Hong Kong Customs detects five smuggling cases with goods worth about $45 million seized
Hong Kong Customs detected four suspected air smuggling cases involving weight-loss injection vials on June 12 and 13. About 4 800 injection vials with suspected controlled weight-loss substances, with a total estimated market value of about $4.5 million, were seized. A suspected smuggling case involving a river trade vessel was also detected on June 15. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $40 million were seized.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs selected 34 postal packets arriving in Hong Kong from Japan for inspection on June 12 and 13, and found a total of about 4 800 injection vials with suspected controlled weight-loss substances.
The river trade vessel departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on June 15. Upon examination, Customs officers aboard the vessel found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including pharmaceutical products, about 2 900 cosmetic injection vials, suspected endangered live turtles, electronic products and tobacco products.
Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. 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.
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 detects five smuggling cases with goods worth about $45 million seized Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government's financial results for two months ended May 31, 2026
The Government announced today (June 30) its financial results for the two months ended May 31, 2026.
Expenditure and revenue from April to May 2026 amounted to HK$125.1billion and HK$60.9 billion respectively, resulting in a deficit of HK$30.3billion after taking into account HK$37.4 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$3.5 billion principal on Government Bonds. The fiscal reserves stood at HK$635.2 billion as at May 31, 2026.
A Government spokesperson said that the deficit for the period was mainly due to the fact that major revenue items including salaries and profits taxes are mostly received towards the end of a financial year.
Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (Note 1)
| Month ended May 31, 2026 HK$ million | Two months ended May 31, 2026 HK$ million |
| Revenue | 19,406.2 | 60,873.8 |
| Expenditure | (62,542.5) | (125,142.5) |
| | |
| Deficit before issuance and repayment of Government Bonds | (43,136.3) | (64,268.7) |
| | |
| Proceeds received from issuance of Government Bonds | 31,400.3 | 37,447.7 |
| | |
| Repayment of Government Bonds* | (1,624.1) | (3,477.5) |
| | |
| Deficit after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds | (13,360.1) | (30,298.5) |
| | |
| Financing | | |
| Domestic | | |
| Banking Sector (Note 2) | 12,370.9 | 27,298.8 |
| Non-Banking Sector | 989.2 | 2,999.7 |
| External | - | - |
| | |
| Total | 13,360.1 | 30,298.5 |
| * Being repayment of principal on Government Bonds and does not include the associated interest and other expenses. |
May 31, 2026
HK$ million
May 31, 2026
HK$ million
and repayment of
Government Bonds
issuance of
Government Bonds
Government Bonds*
and repayment of
Government Bonds
Government Debts as at May 31, 2026 (Note 3)
HK$446,559 million
Debts Guaranteed by Government as at May 31, 2026 (Note 4)
HK$108,634 million
TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
| Month ended May 31, 2026 HK$ million | Two months ended May 31, 2026 HK$ million |
| Fiscal Reserves at start of period | 648,602.2 | 665,540.6 |
| Consolidated Deficit after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds | (13,360.1) | (30,298.5) |
| | |
| Fiscal Reserves at end of period (Note 5) | 635,242.1 | 635,242.1 |
May 31, 2026
HK$ million
May 31, 2026
HK$ million
issuance and repayment of
Government Bonds
(Note 5)
Notes:
1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at May 31, 2026, was HK$153,188 million.
2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks.
3.The Government Debts, with proceeds credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund, comprise:
(i) the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$195,450 million as at May 31, 2026) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,550 million with maturity from June 2026 to January 2053), euros (6,550 million euros with maturity from November 2026 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB33,000 million with maturity from July 2026 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$22,500 million with maturity from October 2026 to November 2027);
(ii) the Infrastructure Bonds (equivalent to HK$142,418 million as at May 31, 2026) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$500 million with maturity in May 2031), Renminbi (RMB53,750 million with maturity from July 2026 to May 2056) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$76,230 million with maturity from August 2026 to May 2056); and
(iii) the Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$108,691 million (with maturity in October 2027 and October 2028 and may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme.
They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$100,392 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,837 million as at May 31, 2026) issued under the Government Bond Programme with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund. Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$53,292 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$53,292 million will mature within the period from June 2026 to May 2027, and the rest within the period from June 2027 to May 2042.
4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Cross-boundary Passenger Transport Trade, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Travel Sector launched in 2023, and the commercial loan under Guaranteed Medium Term Note Programme of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited.
5. Includes HK$249,839 million, being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of Future Fund, for long-term investments up to December 31, 2030. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.
Source: AI-found images
