Page:HKFactSheet Customs 102014.pdf/2

 Prevention and Detection of Smuggling: The C&ED prevents and detects smuggling activities under the Import and Export Ordinance; enforces the licensing controls on prohibited articles by inspecting cargoes imported and exported by air, sea and land; processing passengers and their baggage at entry/exit points, and searching aircraft, vessels and vehicles entering and leaving Hong Kong. In view of the stealthy, sophisticated and international nature of organized smuggling and other criminal activities, the Syndicate Crimes Investigation Bureau was formed by an amalgamation of the Special Task Force and the Financial Investigation Group in January 2013 so as to combat the illegal activities from a holistic perspective. This new formation seeks to enhance the capability to trace up the command chain of syndicates and apprehend their masterminds. Where appropriate, the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance will be invoked to achieve enhanced sentences and confiscate assets for greater deterrent effect. On the other hand, the Marine Joint Task Force coordinates efforts of C&ED and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) to combat smuggling activities in the waters of Hong Kong.

Airport: The Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world with a daily arrival of 510 scheduled flights. In 2013, the throughput of air passengers was 59.9 million whereas the throughput of air cargoes was about 4.13 million tonnes.

Harbour: Hong Kong is one of the busiest container ports in the world. It handled 22.4 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2013, of these, 17.1 million TEUs were handled at the Kwai Chung-Tsing Yi Container Terminals.

In 2013, 29 915 ocean-going vessels and 157 625 river-trade vessels arrived in Hong Kong. All vessels entering or leaving the waters of Hong Kong are subject to customs inspection. Cargoes may either be examined on board or after off-loading.

In 2013, a total of 12.3 million passengers arrived in Hong Kong from the Mainland and Macau by sea and by helicopters. They were processed at the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Central. In addition, a daily average of 38 helicopter flights between Hong Kong and Macau are operated at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal. The new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, located at the site of Hong Kong’s former airport, had the first inaugural berthing in June 2013. The cruise terminal has the capacity for processing 3 000 passengers per hour and is designed to have two berths. Both berths are able to accommodate world-class cruise vessels and the second berth was commissioned in September 2014.

Five Customs Sector Patrol launches are deployed to conduct round-the-clock maritime patrol in the territorial waters whereas four high-speed pursuit crafts and two shallow water launches are tasked to carry out interception of smuggling activities at sea.

Land Boundary: On average, 281 800 passengers arrive from the Mainland by land daily and they are processed at Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, Lok Ma Chau, Shenzhen Bay, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Lo Wu control points. Additionally, 6 070 passengers on daily average in 2013 entered Hong Kong by through-trains and are processed at Hung Hom Railway Station. Goods imported by road are checked at Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay. In 2013, about 15.7 million tonnes of cargoes were imported through the land boundary control points.

Anti-Narcotics Operations: The C&ED and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) are responsible for anti-narcotics law enforcement. Both have achieved encouraging results in recent years. Seizures of illicit drugs by both departments in 2013 included 69.1 kilograms of heroin, 10.9 kilograms of herbal cannabis, 40 kilograms of cannabis resin, 280 kilograms of cocaine, 174.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 320 tablets of ecstasy-type tablets (MDMA, etc.), 245.3 kilograms of ketamine, and substantial quantities of various narcotics, analgesics and tranquillizers. A total of 6 026 persons were arrested for drug offences, of whom 3 214 were arrested for major offences, such as drug trafficking and manufacturing, and the remaining 2 812 persons were arrested for minor offences, such as possession of illicit drugs.'

Apart from intercepting the smuggling of drugs at the control points, the department launches proactive investigations and surveillance operations on syndicated drug trafficking activities throughout Hong Kong. The department also deploys drug detector dogs and makes use of advanced technology, such as Mobile X-ray Vehicle Scanning Systems and Vehicle X-ray Inspection Systems, to enhance enforcement effectiveness. In addition, the department closely monitors the trend of drug abuse, in particular the growing popularity of psychotropic substances among youngsters, and cross-boundary drug crime.

Besides, the C&ED investigates laundering of drug proceeds and initiates applications for freezing and confiscating assets derived from drug trafficking. The department also enforces a licensing system to control the import, export and dealing of 26 specific precursor chemicals which can be used for the manufacture of dangerous drugs. It exchanges intelligence and cooperates closely with the HKPF and various drug enforcement agencies in the Mainland and overseas in the fight against drug traffickers both locally and at the international level.

Trade Controls and Consumer Protection: The C&ED safeguards the certification and licensing systems which are of vital importance to Hong Kong’s trading integrity. The department deters and investigates offences of origin fraud. It also investigates cases of import and export of strategic commodities and other prohibited articles, which are not in accordance with the licence requirement. The department carries out cargo examination at the control points, factory inspections and consignment checks. The department is a member of the Hong Kong Compliance Office set up to assist the Central People's Government in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention in Hong Kong. Since April 1, 2012, the department regulates the business of MSOs (i.e. remittance agents and money changers) through the issue of licences and conducting compliance checks to ensure the licensed MSOs to comply with the requirements under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance.

The department enforces licensing control on rice and consumer protection legislations relating to weights and measures, the safety of toys, children’s products and consumer goods and enforces the Trade Descriptions Ordinance to tackle illegal activities pertaining to goods and services with false trade descriptions and unfair trade practices. Besides, the department also verifies import and export declarations to ensure accurate trade statistics; and assesses and collects declaration charges and clothing industry training levy. In 2013, the department collected $969 million in declaration charges and $0.52 million in clothing industry training levy.

Intellectual Property Rights Protection: The C&ED has the mission to protect the interests of intellectual property rights owners and legitimate traders through stringent enforcement of the Copyright Ordinance, the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and the Prevention of Copyright Piracy Ordinance. The department