Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police yesterday (December 22) mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation and detected a suspected speedboat-related smuggling case in Sai Kung. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including electronic goods, cosmetics and apparels, with an estimated value of about $10 million was seized.

     Law enforcement officers last night spotted several suspicious men loading suspected smuggled goods from a seven-seater private car to a speedboat at a seashore in Tai Mong Tsai. The officers then took action and the men jumped into the speedboat and fled.

     During the operation, Customs detained the seven-seater vehicle suspected to be connected to the case. A batch of suspected smuggled goods in the case was seized from the vehicle and at the seashore, including electronic goods such as central processing units, smartphones and earphones.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities by proactive risk-management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times and maintaining close co-operation in its intelligence exchanges with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to land a solid blow against relevant 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.

     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).

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 23) that Tung Chung Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow (December 24).

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     The Government announced today (December 23) that in view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Saint Martin (French part) and Venezuela will be specified as Group A specified places from 0.00am on December 26 to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
 
     As a preventive measure and with reference to the relevant risks, the Government will specify overseas places that have detected Omicron cases as Group A specified places. Noting that the detection of Omicron cases was confirmed in Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Saint Martin (French part) and Venezuela, the Government will specify them as Group A specified places from 0.00am on December 26. Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised vaccination record. They will have to undergo compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel for 21 days upon returning to Hong Kong, with six tests to be conducted during quarantine, followed by compulsory testing in a community testing centre on the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong.
 
     Details on the relevant boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for respective specified places can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html.
 
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     Members of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and members of its Building Committee and Tender Committee paid a visit to the Kai Cheung Court Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) project at Diamond Hill today (December 23) to learn more about its progress.
 
     Kai Cheung Court is one of four HOS developments for sale in 2020. All the flats of Kai Cheung Court were sold out.
 
     With a total site area of about 6 320 square metres, Kai Cheung Court comprises two domestic blocks. The 39-storey Kai Yi House and 35-storey Kai Yuet House provide a total of 940 flats for about 2 900 residents. The saleable area ranges from 27.4 sq m to 46.6 sq m.
 
     Members noted the smooth progress of the project and that construction of the superstructure is in progress. The estimated material date is May 2023.
 
     Members were also briefed by the project team of the Housing Department on the design challenges such as development constraints posed by the drainage reserved area such that a building setback is required and an air path is allowed between the buildings to enhance natural air ventilation.
 
     As the site is located in the vicinity of Choi Hung Road and Lung Cheung Road with heavy traffic, acoustic fins are built at some locations of the blocks, and acoustic windows are installed in some flats to reduce the impact of road traffic noise on the development. 
 
     Members were also informed that innovative technology such as Building Information Modelling and construction robots were being extensively adopted to enhance the efficiency at the planning and construction stages.
 
     Although Kai Cheung Court is not a large-scale development, it provides a children's play area as well as landscape and greenery for the residents' leisure. There is also a basement carpark for residents and visitors.
 
     Kai Cheung Court is located in the Diamond Hill Comprehensive Development Area (CDA). This large-scale comprehensive development in an urban area, which is rare in recent years, comprises Kai Chuen Court Phase 1 Public Rental Housing and Kai Chuen Court Phase 2 Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme project. Apart from public housing developments, the CDA also provides a water feature park, landscaped walk, public transport interchange and religious facilities, etc.

      

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements at Lan Kwai Fong, Central from December 24 (Friday) to December 25 (Saturday) to facilitate the public to celebrate the festive season. Police reminded members of the public to observe regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings and wearing of masks in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A. Crowd safety management measures

     As a large number of people is expected, crowd management measures will be implemented in Lan Kwai Fong area. It could take a long time to enter Lan Kwai Fong. Please follow the Police's instruction and queue patiently.
     
     Members of the public are urged not to bring or discharge aerosol spray in the vicinity as it may be hazardous to people nearby. Parents are advised not to bring children into the area.

B. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from 2pm on December 24 to 5am on December 25:

– D'Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;
– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.

     Depending on the crowd situation, the following roads may be closed:

– Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen's Road Central;
– D'Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Wellington Street;
– Wellington Street between D'Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street ;
– Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;
– Lyndhurst Terrance; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.

     Upon completion of traffic diversions, the crowd will be directed to queue up along Queen's Road Central, D'Aguilar Street, Stanley Street, Cochrane Street and Wellington Street. The whole section of D'Aguilar Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

C. Suspension of on-street parking spaces

     All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 1pm on December 24 to 5am on December 25:

– Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;
– Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D'Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.

     Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior notice, and may subject to multiple ticketing.

     Depending on actual traffic and crowd conditions in the areas, the above traffic arrangements and crowd safety management measures will also be implemented from 2pm on December 25 to 5am on December 28. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.