Hong Kong Justice Secretary Leads Delegation to Xinjiang for Legal Training and Professional Collaboration.

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, today (August 24) led a cross-professional delegation comprising members of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution sectors, as well as the financial and accounting sectors, to commence their first leg of a visit to Urumqi, Xinjiang. The delegation attended the opening ceremony of a training course organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice. They also met with leaders of Xinjiang to promote Hong Kong's legal and professional services.

Mr Lam attended the Exchange Meeting on Opportunities and Strategies for Chinese Enterprises "Going Global" and the Opening Ceremony of the Hong Kong Common Law and Dispute Resolution Practical Training Course organised by the Academy in the morning. He delivered his opening remarks and gave a keynote speech briefing the participants on the principle of "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's common law system.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that Xinjiang serves as a pivotal gateway, connecting Mainland enterprises to Central Asia and extending their reach into Europe. In recent years, its foreign trade volume has repeatedly surpassed the RMB100 billion mark. As cross-border trade and investment become increasingly frequent, enterprises face a complex and ever-changing international landscape alongside rigorous compliance requirements, making professional legal services crucial to their overseas expansion. This practical training course was timely as it focused on the opportunities and risks associated with Chinese enterprises going global. The course covered three core themes - the unique value of the "one country, two systems" principle and Hong Kong's common law system; Hong Kong court litigation procedures and international arbitration practices; and practical issues and arbitration clauses relevant to Chinese enterprises expanding into Central Asia - all designed to help Mainland enterprises understand and leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages and professional services as they navigate global markets.

Mr Lam then attended a plaque-unveiling ceremony of a partnership association set up between Urumqi, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong law firms, witnessing further exchanges and professional collaboration between the legal sectors of the two places.

In the afternoon, Mr Lam met the Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee, Mr Chen Xiaojiang, for a lunch meeting to brief him on the latest progress of Hong Kong's work on aligning with the country's planning. They also exchanged views on strengthening co-operation between the two places.

Mr Lam also met with the Party Secretary of the Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Mr Liu Jiansheng, and the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director-General of the Department of Justice of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Mr Naibijiang Yibulayimu, to discuss topics such as further promoting the training, exchange and co-operation of legal professionals between Xinjiang and Hong Kong, as well as how Hong Kong's professional services can assist Xinjiang enterprises in going global.

Mr Lam then visited a themed exhibition in celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to learn more about Xinjiang's development achievements.

Mr Lam and the delegation will depart for Almaty, Kazakhstan, tomorrow (August 25) to continue their visit.

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ leads cross-professional delegation to begin visit to Xinjiang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs combats illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers

Hong Kong Customs mounted a three-day enforcement operation codenamed "Tempest" between August 19 and 21 and detected illicit cigarette smuggling cases involving air passengers. A total of about 1.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $6.2 million and a duty potential of about $4.5 million were seized. Fourteen persons connected with the cases were arrested.

To combat the smuggling of illicit cigarettes by crime syndicates using inbound passengers, Customs strengthened enforcement and mounted a special operation at the airport.

During the operation, Customs arrested 14 passengers, aged between 23 and 56, and arriving in Hong Kong from the Southeast Asian region. An investigation revealed that the check-in baggage carried by the arrestees was fully packed with duty-not-paid cigarettes and contained no other personal belongings.

All the arrestees have been charged with dealing with, possessing, importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, or failing to declare to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). Nine of them were convicted at the Magistrates' Courts and sentenced to immediate imprisonment ranging from eight months to 20 months. One of the arrestees was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for smuggling over 180 000 illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong. Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs believes that the operation displayed its enforcement effectiveness in intercepting illicit cigarette at the source. The operation is ongoing. Customs will keep strengthening passenger clearance based on risk assessment to combat cross-boundary illicit cigarette activities. Passengers are reminded not to engage in illicit cigarette smuggling to avoid the risks of getting caught. Customs will also closely monitor illicit cigarette syndicates and continue the multipronged enforcement strategy to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities.

Customs reminds members of the public and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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 illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs combats illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases