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     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (January 2) that as mutually agreed between the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong, starting from today, the number of applications of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the Scheme) to be processed on each working day will be increased from 400 to 500, aiming to better cope with the needs of new and renewal applications.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said that the eligibility, procedures and balloting of applications of the Scheme remain unchanged. The streamlined renewal arrangements implemented since May 2024 will also be continued, allowing applicants eligible for the renewal of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles to apply for renewal without having to participate in a computer ballot. Applicants may refer to the Scheme’s website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk) or the Renewal Application page  (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk/en/RenewalApplication) for details.
 
     The governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to monitor the operation of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and maintain close liaison with relevant departments to review and enhance the arrangements of the Scheme in a timely manner. read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 31) detected three drug trafficking cases at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 4.5 kilograms of suspected liquid cocaine and about 12kg of suspected ketamine. The total estimated market value of the drugs was about $9.4 million.
      
     The first case involved a 26-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday. During customs clearance, about 4.5kg of suspected liquid cocaine was seized from his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested. The dangerous drugs were concealed in two wine bottles and three personal care products inside his check-in suitcase.
      
     The second case involved one male passenger, aged 32, who arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, about 2kg of suspected ketamine, which was concealed in tea leaf packaging, was uncovered in his carry-on suitcase. He was subsequently arrested. 
      
     The third case involved a 46-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Paris, France, yesterday. During customs clearance, about 10kg of suspected ketamine was found in protein powder packaging inside his check-in suitcase. The male was subsequently arrested.
      
     All arrested persons have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 2).
      
     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
      
     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
      
     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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

      

     Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, at a media session after attending the inaugural ceremony of China Eastern Airlines C919 scheduled commercial flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong today (January 1):
 
Reporter: Firstly, would you believe in the significance of this first commercial scheduled flight of this C919 aircraft in Hong Kong? Secondly, you mentioned that the Hong Kong Government will find ways for the internationalisation of C919 in three ways. How do you ensure that these measures will actually be carried out? And looking forward, what do you think will be the next step for the Government beyond these three measures?
 
Secretary for Transport and Logistics: Thank you. I think the inaugural commercial flight of the C919 between Hong Kong and Shanghai has a very important historic significance for Hong Kong. Hong Kong, being an international aviation hub, has been demonstrating our strengths and advantages to the international aviation sector. Through the inaugural flight of C919, we are establishing a closer connection between Hong Kong and the Mainland. In fact, Hong Kong is the first city beyond other Mainland cities to have this kind of commercial flight. So we are especially happy to see this flight materialised on the first day of 2025.
 
     We hope that through this commercial flight, we can bring this historic innovation breakthrough in the Mainland’s production of civil aviation aircraft to our Hong Kong citizens, as well as to the international visitors coming to Hong Kong. We do hope that through this inaugural flight, we can innovate and establish ourselves in civil aviation, so as to demonstrate our position under “one country, two systems” and our advantage of facilitating the Mainland achievements to flourish with Hong Kong’s position. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 31) detected two large-scale illicit cigarette smuggling cases in the waters off Sai Wan and Cyberport and seized a total of about 25 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $114 million and a duty potential of about $84 million, on board two fishing vessels.

     Customs in the early morning of yesterday intercepted two suspicious fishing vessels in the waters off Sai Wan and Cyberport. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 10 million and 15 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the compartments of the two vessels respectively. During the operation, a total of six non-local men, aged between 35 and 41, suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

     Customs will continue to trace the source and the flow of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     The six arrested men will be charged with one count of importing unmanifested cargoes and one of them will be charged with “possession of goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies”. They will appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 2).

     Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.

     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 upon conviction.

     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.
               
     â€‹Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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/).

      

     â€‹On New Year’s Eve yesterday (December 31), the Immigration Department recorded a total of around 156 000 visitors arriving Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points. Among them, Mainland visitors accounted for about 120 000, representing 77 per cent of the total arrivals.

     During the period from midnight to 6.30am today (January 1), around 25 000 Mainland visitors departed Hong Kong via land boundary control points. Among these Mainland visitors, 6 784, 8 946 and 7 722 of them departed through Shenzhen Bay Control Point, Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Lo Wu Control Point respectively.

New Year countdown fireworks display

     Regarding large-scale events, the countdown fireworks display held on New Year’s Eve at Victoria Harbour attracting over 400 000 spectators. The event was well-received by local residents and visitors, and relevant special traffic arrangements and crowd control measures were implemented smoothly. A variety of celebratory events also took place across Hong Kong during the New Year period, creating a vibrant festive atmosphere for both visitors and residents.

Situation of cross-boundary traffic and Hong Kong Port after fireworks display

     In view of the New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and relevant departments of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipality implemented two special boundary-crossing arrangements, including extending the passenger clearance service at the Lo Wu Control Point to 2am on New Year’s Day, as well as extending the passenger and passenger vehicle clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to operating overnight, in order to facilitate the passenger flow between Hong Kong and the Mainland for citizens and visitors to enjoy the festive season.

     With the extension of operating hours at certain boundary control points, the relevant departments have deployed additional manpower and operated all clearance counters and channels during the peak periods of cross-boundary travel to divert passenger and vehicular flow. The overall operation of the control points and traffic were smooth and in order.

     After the New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display has concluded, the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) steered public transport operators to enhance their service capacity. The TD also deployed staff to the public transport interchanges and cross-boundary coach termini concerned for on-site monitoring and co-ordination, with a view to enabling cross-boundary travellers to depart Hong Kong effectively and in an orderly manner.

     Among them, the service frequency of MTR East Rail Line trains to Lo Wu during the period from 12 midnight on New Year’s Day to the last departure at 12.56am was increased up to about three to four minutes. A total of 14 trains departing from Admiralty were operated to enable travellers to cross the boundary using the Lo Wu Control Point. Thereafter, KMB operated the special route no. N73 connecting MTR Sheung Shui Station and the Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange, which was run at a service headway of five minutes during the period from about 1.30am to 3am. Three buses were arranged for picking up passengers concurrently during the service peak with the headway reduced to two minutes for more effective dispersal. Travellers then transferred to the overnight Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) for returning to Shenzhen via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port.

     In addition, the services of short-haul cross-boundary coaches and special overnight bus routes connecting to boundary control points were also strengthened. Standby vehicles and manpower were deployed to enhance service frequency as necessary. An additional pick-up point was designated for the cross-boundary coach at the coach pick-up and drop-off area at Wui Man Road outside Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in the small hours. Cross-boundary private cars were also diverted to use designated ports during early-morning hours. All of the above measures were generally implemented smoothly, which were conducive to the effective diversion of the cross-boundary people flow.

Major tourist spots / inbound tour groups

     A large number of visitors went to various major tourist attractions in Hong Kong during the New Year’s Eve and New Year holidays, including Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park, Ngong Ping 360, the Peak Tram and the West Kowloon Cultural District, etc. All major tourist spots were operating with high patronage and in good order.

     Regarding tour groups, according to the Travel Industry Authority’s information, around 220 Mainland inbound tour groups visited Hong Kong during the New Year’s Eve and New Year holidays, involving around 7 200 visitors, with around 72 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries, and they were generally in good order.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, who leads the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, said, “I would like to thank members of the public and travellers for their co-operation. I would also like to express my gratitude to all relevant Government departments, organisations and sectors for their close collaboration and full commitment in making comprehensive preparation and actual handling for receiving visitors during the New Year’s Eve and New Year holidays, allowing citizens and tourists to joyfully celebrate the festive season together and usher in the New Year.” read more