Young rehabilitated persons conclude Greater Bay Area exchange tour in Zhuhai

To further cultivate national consciousness and positive values in young rehabilitated persons, correctional officers led youths who have completed their sentences and are under statutory supervision to participate in the Greater Bay Area Experience Exchange Tour 2026, visiting Foshan and Zhuhai in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for three days and two nights of exchanges, so that they could learn about the country’s history and culture as well as its developments in various fields.

Fourteen young rehabilitated persons began their exchange tour in Foshan on February 7. They first visited the San Tan Geming Shiji Exhibition Hall to learn about modern Chinese history, followed by a visit to a local school to interact with teachers and students, gaining insights into the local learning environment. They then proceeded to a Chinese medicine hospital to understand the long history of Chinese medicine and the development of the healthcare system. Participants subsequently headed to Zhuhai to participate in educational activities at a general aircraft company and a space centre to gain an understanding of national aircraft research and development, aircraft manufacturing and operational services as well as its achievements in aerospace technology. They also visited an intelligent technology company to learn about the nation’s research, development and application of unmanned surface vessels.

A participating youth, Ah Ming (pseudonym), who had not returned to the Chinese Mainland for years, stated that during the “black-clad violence” in 2019, he and his friends were incited and misled by newspapers to commit violent acts on the street. He was subsequently sentenced to imprisonment, bearing the legal consequences of his actions. With the help of the Correctional Services Department (CSD)’s rehabilitation services, Ah Ming said he hopes to turn over a new leaf and reintegrate into society, making a contribution to Hong Kong and the homeland.

Ah Ming added that he previously had misunderstandings about the Chinese Mainland due to being misled. This trip has broadened his horizons significantly, not only allowing him to learn about Chinese history and culture, but also providing an opportunity for him to ride a high-speed train for the first time and visit technology enterprises, so that he could understand in person the rapid development of the country. He appreciated the CSD for the meticulous arrangements, which allowed him to rediscover his homeland.

The Exchange Tour is an extension of the Department’s targeted rehabilitation programme, the Project PATH. Participants include youths under supervision who were involved in the “black-clad violence”. The tour aims, through visits and observation, to allow participants to learn and understand the profound Chinese history and culture as well as to witness the nation’s prosperous development, thereby deepening their understanding of national conditions and development and fostering their sense of belonging to the country and national identity.

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.9 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 8) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 9 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

One female passenger and one male passenger, both aged 19, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside their baggage. The duo was subsequently arrested.

The two arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 10).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

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/en).