Hong Kong Prepares for Surge in Visitors During Chinese New Year Golden Week Celebrations

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland

​The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau convened a meeting today (January 13) to co-ordinate the preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during the eight-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (January 28 to February 4). The meeting was hosted by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, with representatives from government departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Customs, the Transport Department, and various District Offices attending. Representatives from various tourism-related organisations, including the Travel Industry Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, major tourist attractions and the hotel industry also attended.

Miss Law said, "The Chinese New Year Golden Week is Hong Kong's peak season for travel. Various districts in the city will host a variety of festive events to create a rich New Year ambience for visitors. We are grateful for the Central Government in resuming and expanding the multiple-entry Individual Visit Scheme for Shenzhen residents, which enables more Mainland travellers to visit Hong Kong. We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year Golden Week. We encourage the trade to grasp the opportunities and be flexible in providing more high-quality and innovative experiences to visitors to attract them to stay overnight to enjoy Hong Kong's unique festive atmosphere."

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Relevant parties will continue to maintain close communication before the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to plan and take forward various preparations for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong, making timely reports on the latest situation to the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration.

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (April 20) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2 million.

A female passenger, aged 56, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand via Hanoi, Vietnam this afternoon. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 10 kilograms, in her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.

After investigation, the arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 21).

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 to 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).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases