Hong Kong Prepares for Increased Visitor Management During National Day Golden Week

CSTB co-ordinates measures in relation to arrival of visitors to Hong Kong during Mainland's National Day Golden Week

Following the first interdepartmental meeting held on August 23 to co-ordinate the preparation work for the arrival of visitors to Hong Kong during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau convened another meeting today (September 20) to follow up on the preparation work carried out by various departments, including crowd-control management of visitors, etc, said a Government spokesman. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, with representatives from government departments including the Hong Kong Customs (Customs), the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Transport Department, various District Offices, etc. Representatives from various tourism-related organisations including the Travel Industry Authority (TIA), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, major tourist attractions, the hotel industry, etc, also attended. Relevant parties will continue to maintain close communication on the crowd control of visitors during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week with a view to preparing in advance and co-ordinating different aspects for receiving visitor arrivals to Hong Kong.

Mr Yeung said, "The HKSARG has been closely monitoring visitor arrivals during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week and will continue to maintain close liaison with various government departments, relevant organisations and the trade to properly manage visitor flows, so as to offer visitors with a good travel experience and a taste of Hong Kong's city charm of 'Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong'."

During the Mainland's National Day Golden Week, relevant government departments will strengthen manpower as well as co-ordination of transport and cross-boundary services at various control points, including strengthening crowd management, increasing transport frequency, etc. If necessary, the Police will make appropriate traffic arrangements according to the actual circumstances, including arranging public transport to use the designated dedicated lane at San Sham Road to travel to Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port. In addition, the Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Customs, the Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week to monitor the situation at each land control point, as well as to maintain close liaison with Mainland counterparts and take contingency actions where necessary. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will operate 24 hours to monitor the traffic conditions of different districts, including various boundary control points and major stations, disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels and implement response measures where appropriate.

Various District Offices will closely monitor the flow of visitors within their corresponding districts during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week and strengthen management of the relevant spots having regard to the actual circumstances. Major tourist attractions will also put in place crowd control measures.

The TIA has been reminding travel agents receiving relevant Mainland inbound tour groups to stagger arrival times as far as possible and urge travel agents, shops, restaurants, etc, receiving Mainland inbound tour groups to implement appropriate measures for managing the order of visitors and coaches. The TIA will also deploy additional manpower during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week to conduct inspections in districts where relatively more registered shops for inbound tour groups are located, and offer assistance to visitors and tourist guides to protect the rights of inbound tour group visitors. In addition, Customs will step up inspections of shops serving visitors to combat unfair trade practices.

The Tourism Commission, together with representatives from various government departments and the TIA, visited Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier and the nearby piers offering Victoria Harbour tours earlier (September 9) to inspect enhancement arrangements of crowd control deployed by relevant parties, as well as visiting the Kowloon City District to inspect registered shops and catering premises for Mainland inbound tour groups to remind the relevant parties to better prepare for the co-ordination work for crowd management. In addition, the Tourism Commission has been maintaining liaison with Mainland tourism authorities and communicating with them on the arrival of Mainland visitors. It has provided the hotlines of the relevant local organisations to Mainland inbound group visitors via the Mainland tourism authorities.

At present, the ImmD will upload the daily arrival figures of each control point to its website (www.immd.gov.hk). In addition, visitors may check the estimated waiting time at each land boundary control point via the Immigration mobile application.

​During the Mainland's National Day Golden Week, in case of emergency, Mainland inbound tour group visitors, tour escorts accompanying the tour groups and local tourist guides may seek assistance from the TIA by calling its service hotline 3698 5900 (operating from 9am to 6pm from October 1 to 7). For enquiries or complaints, visitors may call the HKTB's hotline 2508 1234 (operating from 9am to 8pm from October 1 to 7) or the Consumer Council's hotline 2929 2222 (operating from 9am to 5.30pm from October 2 to 4 and on October 7).

CSTB co-ordinates measures in relation to arrival of visitors to Hong Kong during Mainland's National Day Golden Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CSTB co-ordinates measures in relation to arrival of visitors to Hong Kong during Mainland's National Day Golden Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Drug abuse and drug situation in Hong Kong in first half of 2024

The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) noted at its meeting today (September 20) the statistical figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) and other drug-related figures in the first half of 2024. ACAN noticed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first half of 2024 was lower than that of 2023, while the number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 increased. ACAN will closely monitor the situation in the remaining quarters of 2024, and will carry out its anti-drug work according to the latest situation.

