Tag Archives: China

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Li Guoying, at the Government House today (April 1) to witness the signing of an arrangement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on the management and co-operation of water-related affairs.
      
     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, and the Director General of the General Office of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Tang Liang, represented the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Water Resources respectively to sign the arrangement. The arrangement will strengthen the governance and protection of the Pearl River Estuary and the rivers along the Guangdong-Hong Kong boundary, and promote co-operation in disaster prevention and mitigation; water supply safety; planning and management of major projects; information sharing; talent cultivation; hydraulic technology and more.
      
     Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Water Resources for its continuous and full support of Hong Kong’s efforts in water supply and flood prevention. He said, “This year marks the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong. It is of great significance that the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Water Resources signed the arrangement at this milestone to strengthen co-operation on water-related affairs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The HKSAR Government will continue to adhere to the principles of water conservation and enhancement of utilisation efficiency and work together with the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure the safety of water supply to Hong Kong and flood control safety of the Pearl River Estuary and the rivers along the Guangdong-Hong Kong boundary, and to provide water resources support and guarantee for the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
      
     Mr Li said that establishing a standing mechanism for exchange and co-operation marks a new milestone in water affairs co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. He said, “The Ministry will strengthen water resources co-operation with the HKSAR Government on all fronts, continuously enhance the water safety system in the Greater Bay Area, and provide stronger water safety guarantees for high-quality development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Transport visited the Hong Kong Police Headquarters today (April 1) to observe a demonstration of the eTraffic Pen… read more

     Hong Kong Customs today (April 1) detected a drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 600 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $300,000.

     Customs officers intercepted a 50-year-old female passenger  who planned to depart from Hong Kong to Koror, Palau. Upon a search, Customs officers found the batch of suspected methamphetamine on her body. The woman was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     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/en).

  

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 31) in Tsing Yi seized 52 suspected “space oil drug” capsules, about 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine, two vape sticks, a batch of drug-inhaling apparatus and drug packaging paraphernalia with a total estimated market value of about $24,000. Three men suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

     During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tsing Yi last night, Customs officers intercepted a 31-year-old man and found two suspected “space oil drug” capsules and one vape stick on him. He was then arrested. Customs officers later escorted the arrested man to a nearby public rental housing unit where he lived for a search, and further seized about 50 suspected “space oil drug” capsules, about 10g of suspected methamphetamine, one vape stick, a batch of drug-inhaling apparatus and drug packaging paraphernalia. Another two men aged 35 and 36 inside the unit were also arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement and stringently combat against trafficking of the “space oil drug”. If public rental housing units are found to be involved in drug trafficking crimes, Customs will notify the Housing Department for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings.

     Under the Dangerous Drug 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 report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 4.58 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Ching Ming festive period (from April 3 to 6). The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 3.91 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 April 4 (Friday) and April 6 (Sunday), with around 561 000 passengers and 608 000 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 231 000, 211 000 and 149 000 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. Furthermore, passengers may also check the estimated waiting times at each land boundary control point at any time or place via the Immigration Mobile Application (ImmD Mobile App). They can then plan their trips effectively and save time queuing at control points. The ImmD Mobile App can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store (supports iOS version 12.0 or above), Google Play (supports Android version 8.0 or above), Huawei AppGallery (supports Android version 8.0 or above) and the APK file available on the ImmD website. Passengers can download the ImmD Mobile App by scanning the QR code (see Annex) or via the ImmD website, www.immd.gov.hk. In addition, information on public transport services to and from various control points is available on the Transport Department website at www.td.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.