Hong Kong Customs and the Mainland Customs mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation codenamed "Xun Lei" since March this year. Hong Kong Customs has conducted enforcement operations from June 2 to 7 and detected a suspected speedboat smuggling case. A batch of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $120 million was seized, including about 66 000 pieces of high-value goods, about 2.3 tonnes of expensive food ingredients and about 186 kilograms of scheduled endangered species. This is the largest speedboat smuggling case detected by Hong Kong Customs on record in terms of the seizure value.

     In view of the recent upward trend of sea smuggling activities, Hong Kong Customs has particularly stepped up intelligence exchanges with the anti-smuggling departments of the Mainland Customs, and targeted a cross-boundary smuggling syndicate for an in-depth investigation. The "Xun Lei" operation was jointly conducted by Hong Kong Customs, the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, and the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Shenzhen Customs. From March to April, authorities of the Mainland Customs first took action and raided three storehouses suspected to be used for storing smuggled goods in places including Guangdong, Guangxi and Anhui. A total of 11 people were arrested and about 2.42 tonnes of suspected smuggled pangolin scales with an estimated market value of about RMB50 million were seized.

     Hong Kong Customs then conducted operations from June 2 to 7. Customs officers on June 2 spotted several suspicious men moving cartons of goods from a lorry to a speedboat using a ladder with metal rollers at a seashore in Lau Fau Shan. The officers then took action and those men immediately jumped onto the speedboat and fled. A lorry suspected to be connected with the case was intercepted at the scene. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including luxury handbags, valuable watches, expensive food ingredients and highly endangered species, was seized on board the lorry. After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers raided three storehouses and a residential unit in the New Territories. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods was further seized in the storehouses.

     During the whole operation, the total value of the suspected smuggled goods seized by Hong Kong Customs is about $120 million. Together with the smuggled goods seized by the Mainland Customs, the total value of the seizures has amounted to over $180 million.

     Four men suspected to be in connection with the case, aged between 35 and 62, were arrested by Hong Kong Customs during the operation.

     An investigation is ongoing. All arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation, and further arrests are not ruled out.

     The Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, stressed at a press conference today (June 10) that the department has always been fiercely combating cross-boundary smuggling activities and would continue working closely with the law enforcement agencies in the Mainland through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions, with a view to further increasing the enforcement effectiveness in the anti-smuggling realm by the Mainland and Hong Kong enforcement agencies.

     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.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 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 Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the email concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Government announced today (June 10) the expansion of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme by lowering the minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine from 16 to 12.
      
     Starting from 9am tomorrow (June 11), persons aged 12 to 15 can make reservations through the online booking system on the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) for receiving BioNTech vaccination at 24 Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) across the territory commencing next Monday (June 14).
      
     The Government reminded youths and their parents that, like persons aged 16 and 17, those aged 12 to 15 are required to bring along a consent form signed by their parents for getting their vaccinations. The consent form can be downloaded from the designated website.
      
     The Government attaches great importance to the vaccination of teenagers and students. In addition to their making own appointments for vaccination, the Government will provide them with special channels to get vaccinated, including providing special appointments at CVCs and transport from and to schools, as well as outreach vaccination at schools. The Education Bureau will write to schools to inform them of the details and arrangements.
      
     "These measures will greatly assist schools, teachers and parents. We hope they will make arrangements for their students or children to get vaccinated as soon as possible," a Government spokesman said.
      
     The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine remains at 18. Persons aged 18 or above can make reservations through the online booking system for receiving the vaccine at the five relevant CVCs or 21 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority. They can also make appointments for vaccination with private doctors or clinics participating in the programme.
      
     "We have to put in place an immune barrier in Hong Kong as soon as possible and the next three months will be critical. We must act fast to receive the first vaccine dose by the end of August to protect ourselves, our families and friends. Let's pitch in for the 'Early Vaccination for All' campaign together," the spokesman added.
      
     Members of the public can search for information about all vaccination venues through the GeoInfo Map (www.map.gov.hk/gm/map/s/m/communityvaccinationservicesofcovid) and the Interactive Map Dashboard of COVID-19 (chp-dashboard.geodata.gov.hk/covid-19/en.html) on the designated website.

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

     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee originally scheduled for 3pm tomorrow (June 11) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will be held at 3.15 pm (or an earlier time between 3pm and 3.15 pm).

     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) launched the Chinese version of an e-book titled "A Tour of Tropical Cyclones" today (June 10), to deepen children's understanding of tropical cyclones and to raise their awareness of disaster preparedness and response. The HKO plans to launch the English version of the e-book later this year.
      
     Contents of the e-book include the classification and naming of tropical cyclones, information on local historical typhoons, the meaning of warning signals, storm structure, methods of monitoring and forecasting tropical cyclones, as well as the associated hazards and precautionary measures. In addition to multimedia information, the e-book is also linked to relevant online educational resources and "Cool Met Stuff" videos of the HKO. The infographics in the e-book were jointly designed by the HKO and its former intern for the first time. While the e-book's main target audiences are children, its contents are also suitable for other readers.
      
     The desktop and mobile versions of the Chinese version of the e-book are now available. Members of the public may browse the e-book at the "Educational Resources" page (www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/edu.htm) and the "Tropical Cyclone" page (www.hko.gov.hk/en/informtc/tcMain.htm) of the HKO's website; or the "Educational Resources" section of the mobile application "MyObservatory".