Hong Kong Customs Organises Customs YES Summer Tour to Xinjiang

Hong Kong Customs organises Customs YES summer tour to Xinjiang

Hong Kong Customs organised a "Belt and Road Exploration Tour" to Xinjiang for Customs YES, from July 12 to 18. Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Ms Phoebe Wong, together with representatives of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, led a delegation of 40 Customs YES members to Xinjiang to deepen young people's understanding of the country's development blueprint and strengthen their sense of belonging to the nation through experiential learning and exchange activities.

To enhance the members' understanding of national development strategies, the delegation first visited the Urumqi International Land Port to learn about the operation and strategic planning of inland international logistics hubs. The delegation also visited Khorgos Sixth-Generation National Gate, Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center, Khorgos Gateway, and Central Asia Gas Pipeline Metering Station to gain firsthand insights into the nation's strategic blueprint for promoting transnational logistics and energy connectivity, appreciate the nation's westward openingup strategy, and better understand Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The delegation also learned about the key industries promoted under the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, including the cotton, dairy and new energy sectors, through visits to the Xinjiang Cotton Science and Experiential Learning Centre, Illi Yimuxin Dairy Company and the Xinjiang Huadian Xuehu Wind Farm. Members gained a deeper appreciation of how Xinjiang integrates modern industrial development with its traditional resource advantages.

The delegation then visited the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Reclamation Museum to gain deeper insights into Xinjiang's history and development, further enhancing their understanding of the country's development and fostering a stronger sense of national identity and belonging.

During the tour, the delegation explored various Xinjiang landmarks, including the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, Kazanqi Folk Tourism Area, Jianglaicheng and Xinjiang Ancient Ecological Park Akhal-Teke Horse Base. The delegation also toured the Guozigou Bridge and Sayram Lake, enabling members to learn more about the nation's achievements in green ecological development and cultural preservation in its central and western regions.

This study tour received partial funding from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission. It is also one of the Tour to the Motherland for a Hundred Youth activities organised by Hong Kong Customs. Customs YES will continue to organise various activities to promote youth development and foster a stronger sense of national identity and national pride among members.

Members of Customs YES visited the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Reclamation Museum to understand its historical role and development contributions to Xinjiang on July 17. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Ms Phoebe Wong (second row, eighth left), Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Mr Edgar Kwan (second row, seventh left) and Director, Ms Sylvia Lee (second row, sixth left), led Customs YES members to visit the Xinjiang Huadian Xuehu Wind Farm to learn about the development of new energy in Xinjiang on July 14. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of Customs YES visited the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar to learn about Xinjiang's diverse ethnic cultures on July 13. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Ms Sylvia Lee (second row, third left) led Customs YES members to the Sayram Lake to explore the lake's ecosystem and conservation efforts on July 16. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Mr Edgar Kwan (second row, eighth left) and Director, Ms Sylvia Lee (second row, eighth right), led Customs YES members to visit the Khorgos Sixth-Generation National Gate to gain insights into its modern and multi-functional operations on July 16. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Ms Phoebe Wong (front row, first left), Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Mr Edgar Kwan (front row, third left) and Director Ms Sylvia Lee (front row, second left), led Customs YES members to visit the Xinjiang Ancient Ecological Park Akhal-Teke Horse Base to gain a deeper understanding of the history and cultural value of Akhal-Teke horses, and watched a traditional equestrian performance on July 13. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Ms Phoebe Wong (front row, fourth left), Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Mr Edgar Kwan (front row, fourth right) and Director, Ms Sylvia Lee (front row, second right), led Customs YES members to visit the Xinjiang Cotton Science and Experiential Learning Centre and participated in a cotton handicraft workshop on July 13. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Mr Edgar Kwan (first right) and Director, Ms Sylvia Lee (third right), led Customs YES members to visit the Illi Yimuxin Dairy Company to learn about the dairy manufacturing process on July 15. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Ms Phoebe Wong (front row, first right) and Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Ms Sylvia Lee (front row, second right), led Customs YES members to visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum to learn about Xinjiang's history and folk customs on July 14. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Ms Phoebe Wong (third left), Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Mr Edgar Kwan(fifth left) and Director, Ms Sylvia Lee (sixth left), accompanied by the Deputy Director General in the Urumqi Customs District, Ms Li Qinghua (fourth left), led Customs YES members to visit the Urumqi International Land Port to learn about its development and daily operation on July 13. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 18) and today (July 19) detected three drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about seven kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, about 15kg of suspected ketamine, about 1kg of suspected cocaine and 587 tablets of suspected Part I poison, with a total estimated market value of about $7.9 million. A man and two women were arrested.

In the first case, a 33-year-old local female arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million inside her check-in baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 49-year-old Taiwan female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $5.9 million inside her check-in baggage, and the batch of suspected Part I poison inside her carry-on tote bag. The woman was subsequently arrested.

In the third case, a 48-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $0.7 million in the shoes worn by him. He was subsequently arrested.

The arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 20). The investigations of the second and the third case are ongoing.

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.

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 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 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 three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases