New customs chief Louise Ho Pui-shan says she will strive to safeguard national security, combat terrorism and step up clearance work at border points.
Ho, 53, the wife of Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, is the first female commissioner of customs and excise.
She was the deputy commissioner before Beijing approved her new appointment.
She is also the second internally promoted customs chief following her predecessor, Hermes Tang Yi-hoi.
Being the customs chief means Ho will also sit on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, which oversees the enforcement of the security law.
In a 40-minute briefing on the first day in her new role, Ho said the security law has been highly effective as the number of guns, ammunition and helmets seized at the border has dropped since its introduction on June 30 last year.
But terrorism and dangers still exist as some people use posters and "soft forces" to spread messages jeopardizing national security, Ho said.
"Some with ulterior motives or those who have not given up might use soft forces like books, magazines and daily necessities to spread messages endangering national security," Ho said. Her department has set up a new internal platform to help officers learn more about safeguarding national security, Ho said.
She expects officers to take the initiative to prevent, curb and punish acts that may endanger national security, citing the recent seizure of Australian lobsters as an example.
"On the face of it, it seems to be an ordinary smuggling case of smuggling lobsters. But actually these smuggling activities would undermine the country's trade restrictions on Australia. So combating smuggling activities is an important task in safeguarding national security," she said.
Ho said a hotline has been set up with their mainland counterparts to fight smuggling and noted that smugglers may change tactics by using fishing and cargo vessels instead of speed boats.
She said customs is equipped with a radar system to command ships on sea, and radar data will be provided to mainland authorities if the speed boats are found to have entered the mainland.
Measures will also be implemented at ports to facilitate clearances, Ho said, adding the department will continue its cooperation with the Shenzhen municipal government on the redevelopment of Huanggang Port.
Ho said she will put emphasis on a "smart customs'' by incorporating technologies such as big data analysis and artificial intelligence to enhance the department's law enforcement and administration efficiencies.
Supporting the work of the frontline is also one of her major priorities. "We will upgrade our equipment, improve human resources management, workflow and staff benefits to enable our support for the frontline work to be more efficient," she said.
Ho said the department will put effort into the coming two important elections - the Legislative Council elections on December 19 and the chief executive election on March 27 - as well as the celebration activities of the SAR's 25th anniversary next year. She did not elaborate.
Ho said she has already met the representatives of seven customs' unions after her oath-taking ceremony yesterday morning, adding she is committed to nurturing future leaders and continuing the mission of promoting the customs chief within the department.
Asked whether she wants to be part of the government after her work as the customs chief, Ho said it is too early to talk about her future plans.
Ho replaced Tang, who is retiring after 34 years of service at the department. She joined customs as an inspector in February 1991 and was promoted to superintendent in 2010, senior superintendent in 2013, assistant commissioner in 2017 and deputy commissioner in 2019.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor praised Ho for her "solid management and leadership skills" and said she is confident she will lead the force in challenges ahead.
Eight customs unions said they full support Ho.
carine.chow@singtaonewscorp.com
