Remarks by SEE and STL at media session after third reading debate on Appropriation Bill 2026
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Financial Secretary Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, met the media after the third reading debate on the Appropriation Bill 2026 by the Legislative Council today (April 29). Following are the remarks by Mr Tse and Ms Chan:
Reporter: Could you briefly talk more about the considerations for introducing the subsidy for minibuses, school buses and taxis using petroleum gas? How would the Government ensure that oil companies and distributors would not mark up their prices under the diesel subsidy arrangement offered by the Government?
Secretary for Environment and Ecology: Our subsidy scheme includes an agreement with the oil companies or the distributors. Under the agreement, they are obliged to submit reports to the Government on a weekly basis about the sources of the oil, the sales volume, the prices, etc, as well as after the scheme, they have to conduct an independent audit to verify all that information. Because the Government knows the price of the oil they buy from the external sources, therefore we can monitor all the changes in oil prices and we know what the changes are. Therefore, with the reporting and auditing system, we are very confident that the oil companies will not be able to rip off the subsidy.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics: Public minibuses and taxis are two important components of our public transport system. On the other hand, we have also minibuses providing student service. In order to ensure that they will continue to maintain a stable and steady service for the general members of the public, we will redeploy internal resources within the Government to provide the $0.5 subsidy per litre for the petroleum supplier companies' usage.
We will discuss amongst ourselves and identify suitable resources, so as to ensure the measure can be rolled out as soon as possible.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (second right); the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong (second left); the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (first left) and the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan (first right), meet the media after the third reading debate on Appropriation Bill 2026 this afternoon (April 29). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs teams up with Mainland and Macao Customs to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities
Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from April 13 to April 24, during which inspections of goods across the three places and destined for countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia were stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary and transshipment counterfeiting activities. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 23 cases and seized about 46 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones, bags, clothing, footwear and electronic products, with a total estimated market value of about $16 million.
Through intelligence analysis and detailed investigations, Hong Kong Customs in the operation detected 21 related cases at a number of local express couriers and logistics companies.
Meanwhile, Customs officers detected two cases at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, seizing a batch of suspected counterfeit goods from two incoming lorries. Two male lorry drivers, aged 48 and 52, were arrested. An investigation is ongoing. The two arrestees have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to vigorously combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipping activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from April 13 to April 24, during which inspections of goods across the three places and destined for countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia were stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary and transshipment counterfeiting activities. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 23 cases and seized about 46 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones, bags, clothing, footwear and electronic products etc, with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Photo shows the suspected counterfeit goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
