Hong Kong Customs seizes dried shark fins of suspected scheduled endangered species
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 13) seized 18 kilograms of suspected scheduled dried shark fins of endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $45,000, at the Lo Wu Control Point.
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 68-year-old Mainland female passenger at the Arrival Hall of the above-mentioned control point yesterday. Upon examination, the batch of suspected scheduled dried shark fins was seized from her personal baggage. Officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) attended the scene for inspection and preliminarily identified the batch of dried shark fins as of endangered species listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance in Hong Kong. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.
Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
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 seizes dried shark fins of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Toll rate for Central Kowloon Bypass to take effect from December 6
The Government announced today (October 14) that the Central Kowloon Bypass will be fully commissioned on December 6, 2026 (Sunday), and an $8 toll will take effect from the same date. The Legislative Council (LegCo) approved in 2025 the $8 toll arrangement for all vehicles using the Central Kowloon Bypass. In this connection, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics has made the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025 (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice) to specify that the relevant toll provisions will come into operation from December 6, 2026. The Commencement Notice will be published in the Gazette on October 16 and tabled at the LegCo for negative vetting on October 21.
The Central Kowloon Bypass comprises the already commissioned Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section Tunnel), and the Central Kowloon Bypass (Kowloon Bay Section Tunnel) which is scheduled for commissioning on December 6, 2026. Together with the Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel, it forms Route 6, linking Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon East and Kowloon West. Upon the commissioning of Route 6, the journey time between Tseung Kwan O and Yau Ma Tei during peak hours is expected to be substantially reduced from about 65 minutes to about 12 minutes, bringing considerable convenience to the public.
A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, "Having duly considered public affordability, the toll for the Central Kowloon Bypass has been set at $8. It is expected to recover part of the operating costs while achieving the intended traffic diversion effect, thereby alleviating traffic on major roads in Kowloon. The Government has been actively launching publicity campaigns to help the public to fully grasp the toll arrangement, with a view to ensuring the smooth implementation of the new toll arrangement."
Source: AI-found images
