TV docu-drama series to mark Customs 100th anniversary (with photos)

The Customs and Excise Department has produced for the first time with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) a TV documentary drama series, "Hong Kong Customs". The production of the drama series is part of the celebration activities to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Customs Service.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the docu-drama series today (October 7), Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen, said that the eight-episode series was based on real cases, which depicted the day-to-day enforcement work of the department and the challenges faced by Customs officers in the detection and prevention of crimes.

"We hope that this docu-drama series will help the public gain a better understanding of Customs' role in anti-smuggling, anti-drug trafficking, protection of revenue, upholding Hong Kong's trading integrity, protecting intellectual property rights and consumers' interests, and maintaining Hong Kong as a safe society and a premier trade and logistics hub," Mr Yuen said.

The "Hong Kong Customs" docu-drama series will be aired at 8pm every Saturday from October 10 on TVB Jade channel. The eight episodes will each cover a key element of the Hong Kong Customs' law enforcement activities:

• smashing a mobile phone smuggling syndicate involving the use of cross-boundary private cars;
• operation against the production and distribution of pirated optical discs;
• a high-sea boat chase leading to the arrest of a cross-boundary diesel oil smuggling gang;
• protection of the interests of consumers and product safety;
• operation against cross-boundary youth drug trafficking activities;
• detection of a ketamine trafficking syndicate in Asian region;
• cracking down on the retailing network of counterfeit virility drugs by undercover officers; and
• arresting the mastermind of a network using BitTorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing technology to distribute infringing materials on the internet.

Other officiating guests at the launching ceremony included Director of Broadcasting, Mr Wong Wah-kay, Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Luke Au Yeung, and RTHK's Assistant Director (Public Affairs Television Division), Mr Cheung Man-sun.

Ends/Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen, speaks at the launching ceremony.

With other officiating guests at the launching ceremony are Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Luke Au Yeung (left);Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen (fourth left); Director of Broadcasting, Mr Wong Wah-kay (fourth right), and Assistant Director of Broadcasting, Mr Cheung Man-sun (right).