Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 16) detected two drug trafficking cases involving air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 21 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $3.9 million. Two men were arrested.
The two cases involved a 50-year-old Chinese male passenger and a 19-year-old Malaysian male passenger respectively. They arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, via Manila, the Philippines, yesterday. During customs clearance, officers separately seized from their checked-in suitcases a batch of suspected cannabis buds weighing about 10kg with an estimated market value of approximately $1.9 million, and another batch weighing about 11kg with an estimated market value of approximately $2 million. The two men were subsequently arrested.
The arrested persons have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively. Both cases will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 18).
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 to 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.
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.
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 yesterday (July 16) detected two drug trafficking cases involving air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 21 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $3.9 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the batch of the suspected cannabis buds seized from the checked-in suitcase of the 19-year-old Malaysian male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 16) detected two drug trafficking cases involving air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 21 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $3.9 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the batch of the suspected cannabis buds seized from the checked-in suitcase of the 50-year-old Chinese male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government welcomes passage of Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill
The Government today (July 17) welcomed the passage of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill by the Legislative Council (LegCo). The smooth passage of the Bill marks an important milestone in implementing the relevant authorisation of the Central Authorities, providing the legal basis for implementing the colocation arrangement at the redeveloped Huanggang Port, and signifies a crucial step forward in the preparatory work for the opening of the Port.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) passed the decision to authorise the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to exercise jurisdiction over the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas (collectively referred to as the Hong Kong Port Area) on June 26. Subsequently, the State Council issued an Official Reply on July 8, stipulating the specific co-ordinates and area of the Hong Kong Port Area, and agreeing that the Hong Kong Port Area is to be commissioned beginning at 00.00 hours of July 31, 2026, and is to be subject to the jurisdiction of the HKSAR in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR. To ensure that the authorisation of the Central Authorities is duly implemented, the HKSAR Government is obliged to complete the relevant local legislative work before July 31.
The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance will be gazetted on July 20 and come into effect on July 31, providing the legal basis for the HKSAR to establish the Hong Kong Port Area at the Huanggang Port and to exercise jurisdiction over the area in accordance with the law. To facilitate the actual operation of the Hong Kong Port Area, the Government will also make various pieces of subsidiary legislation for matters concerning the administration of the Hong Kong Port Area as a closed area, the designation of detention facilities, supporting arrangements for traffic and transport management, and provision of public mobile radiocommunications services, etc. After the Ordinance has been gazetted, the Government will make the various relevant pieces of subsidiary legislation in accordance with the established procedures, ensuring that they come into operation simultaneously with the commissioning of the Hong Kong Port Area on July 31. The subsidiary legislation will thereafter be tabled before the LegCo for negative vetting at its first meeting after the Council resumes.
The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said, "The redevelopment of Huanggang Port is a key project through which the HKSAR Government proactively aligns with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, better integrates into and serves the overall development of the country, and advances the connectivity of infrastructure in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, Huanggang Port is also an important project to improve people's livelihood. Getting the Port ready for a smooth opening at an early date is the expectation of the general public and the common goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, so as to facilitate cross-boundary travel and the two-way flow of people between the two places. The Ordinance provides a solid legal basis for the HKSAR to establish the Hong Kong Port Area at the Huanggang Port and exercise jurisdiction in accordance with the law, marking our full implementation of the NPCSC's Decision and the State Council's Official Reply."
He continued, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the LegCo for the intensive and highly efficient scrutiny it has conducted since the introduction of the Bill into the LegCo on July 15. The House Committee held a special meeting yesterday (July 16) to conduct nearly four hours of thorough and in-depth discussion on the Bill and the relevant subsidiary legislation, and the LegCo also convened a special meeting today to resume the Second Reading debate on the Bill. I am particularly grateful to the President of the LegCo, the Hon Starry Lee, the Chairman of the House Committee, the Hon Chan Chun-ying, and all LegCo Members for their full support. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the team of the LegCo Secretariat for their hard work."
The redeveloped Huanggang Port will implement the colocation arrangement and the novel "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode to further enhance the passenger clearance experience and efficiency. The clearance time at the redeveloped Huanggang Port will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the existing Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port to approximately five minutes. The design flow of the redeveloped Huanggang Port will increase to 200 000 passenger trips per day, and could be further increased to about 300 000 upon the future commissioning of the Northern Link Spur Line of the MTR Corporation Limited.
The smooth passage of the Bill has created favourable conditions for the early opening of the Port. With the official establishment of the Hong Kong Port Area, the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen side will be able to fully commence the subsequent preparatory work, including a series of joint system tests, trials and drills, to ensure that all facilities and operational arrangements are sound, comprehensive, and ready, with a view to enabling the Huanggang Port to be officially open to the public at an early date for the benefit of residents of both places.
The HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government to press ahead with the various preparatory tasks at full steam. Upon confirmation by both sides that the Port is ready for safe and smooth operation, the Governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will finalise the official opening date of the Huanggang Port and make timely announcements to the public.
Source: AI-found images
