Civil Service College Hosts Talk on China-U.S. Relations for HKSAR Officials

Civil Service College holds talk on "Development of China - United States Relations"

The Civil Service College (CSC) today (January 27) held a talk in the series on the country's foreign affairs, jointly with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The talk was delivered by Deputy Director General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Mr Tang Zhiwen. The theme of the talk was "Development of China - United States Relations".

Addressing the talk, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said that Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying the nation's strong support and being closely connected to the world, along with a multicultural and international background. In the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong can play a bridging role by promoting economic and cultural exchanges between the country and the rest of the world, thereby opening up new development opportunities. HKSAR civil servants should take a more active role by developing a deep understanding of national strategies, accurately grasping changes in the international landscape, and fully leveraging their professional expertise and communication capabilities to contribute to fostering rational dialogue and pragmatic co-operation between China and the United States.

About 170 senior officials and civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks attended the talk at the Central Government Offices today.

The CSC and the OCMFA have been jointly organising this series of talks on the country's foreign affairs since late 2021. The series, including thematic briefing sessions on "International Landscape and China's Foreign Relations" by the Commissioner of OCMFA, and talks by relevant officials of the MFA on various topics, aims to broaden civil servants' international perspectives, and awareness of national security and holistic views.

Civil Service College holds talk on "Development of China - United States Relations" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Director General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Mr Tang Zhiwen, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Civil Service College holds talk on "Development of China - United States Relations" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).

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, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

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 drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases