Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) noted at its meeting today (June 12) the figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) and other drug-related figures for the first quarter of 2025. ACAN noticed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2025 was lower than that of 2024. However, the figures tend to show greater volatilities in the first quarter of each year. The ACAN will closely monitor the situation in the remaining quarters of 2025, and will at the same time continue to carry out its anti-drug work.
      
     Figures from the CRDA revealed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2025 was 1 644 while that of the same period in 2024 was 1 738. The most common type of drug abused in the first quarter of 2025 was heroin, followed by cocaine and cannabis.
      
     The number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 in the first quarter of 2025 was 285, of which 128 abused the “space oil drug”. The “Space oil drug”, followed by cannabis and cocaine, has replaced cannabis to become the most common type of drug abused among reported young drug abusers.
      
     Regarding the main active ingredients currently found in the “space oil drug”, the Government has listed etomidate and its three analogues (metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate) as dangerous drugs, which are regulated under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO) (Cap. 134). The Government plans to list the remaining etomidate analogues as dangerous drugs, and has consulted the Legislative Council Panel on Security earlier this month.
      
     The Chairman of ACAN, Dr Donald Li, said, “When facing the ‘space oil drug’, the Government should not lower its guard. ACAN fully supports the Government’s proposal to list all etomidate analogues as dangerous drugs under the DDO, with a view to nipping this drug abuse problem in the bud. Apart from the legislation, ACAN will continue to carry out relevant publicity and education work.”
 
     On the enforcement front, according to the figures from the law enforcement agencies, the total number of persons arrested for drug offences in the first quarter of 2025 was 940. Among them, 140 of them are youngsters aged under 21. The “space oil drug”, cannabis and cocaine were the main drugs involved in these arrests in the first quarter. According to the court cases concluded for the same period, the conviction rate of persons being prosecuted for drug offences was as high as 86 per cent. As for young offenders aged under 21 who were sentenced to imprisonment for drug trafficking, more than half of them were sentenced to over five years in prison, and the longest imprisonment was 20 years.
      
     A spokesman for the Security Bureau (SB) said, “As the summer holidays approach, we remind youngsters not to  participate in drug trafficking out of greed or gambling on luck, including giving out their addresses for receiving ‘drug parcels’ and joining free trips to transport dangerous drugs across borders as ‘drug mules’. Young age is not a valid mitigating factor for drug offences. A plea of ignorance is not an excuse to avoid legal liability. Young drug offenders will also be sentenced to lengthy imprisonment.”
 
     Moreover, the spokesman reminded youngsters that they need to stay vigilant at all times when travelling outside Hong Kong, with a view to avoiding drug traps when trying something new. Foods and drinks, or even health supplements, skincare products (such as facial masks, massage oil), etc, may contain dangerous drugs. Products that are marked with the words “CBD”, “THC”, “cannabis”, “cannabinoids”, “ganja”, “hemp extracts” or “marijuana”, or with a picture of a cannabis leaf, may contain substances that are illegal in Hong Kong or prohibited for transit at the airport. Members of the public are reminded to pay close attention to product labels during online or in-store shopping. If in doubt, members of the public should not risk purchasing, consuming or bringing these products back to Hong Kong to not to breach the law inadvertently. Information and a video about examples of CBD products have been uploaded onto the Narcotics Division’s (ND) dedicated webpage about CBD (www.nd.gov.hk/en/CBD.html) for the public’s reference.
 
     The ACAN also noted the findings of the 2023/24 Survey of Drug Use among Students (Survey). The Survey is a triennial research project conducted by a research institute commissioned by the ND of the SB, with the aim of obtaining the latest drug taking trends in students and knowing more about students’ knowledge of drugs as well as their attitudes towards drug taking. Such information assists the Government in formulating anti-drug initiatives that would respond better to the actual situation. The Survey successfully surveyed 99 600 students from upper primary to post-secondary levels, accounting for about 15 per cent of the student population in Hong Kong.
 
