Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 27) detected a case of drug trafficking, possession of poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List and possession of an alternative smoking product involving an incoming air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized about 16 kilograms of suspected ketamine, a box of a suspected nicotine product containing suspected Part 1 poison and a suspected alternative smoking product, with a total estimated market value of about $6.5 million.
A 31-year-old Ukrainian man arrived in Hong Kong from London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase. Subsequently, one suspected alternative smoking product and one box of suspected nicotine product containing Part 1 poison were found inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
An investigation of the case is 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 Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
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 drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Opening remarks by SITI at Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026 today (August 28):
Simon (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Simon Chan), Rocky (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr Rocky Cheng), Peter (Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Mr Peter Yan),distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends from all over the world,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF) 2026. Under the theme "The Dreamatic Circus", this year's forum explores how agentic AI is transforming the creative industry - positioning AI not as a replacement for human imagination, but as a collaborative partner that helps deliver creators' dreams more boldly. This vision captures precisely where Hong Kong's innovation journey now stands: a city harnessing AI to amplify human craftsmanship.
Over the past year, the Government has transitioned from AI strategy formulation to active execution. Under the guiding principle of "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach" in AI development, we are steering Hong Kong towards "industries for AI" and "AI for industries". To this end, the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy is established to empower industrial transformation through AI, with an initial focus on health technologies and embodied AI, extending to transportation, cultural and creative industries, and more. The Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute will also come into operation later this year to translate upstream research into real-world applications.
On governance, we have been taking a risk-based and flexible approach. The Ethical AI Framework promulgated by the Digital Policy Office sets out clear principles on fairness, transparency, human oversight and accountability in the use of AI. The framework is under constant review and will be suitably refined as technology evolves. We are driving AI adoption across public services to enhance efficiency, targeting AI tools to cover 100 public administration procedures this year, and 200 by the end of next year.
None of the above ambitions is possible without computing power. And here, Cyberport, which houses over 350 AI and data science startups, is an indispensable partner. Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) commenced operations in December 2024 and has since scaled its capacity to 3 000 petaFLOPS now. Looking ahead, the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster under construction will further raise our capacity to 180 000 petaFLOPS or before by 2032, cementing our role as a computing hub for the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
AI is transforming the digital entertainment industry, turning imagination into unprecedented experience. And technology only serves its purpose when everyone can participate in it. That is why we launched the $50 million "AI for All" Inclusive Programme - Cyberport, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, and the Hong Kong Productivity Council will roll out awareness-raising programmes and practical training targeting at different sectors of the community to promote AI awareness and enhance professional skills as well as competitiveness through AI.
Ladies and gentlemen, DELF has always been about celebrating Hong Kong's creative spirit. This year it does so at a moment when AI is redefining what creativity can achieve. With robust computing infrastructure, a supportive policy environment, and a thriving creative community, Hong Kong is well-positioned to lead the AI+ era of digital entertainment. I wish DELF 2026 every success, and I look forward to the boundless creativity that will emerge under this "dreamatic" circus. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
