â€‹Following the detection of a suspected case of smuggling scheduled dried shark fins from an air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on November 23, Hong Kong Customs on November 24 detected another similar case and seized over 450 kilograms of dried shark fins, including suspected dried shark fins of scheduled endangered species with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million at the airport.

     A 35-year-old male passenger arrived at Hong Kong from Brazil via Ethiopia on November 24. Upon arrival, he made a Customs declaration for the batch of controlled items and presented an image of a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) document to Customs officers. The documents were later confirmed invalid by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). AFCD officers later confirmed some of the dried shark fins in his 15 pieces of check-in baggage are of endangered species listed in CITES Appendix II and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (the Ordinance).

     It was discovered in both cases that crime syndicates not only attempted to use forged or invalid documents, but also deliberately sourced dried shark fins that were yet to be regulated and mixed them with the scheduled ones in order to evade detection. 

     The Government has gazetted the amendment to the Ordinance to bring more shark species under the control of the Ordinance from December 15, 2023 onwards. The Customs and the AFCD will continue to take vigorous enforcement action to combat smuggling of endangered species.

     Hong Kong Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items, including shark products such as dried shark fins, into and out of Hong Kong.

     Under the Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (November 26) that the children's playground in Sham Shui Po Park has been converted into an innovative inclusive playground, which is now open for public use. 

     Occupying about 6 400 square meters, the area of the new inclusive playground has been increased by more than four times compared with the original children's playground. As part of the Transformation of Public Play Space plan, public views on the playground design have made reference to questionnaires and surveys, and the design adopts "nature" as its theme, with "sand", "plants" and "water" as the main design elements. There are three themed areas in the playground, namely "Sandy Bunker", "Jungle Meadow", and "Oasis Spring" (Note). Various types of swings and slides of different heights are provided in the play space, among which the climbing tower located at "Sandy Bunker" is connected to the spiral tube slide which is the tallest and longest slide tube among the playgrounds under management of the LCSD, with a height over six metres and a length over 13m, enabling users to have more fun while playing. The LCSD also invited local organisations and community members to participate in trial play sessions and visit the venue from August to October to collect views extensively in order to refine the future operation and management arrangements.

     In addition, rope climbing nets, percussion pipes and drums, and trampolines and a carousel for wheelchair users, as well as a fitness corner are also provided at the playground for users to choose from based on their abilities and preferences, thereby facilitating greater integration across generations, physical abilities and society as a whole. 

     Members of the public who plan to visit the Sham Shui Po Park inclusive playground can walk from Exit A1 of the Cheung Sha Wan MTR Station in about six minutes or Exit A of the Nam Cheong MTR Station in about nine minutes, or take various bus and minibus routes there. For enquiries, please contact the Sham Shui Po District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD at 2386 0945 during office hours. 

     For details on the LCSD's Transformation of Public Play Space (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/pps/index.html) and other inclusive play facilities (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/facilities/facilitieslist/children.html), please visit the department’s website.

Note: The launch date of water play facilities located at "Oasis Spring", which are under maintenance due to rainstorm and extreme conditions in September, will be announced later.

        

     â€‹The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for a visit to Fujian Province this evening (November 26).

     During the visit, he will tour advanced manufacturing and new energy enterprises in Fuzhou and Ningde to learn more about Fujian Province's efforts in promoting the development of innovation and technology, and new industrialisation. He will also call on leaders of the Fujian Provincial Government and the Ningde Municipal Government.

     Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong in the evening on November 28. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 19) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Science Promotion Unit (SPU) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department uses creative means to reach out to the community to promote scientific thinking, from an outreach vehicle introducing nanoscience to online platforms explaining the science of everyday life.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke to SPU representatives to find out about the different ways in which they engage the public in science.
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (November 26) in text and video format.