Joint Operation Flow Stopper Targets Illicit Fueling in Hong Kong, Seizes 1,600 Liters of Illegal Fuel.

FSD mounts joint operation with Hong Kong Customs and Police against illicit fueling activities and holds special meeting with oil industry to strengthen intelligence collection and combat strategies

The Fire Services Department (FSD), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Customs (Customs) and the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), launched a joint operation codenamed "Flow Stopper" today (February 13), specifically targeting on blackspots of illicit fueling activities in urban areas for a focused crackdown with a view to curbing the spread of such activities in densely populated areas and ensuring public safety.

During the operation, the FSD officers deployed unmanned aircraft systems for aerial surveillance and successfully detected seven concealed blackspots. The law enforcement officers smashed two cases in total, including one mobile illegal petrol fueling station on Hoi Fai Road in Tai Kwok Tsui and one illegal diesel fueling station on Wang Kwong Road in Kowloon Bay. About 600 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit and 1 000 litres of diesel were seized, along with a large batch of fueling equipment. The persons suspected to be connected with the cases included two persons who were believed to be the persons-in-charge of the illegal fueling stations and a man who was patronising a station. They were suspected of violating the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation, the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (DGO) and the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO). Besides, two vehicles suspected of being used as illicit fueling stations and one vehicle patronising for fueling were also seized. Investigation is underway.

In addition, to further enhance strategies for combating illicit fueling activities, the FSD invited government departments such as Customs and the Police, as well as representatives from the oil industry, to a special meeting today to conduct in-depth discussion on intelligence for illicit fueling activities, and the operational tactics for preventing and controlling fuel supply at the source. During the meeting, representatives from the oil industry shared the current models and operational procedures of fuel supply. Focused discussions on enhanced monitoring measures for dangerous goods vehicles collecting fuel at oil depots were also held. These measures include requiring those collecting fuel to provide details and destinations of fuel usage, as well as exploring the possibility of submitting inventory and sales records to relevant enforcement departments for supporting more precise enforcement.

The FSD has all along been committed to combating various kinds of illicit fueling activities. The department urges members of the public not to patronise illegal fueling stations. As these stations lack the proper fire service installations and equipment dedicated for fueling stations, the consequences could be catastrophic in the event of a fire.

Under the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation, it is an offence to possess or control any controlled substance for the business purpose of transferring it into vehicle fuel tanks. The DGO also provides that no person shall manufacture, store, convey or use any dangerous goods unless they possess a licence or exemption granted. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty for the first offence is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

According to the DCO, 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.

The law enforcement departments will continue to spare no efforts in combating illicit fueling activities by strengthening interdepartmental collaboration and enhancing technology-based enforcement (such as drone patrols). Members of the public who encounter suspected illegal fueling activities may call the FSD's 24-hour hotline at 5577 9666, or report via the Illicit Fuelling Activities on the Fire Hazard Electronic Complaint Portal of the FSD (fhcp.hkfsd.gov.hk).

FSD mounts joint operation with Hong Kong Customs and Police against illicit fueling activities and holds special meeting with oil industry to strengthen intelligence collection and combat strategies Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FSD mounts joint operation with Hong Kong Customs and Police against illicit fueling activities and holds special meeting with oil industry to strengthen intelligence collection and combat strategies Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FSD mounts joint operation with Hong Kong Customs and Police against illicit fueling activities and holds special meeting with oil industry to strengthen intelligence collection and combat strategies Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FSD mounts joint operation with Hong Kong Customs and Police against illicit fueling activities and holds special meeting with oil industry to strengthen intelligence collection and combat strategies Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FSD mounts joint operation with Hong Kong Customs and Police against illicit fueling activities and holds special meeting with oil industry to strengthen intelligence collection and combat strategies Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to heed HZMB Zhuhai Port traffic during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following latest information today (February 13) on the traffic and public transport arrangements during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (February 15 to 23):

According to the Zhuhai authority's notification, the temporary link bridge connecting Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road will be closed to all trafficfrom midnightofFebruary 15.HZMB users to Zhuhai should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.

Following the closure of the above temporary link bridge, motorists can only travel to and from HZMB Zhuhai Port via the G94 Pearl River Delta Ring Expressway. The HKSAR Government anticipates that a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles will travel to and from Zhuhai and Macao via the HZMB during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. The closure arrangements may affect the traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads.

The Transport Department (TD) has steered the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) operator to strengthen its services for cross-boundary travel convenience. In addition, the TD has informed applicants with travel bookings under the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and drew their attention to the above arrangements. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site law enforcement officers.

Members of the public can check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only) to plan their journeys ahead.

The HKSAR Government has been maintaining close liaison with the Zhuhai authority for joint monitoring of the HZMB traffic and its management. The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the port traffic conditions and public transport services and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.

Source: AI-found images