Customs 'using new tech to smoothen Huanggang flow'

Advanced technologies and additional manpower have been deployed at Huanggang Port to ensure smooth border crossings, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat said on Saturday. Speaking after a Commercial Radio programme, he said customs clearances at the redeveloped port had been smooth. “We have deployed some staff from other control points," Chan said. "We have also employed some temp staff and retired officers to be deployed at the Huanggang Port to support the new operation. “We also employed some new technologies at our new control point. “We are seeing quite good effectiveness in deterrence of smuggling at the new Huanggang Port. "If these new equipment are effective, we intend to extend the application of these new detection devices to other control points.” Chan also said more than 600 million illicit cigarettes were seized in the first three quarters of the year – about the same as the full-year figure recorded in 2025. However, he pointed out that more than 200 million of them were not destined for Hong Kong, but were in the process of being transhipped to other places. Chan said the department had seen “very good enforcement results” so far this year and that he believed they would deter smugglers. Edited by Tony Sabine