-come, first-served basis.
      
     The HKBPE will be open from 11am to 10pm, and will close at 8pm on the last day of the exposition. The admission fee is $12, and entry is free for children below 1 metre in height, senior citizens aged 65 or above and persons with disabilities.
      
     FarmFest 2019 will be held at Fa Hui Park from January 4 to 6. Seven SEs will showcase their health and organic products at Booths S34 to S39. Please refer to Annex B for details. The fair will be open from 10am to 8pm. Admission is free.
      
     A spokesman for the Home Affairs Department said, "These large-scale trade fairs provide good opportunities for SEs to demonstrate to members of the public the positive social impacts they have created so as to enlist public support for the continuous development of SEs."
      
     To look for SEs anytime and anywhere, people can make use of the "SE Directory" website (www.socialenterprise.org.hk/en/sedb) and mobile app, which contains details of over 650 SEs with a wide variety of products and services in Hong Kong.

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has held an official ceremony in commemoration of the victims who died in the Nanjing Massacre and those who were killed during the Japanese invasion. The ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence this morning (December 13).
 
     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the ceremony and laid a wreath.
 
     Also present at this morning's ceremony were Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung, representatives of Central People's Government organisations in Hong Kong, a representative from the Judiciary, senior government officials, members of the Legislative Council, members of the Executive Council, former members of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, war veterans' groups, community dignitaries and student groups.

      

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will depart for Guangzhou on Friday (December 14) to attend the fourth members' representatives meeting of the Council for the Promotion of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation. Mr Cheung will deliver a speech at the meeting. Also joining the meeting will be senior government officials from Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region.
    
     Mr Cheung will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on the same day.

     Police yesterday (December 12) held the Regional Traffic Day in Kowloon West to raise public awareness of road safety through stringent enforcement actions.

     A total of 244 officers from Traffic Kowloon West and District Traffic Teams of Kowloon City, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po and Yau Tsim Districts were deployed to take enforcement actions at traffic black spots in Kowloon West.

     The operation resulted in the issue of 1,879 fixed penalty tickets and 126 summonses. Among the fixed penalty tickets and summonses issued, a total of 1,699 fixed penalty tickets were issued for illegal parking and the rest are for other traffic offences.

     Police figures revealed that a total of 3,028 traffic accidents involving casualties occurred in Kowloon West in the first eleven months of 2018, of which 729 cases involved pedestrian injuries.

     Police will continue to take regular enforcement actions to ensure road safety.