Hong Kong Prepares for National Games with Countdown Carnival and Test Events

2024-11-08 22:11 Last Updated At：11-09 09:58

One-year countdown event for 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games (Hong Kong)

The Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung, attended a press conference in Guangzhou today (November 8) to introduce the progress of preparation for the 15th National Games (NG).

Speaking at the press conference, Mr Yeung said that the preparation for the NG in Hong Kong is smooth and Hong Kong will organise test events for various competition events and cross-boundary events so as to get well prepared for the official events.

Other officials attending the press conference were the Director of the Department of Publicity of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr Gao Chao; Vice Chairperson of the Guangdong Executive Committee of the 15th National Games Mr Cui Jian; and the Head of the Preparatory Office for the 15th NG, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) in Macao, Mr Pun Weng-kun.

The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) will also organise the one-year countdown event for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Hong Kong tomorrow (November 9), and members of the public can share the joy of welcoming these two mega sports events to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time.

A carnival will be held from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) tomorrow. The carnival offers a variety of activities, such as a cultural performance, an exhibition of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, and virtual reality games and booths featuring the sports events of the Games to be held in Hong Kong. Members of the public are welcome to join.

The carnival will be cancelled if tropical cyclone warning signal No. 3 or above, or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force on or after 11am tomorrow. Members of the public should pay attention to the latest announcement.

Furthermore, roving exhibitions themed 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG will be held in more than 30 sports centres under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department from tomorrow to introduce the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, and the history of the NG, the NGD and the NSOG, and the Hong Kong team's past achievements in these events. The first exhibition will take place at the Harbour Road Sports Centre, 27 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, running from tomorrow until December 5, 2024.

To raise the public awareness of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, and to encourage members of the public to support and participate in these national mega sports events, promotional activities under the theme of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG will be held in 18 districts across Hong Kong.

The NG, held once every four years, is the nation's highest-level and the largest national multi-sport event. The 15th NG will be held from November 9 to 21, 2025, lasting for a total of 13 days. Hong Kong will organise eight competition events, namely, Basketball (men U22), Track Cycling, Fencing, Golf, Handball (men), Rugby Sevens, Triathlon and Beach Volleyball; as well as one mass participation event, Bowling.

The 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG will be held from December 8 to 15, 2025, lasting for a total of eight days. Hong Kong will organise four competition events, namely, NGD events Boccia, Wheelchair Fencing, Para Table Tennis (TT11), NSOG event Table Tennis; and one mass participation event, Para Dance Sport.

Hong Kong Customs Seizes 29kg of Drugs, Arrests Two Passengers at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (May 26) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 11 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and 18kg of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about $8.85 million. Two men were arrested.

The first case involved a 62-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 11kg of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market of about $2 million, inside his check-in baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The second case involved a 58-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Paris, France, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market of about $6.85 million, inside his check-in baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 27). For the second case, 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).