LegCo Members Meet District Councils to Discuss Community Development and Transport Issues in Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong.

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

Legislative Council (LegCo) Members met with the Kowloon City District Council (DC) and Yau Tsim Mong DC members at the LegCo Complex today (May 22). This was the first meeting held between LegCo Members and the DCs since the commencement of the Eighth LegCo. They held in-depth discussions and exchanged views on issues related to community development and people's concern. Going forward, LegCo Members will gradually meet with members of other DCs to gather public views and assist the Administration to achieve good governance.

During the meeting with the Kowloon City DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on various issues, including mitigating the traffic pressure in Ho Man Tin so as to prevent further congestion arising from a growing residential population in the area and extensive driving practice activities. They also explored the development of the Kai Tak Runway Area and strengthening the synergy among the Kai Tak Sports Park, the "Youth Post" hostel, and the cruise terminal. In addition, they discussed the accessibility of Kai Tak Hospital and measures to ensure services will be transitioned smoothly to the hospital from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in phases.

LegCo Members will continue to liaise with the DC and the Administration on issues relating to transport and district development in Kowloon City, as well as Kai Tak Hospital, and will proactively convey their views. Members' concerns include traffic congestion and the impacts of driver training and road tests on traffic in Ho Man Tin, the overall transport planning of the Kai Tak Development and the synergistic development of the facilities and merchants to boost the local economy, as well as enhancement of public transport connectivity for Kai Tak Hospital.

The meeting was convened by Professor Priscilla Leung. A total of 26 Members attended the meeting, including Dr Chan Han-pan, Mr Jimmy Ng, Dr Junius Ho, Mr Vincent Cheng, Dr Hoey Simon Lee, Mr Robert Lee, Dr Johnny Ng, Mr Chau Siu-chung, Ms Nixie Lam, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Mr Rock Chen, Mr Chan Yung, Mr Chan Siu-hung, Ms Joephy Chan, Mr Yang Wing-kit, Mr Tang Fei, Professor Chan Wing-kwong, Mr Wu Yingpeng, Captain Lothair Lam, Mr Andrew Fan, Mr Cheung Pui-kong, Mr Lau Ka-keung, Ms Michelle Tang, Professor Michael Ngai and Mr Tam Chun-kwok.

As regards the meeting with the Yau Tsim Mong DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on various issues, including the promotion of in-depth thematic tourism in the district by linking intangible cultural heritage items, historic buildings and featured streetscapes into cultural routes. Members and DC Members also explored the optimization of transport arrangements and information dissemination as Queen Elizabeth Hospital relocates its services to Kai Tak Hospital gradually. They were also concerned about ancillary facilities along the West Kowloon waterfront development and called for the strengthening of traffic information dissemination and the provision of pedestrian signage when major events are being held at the West Kowloon Cultural District to ensure more effective crowd dispersal.

LegCo Members agreed to refer Yau Tsim Mong DC members' views and suggestions on Yau Tsim Mong in-depth tourism, improving transport arrangements to and from the New Acute Hospital in Kai Tak, and enhancing the accessibility of the West Kowloon Cultural District and West Kowloon waterfront and the recreational facilities therein to the relevant LegCo Panels for follow-up.

The meeting was convened by Ms Elizabeth Quat. A total of 28 Members attended the meeting including Dr Chan Han-pan, Mr Vincent Cheng, Mr Lee Chun-keung, Mr Lam Chun-sing, Ms Nixie Lam, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Mr Leung Man-kwong, Mr Rock Chen Chung-nin, Mr Chan Pui-leung, Mr Chan Yung, Mr Chan Siu-hung, Mr Erik Yim, Mr Aaron Bok, Mr Wu Yingpeng, Dr Elvin Lee, Professor Alex Fan, Mr Andrew Fan, Ms Grace Chan, Mr Alan Chan, Mr Chan Cho-kwong, Mr Albert Chuang, Mr Augustine Wong, Mr Ken Wong, Mr Chris Ip, Mr Lau Ka-keung, Ms Michelle Tang and Professor Michael Ngai.

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LegCo Members meet with members of Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

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 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.

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.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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 $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases