â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (December 2) that the latest Christmas mail posting date for local delivery before Christmas Day is December 20 (Friday). Mail posted after this date might run the risk of not being delivered in time because of the anticipated seasonal work pressure. Members of the public are advised to post mail as early as possible in order to avoid a last-minute rush.
      
     To ensure that greetings sent by air mail are delivered before Christmas, members of the public are reminded to post their mail on or before the latest dates of posting. A complete list of the latest dates of posting for this year's Christmas mail by air is displayed at all post offices. Customers may also find the information on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk or contact the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

     â€‹The Rural By-election was held today (December 1). Results for the Indigenous Inhabitant Representative By-election and the Resident Representative By-election are as follows:

Indigenous Inhabitant Representative By-election results:
 

 
Resident Representative By-election results:
 

     The Sai Kung District Office (SKDO) received a report of theft of electronic devices from a Sub-district Care Team yesterday (November 30).

     The operating organisation of the Sai Kung Hang Hau East Sub-district Care Team (i.e. the Hang Hau District Festival and Special Event Preparatory Committee) reported to the SKDO yesterday that there was a theft of a laptop and a mobile phone from a locked room by breaking the door lock of their office located at the address of Hang Hau Rural Committee (1 Hang Hau Road, New Territories). The equipment contain personal data of the service recipients of that Sub-district Care Team. It is estimated that the data involves names and phone numbers of a few hundred persons, some with addresses and identity card numbers. The operating organisation confirmed that they have been complying with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486), and have properly handled and kept confidential the relevant personal data in accordance with the Care Team's principle of use of data and confidentiality. Both electronic devices and files containing personal data are protected by high-strength passwords. Under these security measures, the risk of data leakage should be relatively low.

     The Police have classified the incident as a burglary case, and the operating organisation has reported the incident to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. The Hang Hau Rural Committee and the operating organisation are reviewing, and will further strengthen, their security measures. They are also reminding residents and service recipients to be vigilant. If anyone suspects a person impersonating a member of the Sai Kung Hang Hau East Sub-district Care Team, residents can contact the Care Team or the SKDO to verify their identity.

     The SKDO sincerely apologises to the persons affected for any inconvenience caused, and has set up a hotline (6278 0536) for enquiries. The SKDO has also reminded all Care Teams to stay vigilant and further strengthen security measures and stressed that they should continue to handle and keep personal data confidential according to the guidelines.

     Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drugs case involving internal concealment at Hong Kong International Airport on November 29 and seized about 680 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $560,000.

     A 54-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Lagos, Nigeria, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on that day. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found him to be suspicious and suspected that the passenger had dangerous drugs concealed inside his body cavity. He was then escorted to the hospital for examination.

     Upon examination, the man was confirmed by a doctor to have foreign objects concealed inside his body cavity and was arrested subsequently. As at 5pm today (December 1), the arrested person has discharged 38 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 680g in total.

     A holding charge with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug has been laid against the arrested man. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 2).

     Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, 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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     The BMW Around the Island Race (ATIR) for Coastal Rowing, held on November 30 and December 1, 2024, was successfully concluded. Hosted by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and co-organised by the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association, the event took place at the Victoria Harbour, bringing together over 400 participants from Hong Kong, the Mainland, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, the USA etc, including world champions from 2023 and 2024. To mark the occasion, the Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Ms Alpha Lau, officiated at its medal presentation ceremony to celebrate the exceptional achievements of the athletes.
      
     Ms Lau said, "Hong Kong has always been a destination for major events, from arts and culture to sports. Our city has hosted international large-scale sports competitions including Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Marathon and the Hong Kong Tennis Open, to name a few. During the upcoming 15th National Games, we will organise eight competition events including fencing, track cycling, rugby sevens, golf, triathlon, beach volleyball, men's handball, and under-22 men's basketball. Hong Kong's participation in the National Games will further solidify our position as a premier sports destination."
      
     She added, "Sports events have a profound economic impact. Sports industry brings in economic growth, ranging from sports operation, education, sports-related goods, sports tourism and all kinds of supporting services to sports activities, all contributing to our local economy. Most important of all, Hong Kong is an ideal location to do business, and events like Around the Island Race offers a fantastic opportunity for companies to connect with their target customers and markets, from sports drinks to sports tech, from local sports fan engagement to global sports tourism."
      
     The ATIR is a 45km coastal rowing competition around Hong Kong Island, starting and finishing at the iconic Victoria Harbour. Beyond the competition, the event also features a 45km indoor rowing challenge hosted at the race village on Kellett Island, engaging over 20 teams from schools, corporations, and sports clubs, including youth, adults and para-athletes. 
      
     According to the latest figures from the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong's sports and related activities contributed HK$62 billion to the local economy in 2022, accounting for 2.2 per cent of the city's Gross Domestic Product and creating 74 000 job opportunities. With the Kai Tak Sports Park set to open soon, along with the co-hosting of the 15th National Games by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao next year, it is expected to drive robust growth in related industries such as sports tourism, sports technology, and equipment manufacturing.
      
     Looking ahead, InvestHK is committed to supporting international sports events that enhance the city's global standing and drive positive economic impact. As a strategic gateway to Mainland China and the Asia-Pacific, combined with its business-friendly environment, the city offers a dynamic platform for companies to unlock growth in one of the world's most vibrant and rapidly expanding regions.