Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs signs Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement with Bahrain Customs Affairs (with photos)
Hong Kong Customs signs Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement with Bahrain Customs Affairs (with photos)
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The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, led a delegation of Hong Kong Customs to visit the Bahrain Customs Affairs (BCA) to discuss matters on Customs co-operation and sign the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the President of the BCA, Mr Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in Al Hidd today (April 22) to strengthen mutual trade relationship and foster greater security in the global supply chain. The Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Oscar Chow, and the Chairman of Asia, Africa and Middle East Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), Mr Jonathan Lamport, were present to witness the signing ceremony.
During the trip, Ms Ho and the delegation also visited the Khalifa bin Salman Port and joined the delegation of the HKGCC and the Hong Kong Bahrain Business Association to visit the Bahrain International Investment Park with an aim to enhancing the trade and cultural ties between Hong Kong and Bahrain.
The signing of the MRA is a milestone of fostering the connection and collaboration between Hong Kong and Bahrain. The MRA will reinforce international cargo security while facilitating legitimate cross-boundary cargo movements of the two places and bringing significant benefits to AEOs in both sides, as well as enhancing their competitiveness in the international market.
The Hong Kong AEO Programme was launched in 2012. The signing of the MRA with Bahrain brings the number of MRAs ratified between Hong Kong Customs and other Customs administrations to 15 in total. The other 14 Customs administrations which Hong Kong has signed MRAs with are the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia and Macao, China. Under the MRA, AEOs from the signatory countries or regions can enjoy reciprocal trade facilitations including reduced inspection rate and prioritised clearance.
Hong Kong Customs is dedicated to extending the MRA networks, in particular with Belt and Road economies including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States in the Middle East region. The AEO MRA Action Plan with Saudi Arabia was signed last year, marking a significant step towards the conclusion of the MRA in the near future. Hong Kong Customs will continue to take active steps to reach MRAs with major trading partners so as to bring more trade facilitation benefits to AEOs.
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $1.1 million (with photo)
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During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in the vicinity of Tsuen Wan this afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a 21-year-old man and found about 25g of suspected crack cocaine inside his trousers pocket. He was then arrested. Customs officers later escorted the arrested man to his rented flat nearby for a search, and further seized about 1.1kg of suspected cocaine and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia.
An investigation is ongoing.
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.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette peddling activities
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Customs officers intercepted three suspicious men, aged 23, 59 and 67 respectively, in Sham Shui Po this afternoon and seized between 200 to 800 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes on each of them. They all claimed the cigarettes were for personal use. The three arrested men were charged with “possession of goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies”.
As of today, Customs has detected a total of 179 peddling cases of illicit cigarettes this year, with a total of about 150 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $610,000 and a duty potential of about $430,000, seized. A total of 179 individuals, including 160 men and 19 women, aged between 17 and 86, were arrested. Most of them are buyers of illicit cigarettes and there is a trend of young people being involved. Also, Customs found that more than half of the cases occurred in Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan districts. The number of illicit cigarettes seized from the arrested persons ranged from 100 to over 6 000 sticks, with the majority intended for personal use.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Among the illicit cigarette cases in 2023, the court sentenced a maximum penalty of four months’ imprisonment on individuals who purchased illegal cigarettes for personal use. Customs reminds members of the public, especially young people, to never become involved in illicit cigarette activities to avoid creating a criminal record that affects their future.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs fully supports National Security Education Day (with photos)
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The open day featured a wide range of activities, including an exhibition on national security education to enhance public understanding of national security and introduce Customs’ work in safeguarding national security. Specially-made sweet buns and milk tea carrying the message of safeguarding national security were distributed to visitors. In addition, game booths were set up to introduce the department’s responsibility to perform its gatekeeping role in an interactive manner. Visitors not only enjoyed the performances by members of the Customs and Excise Department Band, Guards of Honour, Dragon and Lion Dance Team, Detector Dog Team as well as schools and youth groups from various districts, but also watched the National Security Cup 3×3 Basketball Tournament. Other programmes included the display of vehicle X-ray inspection system, guided tours to the Professional Development Training Block, the experience of the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment System and the display of firearms and weapons.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, and the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, also attended the event.
Moreover, Guards of Honour will participate in the flag raising ceremony held by the Security Bureau and its disciplinary forces and auxiliary services at the Hong Kong Police College tomorrow (April 15). The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; the Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development), Mr Chan Tsz-tat; and the Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement), Mr Mark Woo, will attend the ceremony.
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $71 million (with photo)
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Through risk assessment, Customs on that day selected two consignments arriving from Germany for inspection. Upon examination, multiple nylon bags containing real amber and suspected ketamine, both wrapped in plastic bags, were found in the consignment declared as amber. At the same time, Customs officers found 69 bottles of powder in the consignment declared as glitter, and it was discovered that 29 of them were suspected to be ketamine. The total weight of the two batches of suspected ketamine was about 129kg.
Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation and arrested a 24-year-old male consignee, who claimed to be unemployed, in Mong Kok on the same day.
An investigation is ongoing.
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.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $1.1 million (with photo)
Hong Kong Customs today (April 19) seized about 1.1 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 25 grams of suspected crack cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $1.1 million in Tsuen Wan. A man suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette peddling activities
Hong Kong Customs mounted a large-scale special anti-illicit cigarette operation codenamed “Tempest” in February 19 to step up enforcement in combating illicit cigarette activities on all fronts at each control point and across various districts. During the operation, Customs not only cracked down on cross-boundary cigarette smuggling activities by interception in the upper stream and shut down storage and distribution centres in the middle, but also tackled peddling activities in the lower end. Today (April 15), Customs also conducted operations in Sham Shui Po and detected three illicit cigarette peddling cases.Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs fully supports National Security Education Day (with photos)
Hong Kong Customs has been playing an important role in safeguarding national security and is giving its full support to National Security Education Day organised by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The department held the Hong Kong Customs College Open Day today (April 14) to promote national security education to members of the public through a series of interactive activities and allow them to learn about the department’s work on safeguarding nation security from multiple perspectives.Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $71 million (with photo)
Hong Kong Customs on April 9 seized about 129 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $71 million at Hong Kong International Airport. A man suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.Ads
