CAS Promotes Mountaineering Safety at 55th Anniversary Event Amid Hong Kong's 75th Anniversary Celebrations

2024-10-20 19:20 Last Updated At：19:28

Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2024 and 55th Anniversary of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company held

The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2024 and the 55th Anniversary of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company with various government departments and mountaineering organisations today (October 20) at the Free Space, Kwun Tong Town Centre with a view to enhancing public awareness of hiking safety and reducing accidents arising from mountaineering activities amid celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

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Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2024 and 55th Anniversary of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2024 and 55th Anniversary of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee, said that the mountaineering safety promotion day can help members of the public acquire essential safety knowledge and skills, and enhance their awareness of potential dangers. He praised the CAS for its outstanding contribution to protecting the lives of hikers as an indispensable member of Hong Kong's emergency rescue system. At the opening ceremony, Mr Siu also presented certificates to those who had successfully completed the Mountain Casualty Handling Course and awarded a trophy to the winning team of the 55th Anniversary of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company Competition.

Other attending guests included the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, as well as representatives from the Government Flying Service; the Auxiliary Medical Service; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Office of the Communications Authority; the Hong Kong Observatory; the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; the Lands Department and various mountaineering organisations.

Game booths were set up to promote mountaineering safety, whereas a wide range of mountaineering equipment, such as digital maps, watches for recording rescuer locations, high-resolution live broadcasting cameras and the Unmanned Aircraft System, were showcased. In addition, to enhance public understanding of mountain rescue work, CAS members also demonstrated techniques of mountain search and rescue missions and handling procedures of injured persons. To mark the 55th anniversary of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company this year, a designated booth was also set up to introduce the Mountain Search and Rescue Company as well as showcase the equipment used over the years.

Other highlights included a rescue demonstration by the Fire Services Department rescue dogs and a performance by police dogs. A recruitment exercise of CAS adult members and cadets was also conducted at the event.

Hong Kong Customs Seizes 53 Million Illicit Cigarettes Worth $240 Million in Recent Smuggling Crackdown

2024-10-20 17:05 Last Updated At：17:18

Hong Kong Customs detects large-scale sea smuggling case and seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $240 million

Hong Kong Customs stepped up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea over the past week and detected two related cases involving seaborne containers. A total of about 53 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $240 million and a duty potential of about $170 million were seized. About 20 million suspected illicit cigarettes seized were duty-not-paid cigarettes known as "cheap whites", accounting for about 40 per cent of the total seizure.

In the first case, through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs selected for inspection a 40-foot container, declared as carrying recycled aluminum and arriving from Taiwan en route to Foshan, Guangdong, via Hong Kong, on the morning of October 18 at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 11 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the container. An investigation is ongoing.

In the second case, Customs yesterday (October 19) morning intercepted a suspicious cargo vessel in the waters off Tsing Yi. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a total of about 42 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside four 40-foot containers on board the vessel. Seven non-local men, aged between 28 and 51, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested and they comprise a captain and six crew members. The arrested captain, aged 47, will be charged with one count of importing unmanifested cargoes. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 21).

Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

CAS Promotes Mountaineering Safety at 55th Anniversary Event Amid Hong Kong's 75th Anniversary Celebrations

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