Hong Kong Leaders Meet FAO Chief to Discuss Food Security and Sustainable Development Initiatives.

Acting Chief Executive meets Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations

The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, met with the visiting Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr Qu Dongyu, today (February 10). The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, also attended the meeting.

Mr Chan welcomed Dr Qu's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation. Mr Chan said that the FAO has 194 Member Nations launching work worldwide, leading international efforts to eradicate hunger. It plays a pivotal role in global food security, promoting the development of distinctive agricultural products in various countries and regions, advancing the development of fisheries and aquaculture, and preventing and controlling major animal diseases. Its achievements are widely recognised.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong is promoting the upgrading and transformation of the overall agriculture and fisheries industry towards modernisation and sustainable development. The Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries formulated in Hong Kong earlier has also set out specific work targets in this regard. In addition, Hong Kong has consistently engaged in various collaborations with the FAO. For example, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department earlier participated in the drafting of a series of FAO guidelines on African Swine Fever (ASF) to assist smallholder pig farmers in the Asian region to respond to ASF, and the relevant guidelines have now been widely adopted by Asian countries/regions.

Mr Chan further said that he looks forward to greater co-operation between Hong Kong and the FAO to strengthen knowledge exchange, promote regional co-operation, and make further contributions to global food security and sustainable development. Dr Qu thanked the Hong KongSpecial Administrative Region Government's support of the FAO and said he looks forward to engaging in closer collaboration in the future.

Acting Chief Executive meets Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2.2 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 22) 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 $2.2 million.

A male passenger, aged 47, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

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/en).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2.2 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases