Tag Archives: China

     Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment yesterday (September 9) and today (September 10) at Hong Kong International Airport. About 1.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 5.3 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds were seized with an estimated market value of about $2.5 million in total.

     The first case involved a 53-year-old male passenger who arrived in Hong Kong yesterday from Freetown, Sierra Leone via Istanbul, Türkiye. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in false compartments in five pieces of clothing, one handbag and one computer bag inside his checked-in luggage. The man was subsequently arrested.


     The second case involved a 23-year-old male passenger who arrived in Hong Kong today from Chiang Mai, Thailand. During customs clearance, a total of 22 packs of suspected cannabis buds were found concealed in 18 food packaging items in his checked-in luggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

     The arrested man of the first case will be charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 11). For the second case, an investigation is ongoing.

     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. 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, cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are classified as dangerous drugs. Importation of products (including food or drinks) containing cannabis, THC or CBD into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of those products.
      
     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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/). read more

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, held a joint press conference today (September 10) on the Government’s latest residual relief work progress related to the extensive flooding caused by the torrential rain brought by the low pressure associated with the remnants of Haikui. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Acting Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, also attended. Following is the transcript of remarks of the press conference:
 
Reporter: First of all, about the Shek O evacuation arrangements, what could have been done better and what will be done to prevent similar incidents from happening? Like some Shek O residents have mentioned, they were not aware of the evacuation plan. Secondly, on the landslides in Red Hill Peninsula, what is the latest assessment and what are the follow up actions? Is there unauthorised construction involved and will the Government make prosecutions? And finally, will authorities provide insurance and subsidy for shops affected by the floods and in what ways if they would? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Security: For the Shek O evacuation operation, actually starting from the morning before there was an evacuation decision, we were transporting daily necessities and communication equipment, as well as emergency construction officers and our care team to go inside Shek O to provide necessary services. In fact, I understand that the district officer had maintained close liaison with local villagers, as well as their representatives to understand the situation. So once the decision had been made for the evacuation, the Fire Services Department and the Police had immediately set up a temporary pontoon for the evacuation of the residents. I understand that the communication between our government officials, the village representatives and the residents was good. For those who needed to be evacuated, they were all being arranged.
 
Secretary for Development: Regarding the case in the Redhill Peninsula, relevant departments have inspected the slope with that landslide. And currently, our assessment is that that landslide has affected three houses sitting on that slope. And among the three, one has imminent danger, and so has been evacuated last evening. As a follow-up action, the relevant departments responsible for maintaining that government slope will do emergency works, first of all, to stabilise the slope. And then when circumstances permit, we will allow the relevant residents to get back to that house under that evacuation arrangement.
 
     As to the question regarding whether there is unauthorised building structures or unlawful occupation of government land, our initial evidence shows that there is indeed some breach of the leases and also unlawful occupation. But our primary focus at the present moment is to stabilise the slope to ensure public safety. And once that is done, we will proceed with the necessary enforcement against the relevant breaches. 

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: For the relief funds, the Government has already issued a press release introducing various relief funds under the Government to help the needy. We understand the concern of those affected villagers and residents, so various bureaux will deploy extra manpower to help the affected villagers and residents to apply for these relief funds and to speed up the processing.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The Department of Health (DH) announced today (September 10) that due to the adverse weather conditions earlier, two out of three lifts at the Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club Polyclinic (address: 145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei) have been suspended from operation for safety inspection and maintenance. There is limited lift service in the building and the waiting time may be longer than usual.

     The DH’s clinic services in the building will operate as normal. Patients who wish to reschedule their booking may contact DH’s respective services below:

Yau Ma Tei Elderly Health Centre 2782 5577
Yau Ma Tei Chest Clinic 2245 9510 or 2388 5939
Yau Ma Tei Orthodontic Clinic 2780 9544
Yau Ma Tei Dermatological Clinic 2770 4639
Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic 2359 4377
Yau Ma Tei Female Social Hygiene Clinic 2388 6634

     The DH has arranged contractors to repair the lifts so as to fully resume lift services as soon as possible. read more

     The Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Management and Strategic Development), Mr Ellis Lai, and the President of the Shanghai Customs College (SCC), Mr Cong Yuhao, yesterday (September 9) witnessed the signing of a Co-operative Arrangement on exchange and co-operation between the SCC and the Hong Kong Customs College at the SCC. 
      
     The SCC is a full-time undergraduate institution directly affiliated with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. The Co-operative Arrangement enhances exchanges and co-operation between both colleges in fields of customs-related training and academic research. Through different platforms in the future, both sides will deepen exchanges in aspects of National Studies and Customs operations between officers in the two places, and take forward the development and application of technology in Customs-related training with a view to enhancing learning effectiveness.   
      
     In addition, Mr Lai, together with a Hong Kong Customs delegation, attended today (September 10) a thematic forum on advancement to a world-class Customs college at the SCC and joined the celebration activities, including the flag raising ceremony, commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the SCC.
      
     Hong Kong Customs will continue to strengthen the co-operation with Mainland Customs and strive to enhance training effectiveness.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      â€‹The spokesman for the Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) made the following announcement today (September 10):         &nbs… read more