Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving passenger at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drugs case involving internal concealment at Hong Kong International Airport on August 11, and seized about 624 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $500,000.
A 32-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Johannesburg, South Africa, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on that day. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found that she had foreign objects concealed inside her body cavity. The woman was arrested immediately and brought to a hospital for examination. Upon examination, a doctor also confirmed there were foreign objects inside the woman's body cavity.
As at 2pm today (August 13), the arrested person had discharged 22 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 624g in total.
A holding charge with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug has been laid against the arrested woman. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 14).
Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, 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 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 dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKSAR Government and MIIT sign co-operation agreement on new industrialisation
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Mr Jin Zhuanglong, witnessed the signing of the Co-operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in Beijing today (September 19).
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Mr Xiong Jijun represented Hong Kong and the Mainland, respectively, in signing the co-operation agreement. The agreement aims to support Hong Kong in developing new quality productive forces and promoting new industrialisation according to local conditions. Moreover, it strengthens exchanges between the two sides in the fields of industry and information technology, promoting co-operation and joint development in industries where both places have clear advantages.
Mr Lee said, "The HKSAR Government actively develops new quality productive forces, promotes new industrialisation, and fosters better integration into the national system of industry and innovation. The signing of the co-operation agreement between the HKSAR Government and the MIIT today signifies the importance of our efforts to integrate into national development. The HKSAR Government will collaborate with the MIIT to further advance innovation, technology and industry, injecting new impetus into economic development and making greater contribution to the comprehensive promotion of Chinese modernisation to build a great country and achieve national rejuvenation."
Before the signing ceremony of the co-operation agreement, both sides updated each other on the latest policy initiatives for developing new quality productive forces and promoting new industrialisation. They also exchanged views on areas for strengthened co-operation and discussed how the two places could promote the development of innovation and technology while integrating into the overall national development.
HKSAR Government and MIIT sign co-operation agreement on new industrialisation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKSAR Government and MIIT sign co-operation agreement on new industrialisation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKSAR Government and MIIT sign co-operation agreement on new industrialisation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
