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Kahon Chan

Danny Mok

Hong Kong’s new customs chief has pledged to bolster efforts to crack down on the smuggling of the increasingly popular narcotic “space oil” and illicit cigarettes, while also ensuring the smooth clearance of goods to support the city’s status as a global trading hub.
Chan Tsz-tat, 54, took the reins of the 7,500-strong Customs and Excise Department on Tuesday after Beijing approved his appointment to succeed chief Louise Ho Pui-shan, who turned 57, the retirement age for members of the disciplined services.
“It is a great honour for me to take over the post of commissioner. I sincerely thank the Central People’s Government for the appointment and the chief executive for his trust and nomination,” Chan, who was previously one of the two deputy commissioners at the agency, said during a press briefing.
“I will earnestly fulfil my duties, work diligently, live up to my mission and trust, and lead the team of the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department to meet various challenges and opportunities.”
The new chief promised to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement, including cracking down harder on the smuggling of space oil, an emerging drug commonly packaged as e-cigarette capsules and containing the prescription anaesthetic etomidate.
Customs would also ramp up efforts to curb illicit cigarette smuggling, Chan said, noting his department’s officers had recorded more than 19,000 cases at border control points since the start of the year, nearly double the number in the same period a year ago.
“I will lead customs in carrying on the important missions in safeguarding national security, homeland and social security, and economic security, and safeguarding the country’s southern gateway,” he said, adding the agency would continue to ensure the smooth operation of goods clearance to support the city’s status as a global logistics and trading hub.
Chan said he had met the unions of the disciplined services on Tuesday, hours after being sworn in by the chief executive.
Noting current manpower levels “barely” coped with the present workload, the commissioner said the department would continue its recruitment drive and he was confident the agency could manage the extra demand created by the opening of a new terminal at the airport late next year.
According to news agency Xinhua, Chan’s appointment was made by the State Council on Tuesday, based on the recommendation of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.
“Mr Chan has served in the Customs and Excise Department for 30 years and has extensive experience in departmental operations,” Lee said.
“He possesses solid management and leadership skills. I am confident that he will lead the department in meeting the challenges ahead.”
The city leader also thanked Ho, the first woman to rise through the ranks to lead one of the city’s six disciplined services, for the distinguished results achieved under her leadership and wished her a happy retirement.
In a joint statement, eight unions representing customs officers expressed their support for Chan, while praising Ho for her “leadership excellence” and “utmost concern” for frontline officers.

Chan joined the department in 1994 as an inspector. In 2008, he was seconded to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to help promote Hong Kong as a wine trading hub.
In 2011, he became the head of customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau. In 2013, he led the department’s service prosecution group.
He was appointed senior staff officer for information technology in 2016 and the following year took on the role of head of ports and maritime command.
Chan was promoted to assistant commissioner in charge of boundary and ports in January 2019 before he was named assistant commissioner in charge of intelligence and investigation in May 2020.
He was promoted to deputy commissioner in October 2021 and was responsible for management and strategic development.
Earlier this month, Ho led a delegation to South Africa to attend the World Customs Organization (WCO) meeting, during which a number of cooperation agreements were reached with other customs administrations. She also visited Saudi Arabia.
In June, Ho led a delegation to the 143rd and 144th sessions of the Customs Cooperation Council in Brussels, where her department was elected as the WCO vice-chair for the Asia-Pacific region. Customs officially assumed the role in July for a two-year term until June 2026.
The main responsibilities include driving regional development agendas and coordinating regional affairs.
Ho’s husband, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, was among the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials sanctioned by the United States over Beijing’s introduction of the national security law in the city in June 2020.


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Society

Chan Tsz-tat also pledges to combat trade in illegal cigarettes as he takes over from Louise Ho, who is retiring


Chan Tsz-tat also pledges to combat trade in illegal cigarettes as he takes over from Louise Ho, who is retiring.


New head of Hong Kong customs vows to crack down on smuggling of ‘space oil’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chan Tsz-tat also pledges to combat trade in illegal cigarettes as he takes over from Louise Ho, who is retiring

Chan Tsz-tat also pledges to combat trade in illegal cigarettes as he takes over from Louise Ho, who is retiring