Hong Kong Customs Seizes 10kg of Cannabis Buds, Arrests Female Passenger at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 21) and seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2 million.

A 28-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds from her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.

After an investigation, the arrested woman 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 (October 23).

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 detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government launches consultation work on improving complaint handling mechanism of MCHK

To improve the complaint handling mechanism of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK), the Government will introduce a bill to the Legislative Council in the first half of this year to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance. The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, chaired the first consultation meeting today (January 16) to meet with representatives of patient groups and listen to their views.

Professor Lo said, "Members of the public have very high expectations of the MCHK in actively discharging their primary responsibility of safeguarding doctors' professional standards and ethical conduct. Patient groups are important stakeholders. They offered highly constructive suggestions at today's meeting. I look forward to continuing in-depth discussions with other stakeholders to explore proposals to improve the complaint handling mechanism of the MCHK, with a view to maintaining public trust in the medical profession."

At the request of the Secretary for Health, the MCHK earlier submitted a report on improving its complaint handling mechanism to the Health Bureau. The Health Bureau is reviewing the report and the supplementary information subsequently provided by the MCHK, and will consider the report's recommendations and the operational needs of the MCHK in proposing amendments to the Ordinance.

The Health Bureau will continue the consultation work by meeting with professional bodies and relevant stakeholders shortly to listen to their views.

Government launches consultation work on improving complaint handling mechanism of MCHK Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases