Hong Kong Strengthens Marine Insurance Ties with International Leaders in Maritime Industry Meeting

STL meets with President of International Union of Marine Insurance

​The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, met with the President of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), Mr Frédéric Denèfle, and the Secretary General of the IUMI, Mr Lars Lange, today (November 18). Also attending the meeting were the Chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board (HKMPDB), Dr Moses Cheng, and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI), Ms Selina Lau.

Ms Chan welcomed the visit of leaders of the international marine insurance sector to Hong Kong. She said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to maintaining close ties with the global maritime industry and actively participates in meetings and exchange activities of the IUMI to keep abreast of the latest developments in the global shipping and marine insurance fields. Over the years, the IUMI has been committed to promoting the professional development and international standards of the global marine insurance industry, and has maintained good collaboration with the industry in Hong Kong. The IUMI established its first Asian hub in Hong Kong in 2016 to enhance support for marine insurance in the Asian region.

She added that following the official establishment of the Hong Kong Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association at the World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025 Government Summit yesterday (November 17), she was pleased to note that the HKMPDB and the IUMI has further signed a Memorandum of Understanding on talent training for the marine insurance industry at an event co-organised by the IUMI and the HKFI during HKMW 2025 today. This will help enhance the industry's alignment with international standards, further elevate Hong Kong's international status in the field of high value-added maritime services, and promote the development of high value-added maritime professional training. In addition, the Maritime Services Traineeship Scheme - Marine Insurance under the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund has been launched to encourage insurance companies and insurance broker companies engaged in marine insurance business to provide internship opportunities for those aspiring to pursue a career in marine insurance.

She added that 11 out of the 12 member associations of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs provide services in Hong Kong, evidencing the vibrancy and internationalisation of Hong Kong's marine insurance development. Hong Kong's advantages, including the "one country, two systems" principle, a bilingual common law system, a free economy and a simple and low tax regime, make it an ideal city for global maritime service enterprises to set up their businesses and provide quality maritime services for global shipping enterprises. The HKSAR Government will further promote the development of high value-added maritime services with a view to developing Hong Kong into a leading international maritime centre.

STL meets with President of International Union of Marine Insurance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

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.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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 drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases