Following Europe and the US's imposition of quotas on the Mainland's textile exports in May, the quantity of illegal textile transshipments to Hong Kong is expected to rise and Customs will closely monitor the situation, Commissioner of Customs & Excise Timothy Tong says.

Speaking at a radio talk show this morning, Mr Tong said in the first five months of this year, local garment exports have dropped about one third over the same period last year, reflecting the effect of abolition of the quota system.

But he forecast the trend will revert as a result of the recent move by Europe and America, and circumvention activities will resurge.

Mr Tong said  in an operation against illegal textile transshipments during the past four weeks, Customs officers have seized 240,000 garments with a total value of about $5 million and detained 13 goods vehicles.

During a recent inspection of local garment factories, about 100 new firms brought the total to 1,500, indicating a better business environment in the latter half of the year, he said.

Mr Tong stressed Customs will keep a close watch on the situation and spare no efforts in combating circumvention activities.

Extra staff for new checkpoint

Mr Tong said 131 new recruits will start their training next month and will later be deployed to the airport and Container Terminal 9.

He said in the next few months, the department will apply to recruit more staff to cope with the completion of the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint by the end of next year.

Mr Tong expected a few hundred extra hands are needed to man the new checkpoint, which will be the largest.

Say 'no' to marked oil

Mr Tong said in a five-day operation last week, about 0.3% of goods vehicles were found using marked oil, substantially lower than the general estimate of 7.5%.

He stressed Customs has information on the 17 marked oil black spots over the territory and data on the operating syndicates, and will continue to conduct anti-illicit fuel operations, adding they have launched a campaign with a goods vehicle drivers' union to encourage drivers to say 'no' to marked oil.

Mr Tong urged the public and drivers to make use of the marked oil hotline, 2545 6182, to report any illicit fuel activities.

He said since the launching of a scheme requesting oil companies to register vessels after each purchase, sales of marine-use marked oil each month have dropped 40%, from 490 million litres to a reasonable level of 280 million litres.

Just say no to drugs

On combat against soft drugs, Mr Tong pointed out seizures of ketamine this year have increased 30 to 40 times over the average annual seizure of five kilogrammes in past years.

He estimated the surge is due to strengthened enforcement actions in the Mainland on ketamine manufacturing, causing trafficking syndicates to transport the drugs from India, through Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong into the Mainland.

Mr Tong reiterated Hong Kong will join hands with neighbouring law enforcement agencies to crack down on drug trafficking activities.