Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (November 27). About 6.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $7 million were seized.
      
     Two female passengers, aged 40 and 23, arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found in 46 boxes of durian cookies inside their carry-on suitcases. The duo were subsequently arrested.
      
     An investigation is ongoing.
      
     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at a reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom today (November 28):
 
Consul General Davidson (British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Brian Davidson), Consuls-General, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It's a pleasure to be here, with you this evening, in celebration of His Majesty King Charles III's birthday.
 
     This evening's King's Birthday Party speaks, and eloquently, of the close relations between our two economies, our two peoples, our two cultures.
 
     Indeed, it was less than a week ago that I joined the Consul General and others of you, here, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, for the much-anticipated opening of the dazzling "Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London" exhibition.
 
     That this superlative art exhibition, spanning more than 400 years of Western art history, is being held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, creates a clear and inviting path forward. An East-West harmony rooted in our longstanding ties and our deep and mutually rewarding cultural bonds. I’m confident we can, and will, build on that cultural foundation.
 
     After all, with the blessing, and full support, of our country, Hong Kong is destined to become an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
 
     But beyond arts and culture and the creative industries, there is much more we can accomplish, by working together. I saw that, firsthand, in September, during my visit to London.  After a hiatus of four years since my last visit back in 2019, we were seeing good friends again, many from the business and financial communities. Many things have changed, I said, but what remains is our steadfast adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle, our unflinching commitment to the common law system and the rule of law, and the many unique advantages that have made Hong Kong what it is.  
 
     For those who are coming from afar, for joining this event, or for business or leisure, I am sure you are able to see for yourselves.  Hong Kong continues to be an open, vibrant and safe metropolis full of vitality and vigour. And a city with shining beauty under this perfect autumn weather.
 
     In the UK, and here in Hong Kong, my discussions with leading businesses and financial institutions were uniformly heartening: we know that British businesses are keen to further enhance business relationships, keen to tap into the vast opportunities of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the Mainland.
 
     Just last Friday, we welcomed AstraZeneca which had decided to establish its research and development centre and incubator in Hong Kong. Our arms are wide open to British enterprises who wish to make good use of our unique connectivity. Our Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and Invest Hong Kong are here to help.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I see it again, the far-reaching promise of Hong Kong and the UK. The future is bright as we work together.
 
     Finally, may I wish His Majesty King Charles lll a very happy birthday.
 
     And I wish everyone here happy holidays and the best of health and business in the coming year.
 
     Thank you. 

  

     Police today (November 28) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Sham Shui Po.

     Yin Lifen, a Mainland woman aged 39, went missing after she left her residence on Fuk Wing Street on November 26 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police today.

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short curly black hair. She was last seen wearing a black and white plaid shirt, black trousers and red slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542, or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    

     â€‹The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Fujian today (November 28).

     In the morning, Professor Sun met with Vice-Governor of the Fujian Provincial People's Government Mr Lin Ruiliang; the Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Fujian Province, Mr Li Zhizhong; and the Director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Fujian Province, Mr Weng Yuyao, in Fuzhou. They exchanged views on co-operation between Fujian and Hong Kong in the areas of innovation and technology (I&T), new industrialisation and informatisation development. Professor Sun also briefed Mr Lin on the I&T ecosystem of Hong Kong, and the series of initiatives in the Policy Address implementing the development directions and major strategies set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, as well as the latest development plan of the Hong Kong Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.

     Professor Sun then proceeded to Ningde in Fujian Province to continue his visit.

     Upon arrival, Professor Sun met with the Secretary of the CPC Ningde Municipal Committee, Mr Liang Weixin. They exchanged views on promoting the development of high-end technology industries with a competitive edge and of strategic significance, which would in turn drive economic diversification and high-quality development of society, and create quality job opportunities. Professor Sun encouraged enterprises in Fujian to leverage on Hong Kong's advantages of internationalisation and a highly market-oriented environment to expand their businesses overseas.

     Following yesterday's meeting with the Chairman and General Manager of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL), Mr Robin Zeng, Professor Sun visited the base of CATL in the afternoon. He toured the enterprise's technology building and smart production lines of "Base Z" to gain a better understanding of the enterprise's work in research and development, production and sales of new energy traction battery systems and energy storage systems, as well as the enterprise's efforts in providing solutions for new energy applications around the world. He also exchanged views with the Chief Investment Officer of CATL, Mr Wang Hongbo, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and the Ecological Development Committee of CATL, Mr Wu Yingming, and other senior executives on the enterprise's direction and strategies to launch its business in Hong Kong.

     Professor Sun concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

          

     The Housing Bureau and the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) announced today (November 28) that the two tenders for the design and construction of the first batch of Light Public Housing (LPH) projects, i.e. Public Works Project Contract no. SS M518, Design and Construction of Light Public Housing at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun Area 3A and Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok, has been awarded to Chevalier – China Railway Joint Venture; and Public Works Project Contract no. SS M519, Design and Construction of Light Public Housing at Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak, has been awarded to China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited respectively.
    
     The first batch of LPH projects comprises four projects, providing a total of around 17 000 units. The construction at the four sites will commence from December 2023 by phases, among which the LPH site at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, is expected to be completed in Q1 2025 at the earliest to provide about 2 100 units. The other three sites are expected to be completed in phases from Q2 2025 to Q3 2026.
 
     The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced the launch of LPH last year so as to fill the short-term gap of the public housing supply, and to improve the living conditions and quality of the people living in inadequate housing as soon as possible. After obtaining the funding approval from the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the first batch of LPH projects early this year, the ArchSD has been pressing ahead with relevant works at full speed. Following the award of the contracts, construction works will commence right away. We will also seek the necessary funding for the second batch of LPH projects from the LegCo shortly in order to complete about 30 000 LPH units by 2027‑28."