​​     Regarding the recent rumours relating to remote access of chip data of new smart identity cards, the Immigration Department (ImmD) yesterday (July 18) issued the following clarification:

​​     The ImmD reiterated that the new smart identity card has adopted multi-level safeguards to ensure comprehensive protection of the privacy of personal data stored in the chip of the identity card, and the identity verification process is absolutely secure and accurate.

​​     Under the Next Generation Smart Identity Card System (SMARTICS-2), only authorised optical card readers are able to read the personal data from the chip of new smart identity cards. Readers are not possible to access the chip data if they are not authorised with certificate and equipped with the specific algorithm, no matter how sophisticated they are.

​​     Moreover, access to chip data must be initiated by the cardholder through taking out his/her smart identity card and placing it onto an authorised optical card reader. The reading process is conducted with the combination of optical card reader and wireless transmission technology. Before communication and data reading, the identity of the chip and the optical card reader must be defined and mutually authenticated. All communication and data transmission would be encrypted throughout the whole process. The chip in the new smart identity card is a passive type which means it is not powered by any standalone battery. Without power, it is not able to send out any signal by itself. During the whole communication and data transmission process, the distance between the chip and the optical card reader must be less than 2 cm. As such, if the cardholder does not take out the new smart identity card, it is impossible for others to remotely read the chip data of the new smart identity card without notice by the cardholder.
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     At different stages of the implementation of the SMARTICS-2, the ImmD has engaged independent consultants to conduct assessments on privacy impacts and information technology security with a view to ensuring that the system design and work flow comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance as well as the relevant standards and guidelines laid down by the Office of the Government Chief Information Office. The assessments conducted by independent consultants have confirmed that the safeguards adopted by the new smart identity card have effectively prevented unauthorised access to personal data stored inside the chip of the smart identity card through contactless interface.

​​     The ImmD noted that several individual groups in the community had distributed card protectors to the public free of charge, claiming it would block radio frequency identification (RFID) to prevent unauthorised access to personal data stored in new smart identity cards. The ImmD reiterated that there is no case of unauthorised access to the new smart identity card. The relevant message is misleading and thus clarified as above.

     Police today (July 18) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kowloon City.

     Yeung Chor-bing, aged 69, went missing after she left an elderly home on Waterloo Road last night (July 17). Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.5 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and grey short hair. She was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved T-shirt, dark blue trousers and white shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement today (July 18) on the review of patient treatment plans:

     HA received a notification from Kowloon West Cluster that since the reference range of Short Synacthen Test was updated on April 25, there have been concerns that the updated information has not been communicated effectively among the parties concerned. As a prudent measure, KWC has proactively reviewed all relevant test results, and found that 45 patients from Princess Margaret Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre and Yan Chai Hospital might be affected. The three hospitals have been contacting patients to arrange follow up on the patients' clinical condition and treatment plans, to ensure they are receiving optimal treatment.

     The Short Synacthen Test is one of multiple references for clinicians to make a diagnosis. Clinicians also consider other test results and the patient's clinical condition to formulate a treatment plan. It is anticipated that there is no impact on the clinical outcomes of the patients concerned.

     HA has not found any similar events in other public hospitals. HA will review and undertake improvement measures to avoid reoccurrence of similar event.
 

     The 8th Hong Kong Thematic Film Festival, entitled "Masters and Apprentices: Succession and Continuity in Hong Kong Cinema", was launched tonight (July 18) at Broadway Cinematheque MOMA in Beijing. The film festival is jointly presented by the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (the Beijing Office) and Broadway Cinematheque. 

     The theme of this year's film festival is the long-standing master-apprentice relationship in Hong Kong's film industry. Movies from various times produced by master directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers and musicians and their apprentices will be screened in 16 cities in the Mainland to promote Hong Kong's film culture and foster closer exchanges between the film industries in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

     The opening ceremony was officiated by the Acting Director of the Beijing Office, Miss Pamela Lam; the Executive Director of Edko Films Limited, Ms Tessa Lau; the Director of Broadway Cinematheque, Mr Clarence Tsui; noted directors Fruit Chan and Joe Ma; up-and-coming director Sunny Chan; and veteran producer Jacqueline Liu. The opening film, "Still Human", was a winner in the Higher Education Institution Group of Create Hong Kong's 3rd First Feature Film Initiative and has won various film awards. Fruit Chan, who produced the film, exchanged views on filmmaking with the audience after the screening.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Miss Lam said that the master-apprentice relationship in the Hong Kong film industry has nurtured many talents. It has been a characteristic of the Hong Kong film industry through which Hong Kong filmmakers' passion and valuable experience can be passed on from one generation to another. 

     She also said that the relevant central authorities had agreed to five relaxation measures in facilitating the entry of Hong Kong films and film practitioners into the Mainland market this April. That was another round of further relaxation measures offered by the Mainland authorities for the Hong Kong film industry since the implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and its Supplements. Miss Lam called on the industry to grasp the opportunities brought about by the new measures, and to further the development of the film industries in the two places and produce more quality movies for the public. 

     A total of 12 movies will be screened by the film festival this year, namely the opening film "Still Human", "Little Cheung", "The New One-Armed Swordsman", "Just Heroes", "Chinese Odyssey 2002", "Final Victory", "As Tears Go By", "Mad World", "The Lion Roars", "Men on the Dragon", "City on Fire" and "Accident". The movies will be screened from July 18 to August 4 at Broadway Cinematheque MOMA and Broadway Cinema (apm store) in Beijing.

     After the Beijing leg, the film festival will be presented at Jinan, Tianjin, Chongqing, Wuxi, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Dalian, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Kunming, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha and Ningbo, lasting until the end of this year.

        

     Spanish filmgoers are being introduced to Hong Kong movies, thanks in part to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), which is supporting the 16th Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic, Spain, that began on July 15 and will run until July 21 (Vic time). 
      
     The Asian Summer Film Festival features 32 films this year, of which six are Hong Kong productions or co-productions.
      
     Officiating at the Night of Hong Kong Film on July 17 (Vic time), the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Mr Sam Hui, thanked the organisers for their efforts in bringing Hong Kong films to Spanish audiences.   
      
     Mr Hui said Hong Kong has one of the largest and most dynamic film entertainment industries in the world. In 2018, more than 50 locally produced films were released in Hong Kong, some of which are co-productions with Mainland China. The Hong Kong film industry can continue to flourish because of Hong Kong's diverse and international culture, its strong protection of freedom of expression and a solid legal system that protects the intellectual property rights of artists and producers. 
      
     The Night of Hong Kong Film featured the screening of Lee Chiu’s documentary, "I am the White Tiger", about English stuntman Mark Houghton, who is a martial arts legend in the Hong Kong film industry. This was followed by a screening of Pang Ho-cheung's film "Missbehavior". The evening concluded with an outdoor Cantonese dinner followed by the international premiere, at the Festival and on the online Movistar+ platform, of Yan Jia's film "The Knight of the Shadows, Between Yin and Yang".
      
     New this year at the festival is a "Sunday Marathon" on July 21, when a succession of movies will include two Hong Kong films, Kam Ka-wai's "Big Brother" and Chin Kar-lok's "Golden Job". There will also be a special screening of Ringo Lam's cult film "Full Contact" on July 19 (Vic time), as a tribute to the late director.