EMSD releases lift and escalator contractors' latest performance ratings
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 22) announced the performance ratings of the registered lift and escalator contractors for the past 12 months (from July 2025 to June 2026) for public reference.
According to the rating results, 38 registered lift contractors and 25 registered escalator contractors were awarded the Safety Star. Among these contractors, 16 registered lift contractors and 18 registered escalator contractors had not been found non-compliant with the safety and maintenance requirements as reported in the last two consecutive announcements of performance results, and were therefore given the highest rating of five Quality Stars. The EMSD conducted 29 786 inspections of lifts and escalators during the period.
The rating results, conviction records, summaries of the warning letters and equipment failure records are available on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/le_pub_mpr.shtml).
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Photo source: reference image
Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement operations to combat sea smuggling activities
Hong Kong Customs has mounted a special enforcement operation since late June against sea smuggling activities involving river trade vessels.
Since the operation began, through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs has detected five cases involving river trade vessels departing from Hong Kong for Macao, seizing approximately 1.33 million suspected pharmaceutical products, 3 900 anti-obesity injections, 8 880 cosmetics injections, 59 kilograms of tobacco products, 9 700 cigarettes, 1 500 fishing tools and 723kg of suspected controlled sea cucumber, with an estimated value of about $87.5 million.
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 upon conviction 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 steps up enforcement operations to combat sea smuggling activities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
