A 48-year-old man was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 6) for possession of illicit cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger at Lo Wu Control Point yesterday (September 5) and seized 16 400 illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $44,000 and a duty potential of about $31,000 from a suitcase he was carrying.

     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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 6) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2018.
 
     In the second quarter of 2018, total port cargo throughput decreased by 5.2% compared with a year earlier to 66.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 5.1% and 5.3% compared with a year earlier to 41.6 million tonnes and 24.5 million tonnes respectively.
 
     For the first half of 2018, total port cargo throughput decreased by 3.0% compared with a year earlier to 131.8 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 1.9% and 4.8% compared with a year earlier to 82.2 million tonnes and 49.6 million tonnes respectively.
 
     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 5.9% in the second quarter of 2018. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 4.4% and 8.2% respectively compared with the preceding quarter. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.
 
Port cargo
 
     Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 8.8% in the second quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier to 42.2 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 2.0% to 23.9 million tonnes.
 
     Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 2.1% and 8.9% in the second quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier to 23.9 million tonnes and 17.7 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) increased by 2.3% compared with a year earlier to 8.3 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 8.8% to 16.2 million tonnes.
 
     Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 6.9% in the first half of 2018 compared with a year earlier to 82.9 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 4.3% to 48.9 million tonnes.
 
     Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 1.9% in the first half of 2018 compared with a year earlier to 47.9 million tonnes, while inward transhipment decreased by 6.7% to 34.3 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 4.9% and 4.7% compared with a year earlier to 17.2 million tonnes and 32.4 million tonnes respectively.
 
     The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.
 
     The main countries/territories of loading of inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge of outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.
 
     Comparing the second quarter of 2018 with the second quarter of 2017, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+11.4%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-22.0%) and Japan (-18.3%). For outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Macao (-40.9%), Thailand (-21.8%), Korea (-20.5%), Taiwan (-19.9%), Malaysia (-18.9%) and Japan (-10.6%).
 
     Comparing the first half of 2018 with the first half of 2017, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+20.8%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-22.7%) and Japan (-15.9%). For outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Macao (-57.8%), Thailand (-16.5%) and Korea (-16.0%).
 
     The principal commodities of inward port cargo and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
 
     Comparing the second quarter of 2018 with the second quarter of 2017, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "coal, coke and briquettes" (+19.0%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+20.0%) and "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (-27.3%).
 
     Comparing the first half of 2018 with the first half of 2017, double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-14.5%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+15.3%) and "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (-20.0%).
 
Containers
 
     In the second quarter of 2018, the port of Hong Kong handled 4.98 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 7.3% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 7.9% and 3.8% to 4.22 million TEUs and 0.76 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 7.3% and 8.6% to 2.22 million TEUs and 2.00 million TEUs respectively.
 
     For the first half of 2018, the port of Hong Kong handled 9.87 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 3.7% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 5.1% to 8.36 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 4.4% to 1.50 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 4.9% and 5.3% to 4.35 million TEUs and 4.02 million TEUs respectively.
 
     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 7.5% in the second quarter of 2018. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 7.3% and 7.8% respectively.
 
     In the second quarter of 2018, seaborne laden containers decreased by 11.1% compared with a year earlier to 3.01 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 1.3% to 1.21 million TEUs.
 
     Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 7.7% and 7.1% in the second quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier to 0.66 million TEUs and 1.56 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 8.8% and 8.5% to 0.56 million TEUs and 1.45 million TEUs respectively.
 
     In the first half of 2018, seaborne laden containers decreased by 8.5% compared with a year earlier to 5.93 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 4.5% to 2.43 million TEUs.
 
     Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 5.4% and 4.7% in the first half of 2018 compared with a year earlier to 1.29 million TEUs and 3.05 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 6.1% and 4.9% to 1.11 million TEUs and 2.91 million TEUs respectively.
 
     The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6.
 
     Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies and agents to the C&SD.
 
Vessel arrivals
 
     Comparing the second quarter of 2018 with the second quarter of 2017, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 4.6% to 6 495, with the total capacity also decreasing by 5.1% to 102.1 million net registered tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5.2% to 38 056, with the total capacity also decreasing by 11.4% to 27.1 million net registered tons.
 
     Comparing the first half of 2018 with the first half of 2017, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 5.0% to 12 756, with the total capacity also decreasing by 4.8% to 201.1 million net registered tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3.7% to 76 016, with the total capacity also decreasing by 7.5% to 55.7 million net registered tons.
 
     The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7.
 
     Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from general declarations submitted by ship masters and authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.
 
Further information
 
     More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, Second Quarter 2018". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp130.jsp?productCode=B1020008).
 
     For enquiries about port cargo and container statistics, please contact the Outward Processing and Shipping Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 or email: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk). For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3661 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, September 6, 2018 is 104.4 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 5) seized 885 suspected smuggled computer RAM units and 240 suspected smuggled computer central processing units (CPUs) at Shenzhen Bay Control Point with an estimated market value of about $1.58 million in total.

     Customs officers yesterday afternoon intercepted an outgoing private vehicle at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and seized the computer RAM and computer CPUs from the false compartment of the vehicle. The 37-year-old male driver was arrested.

     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.

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

  

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, visited North District today (September 6) to tour a secondary school and exchange views with members of North District Council (NDC) and members from a district football club.
          
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the NDC, Mr So Sai-chi; the Vice Chairman of the NDC, Mr Li Kwok-fung; and the District Officer (North), Mr Chong Wing-wun, Mr Lau first met with NDC members to exchange views on district issues. He then met with representatives and footballers of the North District Football Club to share views on local football development. Founded in 2003, the Club aims to train young footballers and guide them towards positive lives.
          
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Lau visited TWGHs Li Ka Shing College and chatted with members of the school's Chinese orchestra to learn more about their training. The school is committed to promoting arts education by enhancing arts appreciation among students through various activities and broadening their learning experience.