Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 25) and today (October 26) and seized a total of about 30.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $6.1 million. Three persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.
In the first case, two male passengers, aged 45 and 37, arrived in Hong Kong from Hangzhou and Bangkok, Thailand, respectively yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 3kg with an estimated market value of about $600,000 concealed in vacuum-sealed bags inside the carry-on suitcase of the 45-year-old male passenger. The two persons were subsequently arrested.
In the second case, a 62-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Vancouver, Canada, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 27.5kg of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million, in his check-in suitcases. He was subsequently arrested.
The two arrested men in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and they will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 27). For the second case, an investigation is still 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 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 two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit in Beijing today (March 22).
Mr Chan attended the opening session and a thematic symposium of the China Development Forum 2026 in the morning. He also spoke at the thematic symposium titled "Global Green, Low-carbon Transition and Sustainable Development" in the afternoon.
In his remarks at the symposium, Mr Chan said that, from an economic perspective, estimates project that by 2050 climate change could cause annual losses of up to US$38 trillion to agriculture, infrastructure and productivity. To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the world still faces an annual funding gap of more than US$4.4 trillion. While some countries have withdrawn from international co-operation frameworks, the momentum of the green transition continues to advance. Investment in clean energy exceeded US$2.2 trillion by 2025, accounting for about two-thirds of global energy investment, with China contributing about one-third.
Mr Chan stressed that China is not only a participant in global climate governance, but also a steadfast practitioner and leader, making steady progress towards the "3060" dual carbon goals. The country's 15th Five-Year Plan will embed green development deeply into industrial upgrading and infrastructure development, accelerating a comprehensive green transition across economic and social development and setting out a number of binding targets. As a Special Administrative Region of the country, Hong Kong is firmly advancing towards carbon neutrality, with targets of halving carbon emissions by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It has been making solid progress. In 2024, Hong Kong's per capita carbon emissions fell to about 4.4 tonnes, roughly one-quarter of that of the United States and 60 per cent of that of the European Union. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will continue to take forward its decarbonisation work along four major directions, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction.
He noted that Hong Kong is committed to contributing "Hong Kong's strength" to the regional and global green transition, leveraging two core engines of green finance and green technology. First, Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its role as a regional green finance hub. This includes maintaining its leading position in green and sustainable debt and integrating blockchain technology with green finance to attract more green capital. At the same time, Hong Kong will continue to align its green finance standards with international best practices. Second, Hong Kong will proactively develop innovative financial instruments to channel greater funding into green projects. Examples include infrastructure securitisation to mobilise global capital for renewable energy and other green infrastructure, as well as the issuance of catastrophe bonds to transfer major natural-disaster risks to the capital market. Third, Hong Kong will further foster a vibrant green technology ecosystem and step up investment in frontier green technologies, including through the deployment of "patient capital". Hong Kong will also support Mainland green technologies in expanding into overseas markets.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan called on the Minister of Finance, Mr Lan Fo'an. They had in-depth exchanges on the 15th Five-Year Plan, the national and global economic outlook and fiscal policies, as well as strengthening co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The Secretary for the Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Kelvin Wong, also attended the meeting.
Mr Chan also attended the Beijing Night of the China Development Forum 2026 in the evening.
Mr Chan will continue his programme in Beijing tomorrow morning (March 23) and will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon.
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS attends China Development Forum 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
