Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹In the light of local demands for drugs during the long holidays, Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation codenamed “Wave” from October 23 to December 31 last year to fight against drug trafficking activities involving cross-boundary express parcels. Seizures of different kinds of dangerous drugs worth about $39 million were made.

     During the 70-day operation, Customs officers detected a total of 15 dangerous drug trafficking cases using express parcels conveyed by incoming goods vehicles at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point. About 60 kilograms of suspected dangerous drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy with an estimated market value of about $39 million were seized.  

     After follow-up investigations of the abovementioned cases, Customs officers arrested five men and two women in town, aged between 16 and 46, and further seized about 480 grams of suspected dangerous drugs.

     To evade Customs officers’ attention, criminals often adopt ever-changing concealment methods. The methods revealed in this special operation included the use of oil filters, sports shoes, puzzle play mats, trousers, powdered formula, drink powder, meat products, canned fruit, health supplements and packages of dog food as cover-ups.

     Hong Kong Customs has all along striven to eliminate dangerous drug inflows through passenger or cargo channels by strategies of risk-profiling and intelligence analysis. The “Wave” anti-narcotics operation achieved significant results in intercepting dangerous drugs. The department will continue its special enforcement operations from time to time to strengthen efforts against different kinds of dangerous 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

                

     The Music Office Youth Choir (MOYC) and the Music Office Children’s Choir (MOCC) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will jointly perform in an annual concert “Sing On” at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall at 2pm on February 2 (Sunday). The concert will present a splendid choral programme with works from the 16th century to the present.
 
     Dr Angelina Au, May Ho, Kobe Ip and Chan Wan-hong will be the conductors and pianists. The choirs will present a wide variety of pieces in different languages, including the classic English madrigal “Fyer, Fyer”; German composer Johann Kuhnau’s “Tristis est Anima Mea (My Soul is filled with Sorrow)”, a motet which describes the struggle of Jesus Christ during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane; “Sanctus from Mass No.4, D.452”, a lively and graceful piece composed by Franz Schubert; “O Schöne Nacht (O Beautiful Night)”, one of the famous quartets by the romantic composer Johannes Brahms; Italian composer Gioachino Rossini’s “La Danza! (The Dance!)”, which portrays the joyful dancing scene of people; and “I’se the B’y”, a Newfoundland folk song which depicts the daily life of a local fisherman.
 
     Other highlights include German composer Felix Mendelssohn’s “Lift Thine Eyes”; English composer Edward Elgar’s “The Snow”; “Blackbird” by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, members of the legendary band The Beatles; and American composer Jim Papoulis’ “Music Changes the World”.
 
     Established in 1980, the MOYC now has 71 members, with ages ranging from 15 to 25. In addition to performing in local concerts, the choir has toured overseas including Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Austria. At the 11th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition held in July, the choir won Gold Awards in the Youth Mixed Voices, Equal Voices (Female Choirs) and Equal Voices (Male Choirs), and was also named champion in the Youth Mixed Voices and Equal Voices (Female Choirs) categories.
 
     Since its establishment in 1981, the MOCC’s membership has grown to 74, with ages ranging from 8 to 15. The choir performs both Western and Chinese choral works, including local premieres and operettas.
　　
     Tickets for the concert priced at $45, $55 and $65 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2796 7523 or 3842 7784 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/newsandevent/upcoming/moyc2020.html. read more

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold a dog inoculation campaign at various fishing ports in Hong Kong. Fishermen can have their dogs vaccinated against rabies and microchipped and the licences rene… read more

     A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong in the small hours of January 11 (Saturday). As the elevation of the moon will be rather high during the eclipse, the event can be best observed at most places with an unob… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
 
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the Hong Kong Open. The prestigious golf event had been postponed earlier and will now be held from January 9 to 12.
 
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Karl Kwok, said today (January 2) that this event, like all “M” Mark events, adds colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong and provides an opportunity for the general public to enjoy high-level competition.
 
     “‘M’ Mark events reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the events capital of Asia,” Mr Kwok said.
 
     “‘M’ Mark events also help generate economic benefits for Hong Kong by attracting tourists. They instil a sustainable sporting culture in the community and help foster social cohesion,” he added.
 
     The “M” Mark System was launched in 2004 to help local national sports associations organise more major sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some event organisers.
 
     The number of recognised “M” Mark events increased from four in 2005 to 15 in 2019. So far, around $184.61 million has been approved to support recognised “M” Mark events.
 
     For details of other “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk. read more