Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police yesterday (May 9) conducted an anti-smuggling joint-operation and detected a suspected smuggling case using speedboats in Chek Lap Kok. A batch of suspected smuggled goods including hard disks, bird's nest and raw amber rock with an estimated market value of $2.4 million was seized.

     Officers from Customs and the Marine Police spotted several suspicious men moving cartons of goods from a private car to two speedboats at the seashore of Chek Lap Kok yesterday evening. Officers then took immediate action and the men fled in the speedboats.

     During the operation, the batch of suspected smuggled goods was seized and a private car involved was also detained for further investigation.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat sea smuggling activities.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Labour Department will hold a briefing on the employment of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) on June 19 (Wednesday) at 7.30pm at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay. Enrolment is now open.
      
     The employment rights and obligations of employers of FDHs will be introduced. Registered clinical psychologist and Associate Fellow of the Hong Kong Psychological Society Miss Zanonia Chiu has been invited to share insights on how to get along with FDHs and effective ways of communication with a view to fostering a harmonious employment relationship. Employers of FDHs, especially first-time employers, are welcome to attend.
      
     The briefing will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The enrolment deadline is June 17 (Monday). The enrolment form can be downloaded from the department's website (www.labour.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the Labour Department at 2852 4000.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 9) conducted an operation to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 560 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $240,000.

     Customs earlier received information alleging the sale of suspected counterfeit goods at a large-scale trading shop situated in an industrial building in Tuen Mun. After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of a trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the shop operating both wholesale and retail business. A batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including sneakers, bags and suitcases, was also seized.

     During the operation, a 46-year-old saleswoman was arrested.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to combat the sale of counterfeit goods.

     Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Customs also reminds traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

     The Transport Department (TD) today (May 10) reminded members of the public that to facilitate urgent road repair work, the slow lane of the westbound tube of the Kai Tak Tunnel and the slow lane of the East Kowloon Way westbound between San Shan Road and Lok Shan Road will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic from 8am to 5pm next Monday (May 13).
      
     Due to the lane closure, the TD anticipates that the traffic along the Kai Tak Tunnel and the East Kowloon Way will be relatively busy during the above period. Motorists passing through the road section concerned should exercise tolerance and patience and drive with utmost care. Appropriate traffic signs will be erected on-site to guide motorists.
      
     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television.
      
     Details of the temporary traffic arrangement are now available on the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (May 10) said that 13 general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide holiday clinic services for the day following Buddha's birthday next Monday (May 13). Members of the public are reminded to make advance booking through the telephone system as usual for an appointment.  
 
     The spokesperson remarked that the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve patients with urgent medical needs. The established triage system will ensure priority treatment for critical and emergency patients according to their clinical conditions. The queuing time is expected to be longer for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients as there may be more patients seeking consultation at A&E Departments during the holiday. The HA appeals to the public for their understanding and co-operation while waiting for consultations. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals.
 
     To help find an appropriate family doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public are welcome to call the HA Infoline (2882 4866) for information on holiday general out-patient clinic service, or browse the Primary Care Directory of Department of Health at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.
 

 
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