Hong Kong Customs Steps up Enforcement Operations to Combat Smuggling Activities to Macao by River Trade Vessels

Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement operations to combat smuggling activities to Macao by river trade vessels

Hong Kong Customs has conducted special operations since late September to strengthen enforcement against sea smuggling activities to Macao by river trade vessels.

During the operations, Hong KongCustoms detected three smuggling cases and seized a large batch of smuggled goods, including about 790 000 suspected controlled pharmaceutical products, about 150 000 suspected controlled injections, and about 142 kilograms of cigars and tobacco, with an estimated market value of over $77 million.

Investigations of the above-mentioned cases are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

During the period, Hong Kong Customs also provided intelligence to Macao Customs and conducted joint enforcement operations. During the operations, Macao Customs detected two cases involving river trade vessels smuggling goods from Hong Kong to Macao in early October, seizing a large batch of smuggled medicines, health supplements and cosmetics, etc, with an estimated market value of about MOP$2.7 million (about HK$2.62 million).

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Hong KongCustoms has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Hong KongCustoms 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 exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid export 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 has conducted special operations since late September to strengthen enforcement against sea smuggling activities to Macao by river trade vessels and seized a large batch of smuggled goods with an estimated market value of over $77 million. Photo shows some of the suspected smuggled goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs has conducted special operations since late September to strengthen enforcement against sea smuggling activities to Macao by river trade vessels and seized a large batch of smuggled goods with an estimated market value of over $77 million. Photo shows some of the suspected smuggled goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs has conducted special operations since late September to strengthen enforcement against sea smuggling activities to Macao by river trade vessels and seized a large batch of smuggled goods with an estimated market value of over $77 million. Photo shows some of the suspected smuggled goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FS to attend Annual Meetings of IMF and World Bank Group in Thailand

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Bangkok, Thailand, tomorrow morning (October 15) to attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) as a member of the Chinese delegation.

This year's Annual Meetings will bring together officials responsible for fiscal, financial and economic affairs, central bank representatives, business and non-governmental sector leaders, and academics from around the world to discuss issues including the global economic outlook, financial stability, poverty reduction, inclusive growth and job creation. The meetings will also focus on mobilising private capital to support infrastructure investment, employment and sustainable growth across economies, as well as harnessing artificial intelligence to promote development while managing the associated risks.

Mr Chan will attend the plenary session of the Annual Meetings on October 16. During the Annual Meetings, he will also attend a roundtable co-organised by the IMF and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to explore investment and financing opportunities in the Hong Kong market for economies in the Middle East and Central Asia. He will outline how Hong Kong can leverage the strengths of its financial markets and professional services to meet these economies' investment and financing needs, and foster cross-border financial co-operation.

In addition, Mr Chan will take part in dialogue sessions organised respectively by Bloomberg and the Atlantic Council to exchange views on Hong Kong's economy, offshore Renminbi business, technological and financial innovation, and the global economic and trade landscape. He will highlight Hong Kong's strengths and resilience as an international financial centre, as well as its role in connecting the Mainland and global capital markets.

During the Annual Meetings, Mr Chan will also meet with financial officials from various economies and senior executives of the IMF, the WBG and international financial firms to exchange views on the global and regional economic and financial situations. He will also introduce the latest developments and opportunities in Hong Kong's financial services sector to strengthen ties and foster further co-operation.

Mr Chan will depart from Bangkok for Hong Kong on the morning of October 17 and arrive in Hong Kong in the afternoon. During his absence, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will act as Financial Secretary.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan. Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases