The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (June 18) urged eligible persons who have not yet registered as electors to submit applications for new registration by the statutory deadline of July 2 so that their registration particulars can be included in the final register to be released in September this year, and they can vote in the District Council Ordinary Election to be held in November.
 
     "Hong Kong permanent residents holding an identity document who have reached 18 years of age and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong are eligible to register as electors. When registering as an elector, the person will also become an elector in the District Council (Second) Functional Constituency, commonly known as the Super District Council.
 
     "In addition to residential addresses, electors should also provide their telephone numbers and email addresses to the REO, so that the REO can contact them more promptly and efficiently if necessary, and they may receive election mail from candidates via email," a spokesman for the REO said.
 
     The REO continues to implement checking measures in the current voter registration cycle and has issued inquiry letters to some 78 000 electors. To remind electors of the importance of the inquiry letters, all envelopes of the letters are stamped with the prominent reminder message: "Immediate action required. Your voting right is at stake". Using other contact information provided by the electors under inquiry, the REO has also contacted them via telephone, mobile phone short message service, email or fax to remind them to respond as soon as possible. Electors under inquiry are urged to respond by July 2 so that their registration status can be retained.
 
     Application forms for voter registration can be obtained from the REO, District Offices and the management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk).
 
     Completed forms can be submitted by mail to the REO at 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, by fax to 2891 1180 or by email to form@reo.gov.hk.
 
     For enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001.

     In response to online circulation and newspaper reports that registered electors have lost their registration status due to issues with the Immigration Department (ImmD)'s computer system in the course of replacement of smart identity cards, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) made the following clarifications:

(1) The REO confirms that no registered electors have lost their registration status as electors due to the replacement of smart identity cards.

(2) From December 27, 2018, to May 31, 2019, a total of about 280,000 electors had, in the course of replacing their smart identity cards, authorised the ImmD to transfer their particulars to the REO for the purpose of updating the registers of electors. The REO was notified on June 3 that due to technical issues with the ImmD's computer system, data of only 50,000 electors had been transferred from the ImmD to the REO. The ImmD later transferred the data of the remaining 230,000 electors to the REO on June 5.

(3) The REO is in the process of checking comprehensively the electors' particulars transferred by the ImmD. If the particulars differ from those shown in the register of electors, the REO will contact the electors concerned through different means (including letter, telephone or email) to verify and update their registered particulars in the register of electors. The relevant work is in progress. The REO emphasises that the status of registered electors will not be revoked unilaterally. As at June 17, the REO had finished conducting checks against the particulars of about 20,000 electors. In accordance with the checking results, the registered addresses of about 10 per cent of the checked electors require updating. If electors are in doubt, they may log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) anytime to check their registration status and particulars, or contact the REO for enquiries.

(4) The REO calls on electors who have received letters from the REO requesting them to update their registered addresses to respond as instructed in the letter and provide the requisite documents. The REO will also remind and assist the affected electors to change their registered addresses from August 1 to 25 (i.e., from the publication of provisional registers of electors until the end of public inspection), with a view to updating the particulars in the registers of electors in time for the District Council Election to be held this year. This notwithstanding, if the addresses could not be updated in time, the affected electors can still vote in their original constituencies.

     The REO attaches great importance to the accuracy and integrity of the particulars of registered electors. The REO will continue to, through various channels, remind registered electors to report change of registration particulars and to submit address proof upon application for change of registered address. The REO also appeals to all who are eligible to register as electors through various publicity channels.

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, attended as a member the first meeting of the task force on the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (task force) in Beijing today (June 18) to discuss work related to the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area. The Acting Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mrs Millie Ng, sat in at the meeting.
 
     Mr Yang thanked the relevant Central Authorities, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology, for their staunch support for Hong Kong's innovation and technology development. He also reported to the task force the work progress in developing an international innovation and technology hub in Hong Kong, including the setting up of two world-class research clusters on healthcare technologies and artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, developing technological infrastructures, and facilitating the flow of key factors of scientific research within the Greater Bay Area. Mr Yang said he hoped that the Central Government would continue to support Hong Kong in this regard.

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
 
     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (June 18) issued the following statement:
 
     The ExCo Non-official Members note that the Chief Executive has further responded on the legislative amendment exercise on the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and that she has pledged to redouble her efforts in balancing the diverse interests of society and listening to people from all walks of life, as well as to walk forward with the community with one heart and one mind.
 
     The ExCo Non-official Members will, in their best endeavours, assist the Chief Executive in the long-term interest of Hong Kong. They also hope that the community can restore its calm and put aside disputes so that different sectors of the community and the Government can once again focus on important economic and livelihood matters.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a joint operation with the customs administrations of the European Union (EU) member states from June 3 to 16 to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities destined for the EU member states. A total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $670,000 were seized.

     Hong Kong Customs has been working closely with the customs administrations in the EU to exchange intelligence and formulate enforcement strategies for combating cross-border counterfeiting activities under the EU-Hong Kong Action Plan.  

     Hong Kong Customs carried out targeted enforcement action during the period with the customs administrations of 10 EU member states, namely Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, to step up inspection against suspicious goods destined for the EU member states.

     During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones and accessories, watches, clothing, leather goods and footwear, and effectively curbed cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).