John Lee Engages Global Leaders at Belt and Road Summit to Strengthen Economic Cooperation and Partnerships.

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (September 9) met with a number of senior government officials attending the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. He welcomed their delegations and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip, among others, attended the respective meetings.

Mr Lee met with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, at Government House. He said that he received a high-level of hospitality and meticulous arrangements during his earlier visit to Uzbekistan leading a business delegation. After the visit, both sides have continued to exchange visits, and at today's meeting with Mr Aripov again, both sides, building on the government-to-government high-level contacts and ties already established, pressed ahead with the fruitful results achieved during the visit in a more comprehensive and concrete manner, and closely followed up on co-operation covering various areas including legal services, trade, investment, education, innovation and technology, transport and logistics, culture, and talent development. This includes the Hong Kong Palace Museum's collaboration with the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Hong Kong in July to jointly promote collaborations including exhibitions and professional training; the visit of a Hong Kong cross-professional delegation to Uzbekistan last month to deepen legal co-operation between the two places. Both sides will continue the commencements of discussions on bilateral agreements in various areas. These efforts further promote in-depth exchanges, foster people-to-people connectivity, and consolidate the close "hub-to-hub" co-operation between the two sides.

Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as one of the most competitive economies in the world, enjoys the unique advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, and will announce Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan this month to accelerate the development of new growth areas for the economy, proactively play the roles of "super connector" and "super value-adder," and deepen international exchanges and co-operation. Uzbekistan, as the most populous country in Central Asia, possesses abundant resources and a young labour force. It is pursuing economic reforms and holds tremendous potential in areas such as infrastructure and digital transformation, making it an important trading partner of Hong Kong in Central Asia. Hong Kong can provide strong support to Uzbekistan in trade and professional services. Both sides will continue to work together to promote co-operation in various areas, further consolidate their advantages as gateways for trade and investment respectively in the Asia-Pacific and Central Asian regions, and jointly participate in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative to seize opportunities together and achieve mutual benefits.

Mr Lee then met with the Vice President of Uruguay, Ms Carolina Cosse. He said that Uruguay is a founding member of the Southern Common Market. With the official establishment of the Consulate-General of Uruguay in Hong Kong last year, bilateral economic trade and people-to-people exchanges have grown closer. Hong Kong will continue to serve as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, leveraging the dual advantage of enjoying both national and global opportunities, to assist enterprises from the Global South in exploring the Asian market and seizing the immense opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong has been actively expanding its international "circle of friends" and attaches great importance to strengthening economic and trade ties with different markets, including those in Latin America. Mr Lee said that there is immense potential for co-operation between Hong Kong and Uruguay, and expressed the hope that both sides would strengthen collaboration in trade and investment, finance and professional services, and share the fruits of development together.

Mr Lee then met with Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Mr Saleumxay Kommasith. He said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner, and Hong Kong has always valued its close co-operative relationship with ASEAN member states, including Laos. He noted that during his visit to Laos in 2024, both sides reached multiple Memoranda of Understanding, promoting connectivity in areas such as investment promotion, trade and economic co-operation, and financial services. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has established a Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur to deepen economic and trade co-operation with ASEAN and neighbouring countries. Mr Lee welcomed enterprises from Laos and other ASEAN countries to make use of Hong Kong's leading professional services and favourable business environment to explore opportunities, and jointly promote regional co-operation and economic prosperity. He also thanked Laos for its support for Hong Kong's accession to theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Mr Lee then met with the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Mr Arman Shakkaliyev. He said that following his meeting with the Minister during his visit to Kazakhstan months earlier, today's meeting followed up on the solid outcomes achieved during the visit, further advancing the "hub-to-hub" co-operation model. Kazakhstan is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia and serves as an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe. It is also the place where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed, offering vast room for co-operation between the two sides. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as the world's fifth-largest merchandise trading entity, will leverage its role in "bringing in and going global". Kazakhstani enterprises can make good use of Hong Kong's status as an international trade centre to expand business opportunities. With the launch of direct flights from Hong Kong to Almaty in the first quarter of next year, and the expansion of the Economic and Trade Office network to cover Central Asia, bilateral exchanges and economic and trade co-operation will be further deepened, continuously strengthening co-operation across various sectors and jointly seizing the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative.

Mr Lee then met with the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed. He said that as the global economic gravity continues to shift eastwards, Hong Kong will continue to firmly support free trade and multilateralism, and continue to expand its global trade network, including providing safe, free and diverse investment opportunities with no capital control for investors from the Middle East. Qatar is one of Hong Kong's important trading partners in the Middle East. He recalled that during his visit to Qatar last year, both sides signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, laying a solid foundation for bilateral co-operation. Hong Kong, as an international financial centre ranking No. 1 globally in economic freedom, is actively developing green finance and fintech, and can provide financing and professional services support for the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its economic diverification efforts, promoting broader and deeper co-operation between the two sides in finance, investment, trade, and innovation and technology.

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE meets senior government officials attending 11th Belt and Road Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 8) and today (September 9) detected three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 30 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 14.3kg of suspected cannabis buds, two suspected alternative smoking products and one duty-not-paid cigarette, with a total estimated market value over $15 million. Five persons were arrested.

The first case involved two Mainland male passengers, aged 29 and 45 respectively, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, via Manila, the Philippines yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 11kg of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $2.6 million in their two check-in suitcases. The two men were arrested subsequently.

In the second case, a 36-year-old British female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from London, the United Kingdom, via Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 30kg of suspected ketamine and two suspected alternative smoking products with a total estimated market value of about $12 million in her two check-in suitcases and carry-on baggage. She was subsequently arrested.

The third case involved two Mainland male passengers, aged 24 and 26, arrived in Hong Kong today from Xiamen and Bangkok,Thailand, respectively. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about of 3.3kg of suspected cannabis buds and one duty-not-paid cigarette with a total estimated market value of about $770,000 in the baggage of the 24-year-old man. The 24-year-old man and the 26-year-old man connected to the case were subsequently arrested.

The two arrested men in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 10). Investigations of the second and third cases 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 also 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.

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