Hong Kong Customs dismantles two illegal fueling stations
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 9) mounted territory-wide surprise inspections targeting illicit fuel activities and detected two related cases, seizing a total of about 1 400 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit with an estimated market value of about $42,000 and a duty potential of about $8,700. Two persons were arrested and one vehicle involved in a case was detained.
Yesterday afternoon, Customs officers shut down an illegal fueling station inside a metal shed near the roadside in Tung Chung during a patrol. About 600 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit and a batch of filling equipment were seized. An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Moreover, Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit fuel operation in Fo Tan yesterday night and dismantled an illegal fueling station on a remote roadside. About 800 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit and a batch of filling equipment were seized. Two men, one believed to be the operator of the illegal fueling station, aged 38, and a private car driver coming for fueling, aged 32, were arrested. The private car was also detained.
The two arrested persons were charged with illegal dealing with dutiable commodities.
Customs will continue to carry out stringent enforcement action and step up inspections to combat illegal fuel activities. Members of the public are also urged not to patronise illegal fueling stations. The use of illicit fuel is a criminal offence, and vehicles involved may be liable to confiscation.
According to the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any vehicle found conveying illicit motor spirit, as well as any tools, equipment, or articles used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of related offences, shall be liable to forfeiture whether or not any person is convicted of any offence. Anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illegal fuel 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).
Photo shows the suspected illicit motor spirit seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Photo shows the suspected illicit motor spirit seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Photo shows the detained private car involved in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
First northbound transfer drill for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA conducted smoothly
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, conducted the first northbound transfer drill for the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area (Pilot Scheme) today (February 10) to test the route and immigration arrangements under the simulated transfer of patients by cross-boundary ambulance from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH).
During the drill, the Shenzhen ambulance departed from HKU-SZH and travelled to the designated Hong Kong sending hospital (i.e. QEH) via Shenzhen Bay Port to pick up the patient, and then transferred the patient back to HKU-SZH via the same port for treatment. The testing process was smooth.
In his 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive has announced that the HKSAR Government will, in collaboration with the governments of Guangdong and Macao, extend the cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangements in an orderly manner, including the expansion to cover designated hospitals in Zhuhai and Nansha, as well as two-way transfers. The Pilot Scheme (southbound transfer) has been officially extended from Shenzhen and Macao to Zhuhai and Nansha since November 9, 2025.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "The successful conduction of the first northbound transfer drill from Hong Kong to Shenzhen by the government departments of Guangdong and Hong Kong has laid the foundation for extending the Pilot Scheme to a two-way transfer arrangement. The HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation with relevant Mainland authorities, expecting to officially implement the two-way transfer of the direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer within the first quarter of this year. This will expedite the actualisation of a high degree of healthcare integration within the Greater Bay Area and promote the high-quality development of a 'Healthy Bay Area'."
The overall operation of the Pilot Scheme has been smooth since its implementation from November 30, 2024. The Pilot Scheme will be extended until November 29 this year, and subsequent arrangements will be announced at an appropriate juncture. To date, 23 patients have been transferred from designated sending hospitals in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Nansha, and Macao (i.e. HKU-SZH, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Nansha Division of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, and Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao) to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong for treatment. According to professional medical assessments, the patients concerned have a need for continuous hospitalisation for treatment. Their conditions were relatively stable, but they were unable to cross the boundary on their own and were unsuitable for transfer to an ambulance via the existing boundary control points.
Photo shows participating personnel simulating the transfer of a patient out of Queen Elizabeth Hospital to depart for University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Photo shows participating healthcare personnel of Hong Kong and Shenzhen simulating the handover of a patient at the beginning of the drill at Queen Elizabeth Hospital of Hong Kong. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Photo shows the Shenzhen cross-boundary ambulance used for the drill arriving at Queen Elizabeth Hospital of Hong Kong to prepare for simulating the transfer of a patient to University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