Figures from the CRDA revealed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first half of 2024 decreased by 8 per cent (from 3 279 to 3 025) when compared with that of 2023. The three most common types of drugs abused in the first half of 2024 were heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine (commonly known as "Ice"). Nevertheless, the number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 increased from 394 to 452 when compared with the same period last year. Among these reported young drug abusers, nearly 75 of them abused "space oil". In this group, the most common type of drugs abused was cannabis, followed by cocaine. "Space oil" has become the third most common type of drugs abused for the first time.

The ACAN Chairman, Dr Donald Li, said "space oil" is a name drug dealers created in order to sugar-coat drugs with devious tactics. "Space oil" is a kind of liquid with harmful substances added illegally. Although there is no standard formula for "space oil", it usually contains an anaesthetic called etomidate, which can only be prescribed by a doctor. Etomidate is regulated as Part 1 poison according to the law.

Dr Li explained that, in addition to etomidate, "space oil" may be mixed with other drugs, including cannabis, "Ice" and ketamine (commonly known as "K"), etc. "Space oil" can cause serious physical and mental harm, including addiction, memory loss, seizure, unconsciousness, and even death. He added that etomidate and other drugs are strictly regulated under the existing laws. Members of the public must not defy these laws.

"It is scientifically proven that using e-cigarettes is harmful to one's health. Vaping 'space oil' through e-cigarettes is the same as taking drugs. I urge young people to be more vigilant against 'space oil', and they should never try this emerging drug out of curiosity. Otherwise, they will lose their health, their prospects, and even their precious lives. I also suggest that the Government should adopt measures for raising public awareness of 'space oil'."

The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau is highly concerned about the emerging trend of "space oil" abuse. It has adopted the suggestions from ACAN and launched education and publicity initiatives targeting "space oil" to enhance the public's abilities to protect themselves against this emerging drug. In July this year, the Commissioner for Narcotics wrote to all primary schools and secondary schools in Hong Kong, reminding the education sector to stay alert to "space oil". At the end of last month, the ND co-organised an exchange session with the Hospital Authority and a social welfare service organisation to improve the capabilities of front-line social workers for providing services to "space oil" abusers. The ND is also stepping up promotion and released an animated video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHQVLgU3wAA) on the theme of "space oil" at the end of August to remind the public about the harmful effects caused by "space oil". Together with relevant government departments and social welfare service organisations, the ND will meet the education sector on October 8 to further raise teaching staff's awareness of "space oil". Furthermore, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) will step up patrols, including online surveillance, carry out intelligence-based law enforcement actions and continue to spare no effort to combat crimes relating to "space oil".

According to the statistical figures from the LEAs, the number of persons arrested for drug offences in the first half of 2024 dropped by 10 per cent (from 1 791 to 1 611) when compared with that of 2023. The number of young arrestees aged under 21 decreased by 32 per cent (from 179 to 122). Cannabis and cocaine were the main drugs involved in these arrests. According to the court cases concluded for the same period, the conviction rate of persons being prosecuted for drug offences was as high as nearly 90 per cent. As for young offenders aged under 21 who were sentenced to imprisonment for drug trafficking, more than half of them were sentenced to over five years in prison, and the longest period of imprisonment was nearly 22 years. The ND reminded members of the public, especially young people, not to take part in drug trafficking activities out of greed. Otherwise, there will be lifelong regrets. Young age is not a valid mitigating factor. Anyone who commits a drug offence is liable for serious criminal punishment. The maximum penalty for drug trafficking is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.

The statistical figures of the CRDA for the first half of 2024 are available on the website of the ND (www.nd.gov.hk/en/crda_main_charts_and_tables.html). The ND's website (www.nd.gov.hk) as well as its official accounts ("narcotics.divisionhk") on Facebook and Instagram also contain detailed information about drugs, including frequently asked questions about "space oil", cocaine and cannabis for the public's reference. If members of the public encounter any drug problems, they can send messages to 98 186 186 on instant messaging applications WhatsApp and WeChat, or call the 24-hour hotline 186 186 to seek information or assistance from professional social workers.