Hong Kong Customs detects two smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels
Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels in July. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $80 million was seized.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Strategies were thus formulated, with two suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to the United States and one suspicious container scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Korea selected for inspection on July 9 and 11 respectively.
Upon examination, Customs officers found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including refrigerants, perfumes and lighters, in the two containers destined for the United States. The two containers were declared as carrying "mat, bottle" and "storage bag, bottle" respectively. Also, a large batch of suspected smuggled electronic products, including touch screens, oximeters and electronic parts, was seized in the container departing for Korea declared as carrying "plastic gloves and other rubbers".
Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the front line. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, with targeted anti-smuggling operations carried out at suitable times to disrupt these activities.
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 upon conviction.
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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs detects two smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Securities and Futures and Companies Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Commencement) Notice gazetted
To implement the uncertificated securities market (USM) regime, the Government published in the Gazette today (April 30) the Securities and Futures and Companies Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Commencement) Notice to appoint November 16, 2026, as the date on which Part 2 (except section 9(2)) and Part 5 of the Securities and Futures and Companies Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 come into operation.
The relevant provisions of the Amendment Ordinance set out the principal framework of the USM regime, which seeks to eliminate the need for paper documents in evidencing and transferring legal ownership of prescribed securities, enhancing the infrastructure, efficiency, competitiveness and investor protection of the securities market in Hong Kong by reducing reliance on paper and manual processes.
The six pieces of subsidiary legislation made in 2025, which set out detailed arrangements of the regime, will also come into operation on the same date under their commencement provisions. They are:
(i) Securities and Futures (Uncertificated Securities Market) Rules (L.N. 15 of 2025);
(ii) Securities and Futures (Approved Securities Registrars) Rules (L.N. 16 of 2025) (as amended by the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2025);
(iii) Securities and Futures (Stock Market Listing) (Amendment) Rules 2025 (L.N. 17 of 2025);
(iv) Securities and Futures (Open-ended Fund Companies) (Amendment) Rules 2025 (L.N. 18 of 2025);
(v) Securities and Futures Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 8) Order 2025 (L.N. 14 of 2025); and
(vi) Securities and Futures Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 5) Notice 2025 (L.N. 19 of 2025).
A spokesperson for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, "The Government has been in close collaboration with the Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the Federation of Share Registrars Limited and the industry to steadily take forward the preparation for the USM regime in a prudent manner, which is now in its final stage. The implementation of the USM regime will enhance the efficiency and infrastructure of the Hong Kong securities market, as well as provide better investor protection and transparency. The regime will help consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and status as an international financial centre."
The Commencement Notice will be tabled before the Legislative Council on May 6.
Photo source: reference image
