Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected controlled injections and pharmaceutical products worth about $990,000
Hong Kong Customs detected two cases of importing suspected controlled injections and pharmaceutical products in early March and seized 1 744 vials of injection and 27 tubes of ointment suspected to contain Part 1 poisons, with an estimated market value of about $990,000.
In the first case, Customs officers on March 5 inspected a postal packet imported from Japan at the Surface Mail Centre. Upon inspection, Customs officers found and seized 96 anti-obesity injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons from the consignment.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on the same day arrested a 45-year-old female consignee suspected to be connected with the case, and further seized 888 injection vials and 27 tubes of ointment suspected to contain Part 1 poisons at the consignee's address in North Point.
In the second case, Customs officers on March 9 inspected an express parcel imported from Korea to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Upon inspection, Customs officers found and seized 32 cosmetic injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons in the parcel.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on March 10 arrested a 35-year-old male consignee suspected to be connected with the case, and further seized 728 cosmetic injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons at the consignee's address in Cheung Sha Wan.
Investigations are ongoing, and the two arrested persons have been released on bail.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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 detected two cases of importing suspected controlled injections and pharmaceutical products in early March and seized 1 744 injection vials and 27 tubes of ointment suspected to contain Part 1 poisons, with an estimated market value of about $990,000. Photo shows some of the injection vials seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detected two cases of importing suspected controlled injections and pharmaceutical products in early March and seized 1 744 injection vials and 27 tubes of ointment suspected to contain Part 1 poisons, with an estimated market value of about $990,000. Photo shows some of the injection vials and ointment seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) hosted a business forum and spring reception on March 12 (Philadelphia time) in Philadelphia, one of the most significant life science clusters in the United States, to promote Hong Kong's expanding role as a global hub for health and life sciences innovation and to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration. Over 130 business leaders, investors, and innovators from across Greater Philadelphia gathered to learn more about Hong Kong's role as an international life and health science hub.
As part of the Economic and Trade Express initiative, the business forum was co-organised by the New York ETO, Invest Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), strengthening efforts in trade and investment promotion, and reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder".
In her welcome remarks, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted Hong Kong's remarkable progress in life sciences and healthcare, emphasising the latest measures to propel Hong Kong's life sciences and health technology ecosystem through a multipronged approach.
She elaborated on Hong Kong's integrated development plan, including reforming the evaluation regime for drugs and medical devices, promoting the use of real-world data to facilitate clinical research, setting up dedicated institutes and academies for research and clinical trials at the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in the Northern Metropolis, as well as dedicated efforts in attracting strategic enterprises, with a view to further strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading health and innovation node.
Ms Ho added that Hong Kong's well-established financial ecosystem continues to play a pivotal role in supporting this growth. "Hong Kong ranks as the world's second-largest biotech fundraising hub, supporting a diverse range of innovative companies," she said.
The business forum featured two keynote presentations connecting life sciences and health innovation between Philadelphia and Hong Kong. In her keynote presentation, the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the Invest Hong Kong in New York, Ms Yi Xie, highlighted Hong Kong as a launchpad for life sciences, showcasing its well- developed research and development infrastructure, robust intellectual property protection, and strategic gateway to the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Asia-Pacific markets. Meanwhile, the Director (New York & Midwest) of the HKTDC, Mr Curtis Louie, shared the range of support the HKTDC provides to Philadelphia companies, including matchmaking services for companies, and encouraged delegation participation in the upcoming Asia Summit on Global Health.
The presentations were then followed by a panel discussion moderated by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Science History Institute, Dr David Cole, featuring the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the ConSynance Therapeutics, Dr Liu Shuang; the Head of Global Business Development of the Jecho Laboratories, Dr Sarah Johnson; and the Director, Deal Advisory, US-China Corridor of KPMG, Mr Jon Hung. The speakers discussed collaboration, fundraising, clinical development, and market expansion in Asia.
On the same evening, Ms Ho hosted a spring reception for guests from the city's political, business, financial, and academic communities.
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