     The Survey results indicated that the proportion of students who claimed to have taken dangerous drugs rose to 2.7 per cent from 2.5 per cent in the previous survey (i.e. the one conducted in 2020/21). Psychotropic substances are the most common types of drugs abused by these students. These findings are in line with the statistics recorded by the CRDA.
      
     The CRDA figures for the first quarter of 2025 are available on the ND’s website (www.nd.gov.hk/en/index.html).
 
     The ND’s website, as well as its official accounts (narcotics.divisionhk) on Facebook and Instagram, also contain detailed information about dangerous drugs including the “space oil drug” for reference by the public. read more

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, put their support for saving lives through blood donation into practical action by participating in the blood donation drive being held by the Hong Kong Red Cross at the Central Government Offices (CGO) today (June 12). They appealed to members of the public to donate blood to help patients in need of blood transfusions regain a new lease of life.

     The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) is providing mobile blood donation services at the CGO today and tomorrow, offering convenience for government personnel to donate blood.

     Professor Lo said, “The Government has been committed to promoting the important message of giving blood to save lives and fostering the spirit of mutual assistance and love within our community. Over the past year, various government departments have organised numerous blood donation drives, showcasing the Government’s support for saving lives through blood donation. In particular, the blood donation drive at the CGO today and tomorrow is a major annual event. The Government will remain fully committed to supporting this meaningful event in the future.”

     There is no substitute for blood, and its shelf life is limited. The BTS needs to collect 650 units of blood daily to provide sufficient blood for clinical transfusions for patients in need of timely rescue in all hospitals across the city. Therefore, voluntary and selfless donation of blood by citizens regularly is of particular importance in ensuring a stable and sufficient blood supply in the blood inventories.

     Professor Lo continued, “This Saturday (June 14) will be World Blood Donor Day designated by the World Health Organization. Every year on this particular day, appreciation is sent from all over the world to blood donors for their act of selfless giving. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the citizens who have persisted in donating blood over time. Your selfless contributions have enabled countless patients to overcome their illnesses and regain their health. I would also like to call on more members of the public to act now and join the ranks of regular blood donors in saving lives. Your passionate support may be the key to saving others’ lives. A single unit of whole blood donated each time can save three or more patients, bringing endless hope to their families.”

     To facilitate blood donation by members of the public, in addition to establishing blood donor centres across the city, the BTS also arranges mobile blood donation vehicles and mobile blood donation teams to visit various communities. Members of the public may make appointments via the “HK Blood” mobile application, the BTS website www.ha.org.hk/rcbts, or call the donor centres in advance to reduce waiting times.

read more

     The four-day Regional Workshop on AML Frameworks: Tackling Traditional and Modern Challenges in the Digital Age (Workshop), co-organised by Hong Kong Customs and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), started on June 9 and concluded today (June 12). This Workshop brought together over 60 participants from customs administrations, government agencies, international organisations, law enforcement agencies and academia across Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific (A/P) region.
      
     Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with HKU at the International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes in December last year, the Workshop was held to further strengthen Customs’ capacity in anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement with particular focus on risks and trends of virtual assets.   
      
     In his closing remarks today, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Wong Ho-yin, highlighted the Workshop’s success in enriching knowledge, fostering regional co-operation, and building critical connections among law enforcement agencies, academia, and industry. He reaffirmed that adaptability, international collaboration and capacity building were crucial to mitigating the risks of financial crimes. Participants should work on the groundwork laid for closer regional partnerships by the Workshop to promote intelligence sharing and support cross-boundary investigations and enforcement co-operation.
      
     The Dean of Engineering of HKU, Professor David Srolovitz, emphasised the timeliness of this Workshop in the age of rapid digital transformation and the importance of uniting academia, technology developers, law enforcement authorities, government, and the financial industry to address the complexities of financial crimes today. HKU Engineering, he said, remains dedicated to driving innovation and education to empower professionals to create a secure and transparent financial future.
      
     The Workshop featured a comprehensive programme with leading experts and practitioners delivering lectures on a wide range of topics including AML strategies and emerging typologies, regulation of virtual assets, crypto-related crime investigations, application of regtech in financial crime prevention, and international co-operation in AML/counter-terrorist financing.
      
