Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 24) detected two cross-boundary drug trafficking cases through passenger and cargo channels at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 42.1 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, ketamine and cocaine, with an estimated market value of over $30 million.

     Customs officers yesterday inspected two air express parcels from Malaysia transshipping to Japan through Hong Kong. About 28.6kg of suspected methamphetamine were found concealed inside five LED television sets. This is the largest methamphetamine seizure from the air cargo channel in the past three years.

     Also, a 27-year-old male passenger and a 26-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium on the same flight yesterday. Customs officers inspected their checked-in baggage and found a total of about 10.3kg of suspected ketamine and about 3.2kg of suspected cocaine concealed inside false compartments. They were then arrested.

     Investigations of both cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary drug trafficking activities through passenger and cargo channels at the airport through strategies of risk-profiling and intelligence analysis.

     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 dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

     Police today (November 25) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sha Tin.

     Kam Mun-tong, aged 33, went missing after he was last seen in Kwong Yuen Estate yesterday afternoon (November 24). His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a yellow long-sleeved shirt with checkered pattern, dark blue jeans, black sports shoes and carrying a grey and black backpack.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9320 5612 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, started his two-day visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (November 25), leading a delegation comprising business people, professionals and start-up representatives to tap the huge potential for business collaboration and foster stronger bilateral ties with Malaysia and Thailand.

     Soon upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur early this afternoon, Mr Yau and several delegation members met with the Minister of Finance of Malaysia, Mr Lim Guan Eng, and the Deputy Minister of Transport of Malaysia, Dato' Kamarudin Jaffar, to learn about the latest financial policies and economic development situation of Malaysia as well as its future infrastructure developments.

     During the meetings, Mr Yau introduced Hong Kong's strengths on many fronts that could support Malaysian businesses in accessing the Mainland China market and going global, as well as tapping into the immense opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative, including Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages as an international financial, trading and logistics hub with a global network and professional services benchmarked against international standards. Some delegates joining the meetings also shared their views from respective professions.

     Noting that Malaysia is embarking on a series of future development plans, Mr Yau said he hoped the delegates could, through this mission, gain first-hand information on the latest business opportunities and forge direct and valuable connections with Malaysian business and government counterparts in order to seize local opportunities and build further collaborations.

     Mr Yau remarked that Malaysia issued the world's first green Islamic bond in 2017. In Hong Kong, given that the city is an international financial centre, the Government is also actively pursuing work on various fronts to promote the city as a regional green financing hub. The room for further mutual co-operation is huge.

     Mr Yau also said that Malaysia is undergoing rapid development in transport infrastructure. Hong Kong businesses and professional services, with their rich experience and advantages in various strengths, could make contributions on different relevant infrastructure projects.
 
     Before concluding his first-day visit programme, Mr Yau will meet with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Malaysia, Mr Bai Tian, to keep him abreast of the latest developments of Hong Kong.

     Mr Yau will continue his visit in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (November 26).

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced today (November 25) that the Australian Government Department of Agriculture (DA) has fully resumed the movements of horses between Australia and Hong Kong.

     The DA's assessment of Guangzhou's Equine Disease Free Zone, the Conghua Racecourse (CRC) and the biosecurity passage via which horses are transported between Hong Kong and the CRC has been completed. The assessment concluded that the suite of biosecurity controls that are in place met Australia's import standards and that accordingly Hong Kong should regain its status as an approved jurisdiction for the export of horses to Australia. Effective immediately, horses can be exported directly from Hong Kong to Australia as before the suspension.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Health Services conducted a visit to the Kwai Tsing District Health Centre (DHC) today (November 25) to understand its operation and the primary healthcare services provided. The DHC opened in September.
 
     The Kwai Tsing DHC is the first DHC set up by the Food and Health Bureau.  Operated by the Kwai Tsing Safe Community and Healthy City Association, a non-governmental organization, the Kwai Tsing DHC provides Government subsidized primary healthcare services including health promotion, health assessment, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation through medical-social collaboration and public-private partnership.
 
     Accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, Members were briefed by representatives of the Government and the Kwai Tsing DHC on the provision of primary healthcare services under a district-based approach. In addition, Members observed demonstrations of the registration system and rehabilitation equipment of the DHC. They also took the opportunity to exchange with staff members of the DHC to learn more about their work.
 
     Members who participated in the visit today were the Chairman of the Panel, Dr Chiang Lai-wan; Panel Members Professor Joseph Lee, Mr Wong Ting-kwong, Mr Poon Siu-ping and Mr Shiu Ka-chun; as well as non-Panel Member Mr Ip Kin-yuen.