     As the World Customs Organization (WCO) Vice-Chair for the A/P region and the WCO Regional Training Centre in the A/P region, Hong Kong Customs strives to connect with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to foster knowledge exchanges and capacity building in AML, contributing to a safer and more resilient financial environment across the A/P region.

read more

     The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, chaired the third meeting of the Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation Development today (June 12) to have in-depth discussions on various key policy initiatives for promoting Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub, including a roadmap for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) and towards the adoption of “primary evaluation”, proposals for establishing the Real-World Study and Application Centre (RWSAC), and the work on promoting clinical trial development.

     A representative of the Department of Health (DH) reported on the latest developments in establishing the CMPR, and the strategic preparatory work for its long-term development into an internationally recognised regulatory authority for drugs and medical products, including the process for becoming a regulatory member of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, with a view to gaining international recognition for drugs approved by the CMPR. The DH also proposed that Hong Kong should adopt a phased approach in advancing the “primary evaluation” system for new drugs. The Government will put forward the timetable for the establishment of the CMPR and the roadmap towards the adoption of “primary evaluation” within this month.

     At the meeting, members were also briefed on the proposals for establishing the RWSAC. The Government is seeking to establish the RWSAC by the end of this year. The Centre aims to enhance the access to and application of health and medical databases, and to foster collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland in relevant areas, particularly in integrating real-world data generated through the special measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), to achieve three major objectives: (1) to accelerate the research and development (R&D), approval and market launch of innovative medical products; (2) to promote the application of real-world data in support of evidence-based decision-making, thereby optimising treatment strategies and enhancing healthcare system efficiency; and (3) to develop Hong Kong into a leading region and global hub for real-world studies, with a view to attracting more international collaboration and investment.

     In addition, members were briefed on the progress of the key initiatives undertaken by the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI). Officially established in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in November last year, the GBAICTI has been actively advancing a number of clinical trial projects, including strengthening clinical trial collaboration with the two local medical schools, working jointly with the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center (BAY TRIAL) to promote the development of clinical trials and the biomedical industry, as well as establishing the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform with concerted efforts.

     Members endorsed the above proposals and policy directions, and offered constructive comments. Dr Lee said, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Steering Committee members for their invaluable insight to advise on the health and medical innovation development initiatives, and for recognising the direction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s work. The Policy Address has clearly stated the Government’s commitment to developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub. We are pressing ahead with the reform on the regulatory mechanism of drugs and medical devices, and to facilitate the translation and application of biomedical innovations. The timetable for the establishment of the CMPR and the roadmap towards the adoption of the “primary evaluation” will be announced shortly, along with the RWSAC which is targeted to be established by the end of this year, fully demonstrating our determination and operability to promote health and medical innovation. In addition, the co-ordinated development of the GBAICTI with BAY TRIAL in the Shenzhen Park under the ‘one zone, two parks’ model also marked a new chapter in cross-boundary collaboration.

     “Hong Kong possesses the institutional advantages of ‘one country, two systems’ and professional strengths in the healthcare sector, providing unique conditions for advancing health and medical innovation. This strategic positioning is strongly supported by national policies, of which the 14th Five-Year Plan expressed clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology centre, while the Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee also pointed out the need of further reforming the medical and healthcare systems, and improving the mechanisms for supporting the development of innovative drugs and medical equipment. The HKSAR Government will leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages to expedite the provision of advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies to patients, and to promote co-ordinated development with other GBA cities, with the ultimate goal of bringing the benefits of good drugs and R&D to Hong Kong.”

     Established last year and chaired by the Secretary for Health, the Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation and Development comprises of members from relevant government bureaux and departments, institutions and local medical schools. The Steering Committee is responsible for co-ordinating and advancing work related to health and medical innovation, with a view to taking forward the policy of developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub as set out in the Policy Address.

read more

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 the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on the HKMA website.
 

Bank	Type of Scam
The Bank of East Asia, Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen
Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen
Chong Hing Bank Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited	Phishing instant messages

 
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more