Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (May 9) that it will start to accept applications for the Next Generation Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Electronic Passport (e-Passport) and Electronic Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (e-Doc/I) from May 14 onwards. The time required for processing such applications will be shortened from 10 to five working days.
      
     The new e-Passport and e-Doc/I will continue to be produced in compliance with the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization, with the holder’s personal data and facial image stored in digital form in the contactless chip embedded in the back cover of the documents. Meanwhile, the security features of the new documents will be further enhanced. For example, a specially made transparent window with the holder’s portrait engraved thereon by laser engraving technology will be added to the bio-data page, of which the main theme is the Golden Bauhinia Square. In addition, full colour UV printing technology will be adopted for visa pages, on which a night view of the northern part of Hong Kong Island will appear under UV light.
      
     To further enhance the service standards, the ImmD has provided additional means for submitting e-Passport applications. Apart from the existing application means, eligible applicants can also submit applications through the ImmD Mobile App starting from May 14.  ew Travel Document Submission Kiosks will also be put into service at Immigration Headquarters and Immigration Branch Offices from the same day onwards. Apart from the photo scanning function for photos brought by applicants, the new kiosks are also equipped with a self-service photo-taking function. Eligible applicants with height of 1.25 metre or more may choose to use the photo-taking function free of charge. The kiosks also employ Octopus payment function, providing an alternative payment option for the public.
      
     “The application fees for the e-Passport and e-Doc/I will remain unchanged,” a spokesman of the ImmD said.
      
     “The existing versions of e-Passports and e-Doc/Is will remain valid until their expiry. To avoid any delays, the ImmD reminds Hong Kong residents who have plans to travel to check for ample validity of their existing documents beforehand and apply for new ones early if necessary,” the spokesman added. read more

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee, Mr Guo Yonghang, at Government House this afternoon (May 9). The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, were also present.

     Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Guo’s visit to Hong Kong. She said that she visited cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area including Zhuhai in late March last year, during which the trips to the rapidly developing Hengqin and the Zhuhai section of the then yet-to-open Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge were the highlights. She said that the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has substantially reduced the travelling time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai, opening up more aspects for co-operation and creating extremely favourable conditions for the development of the Greater Bay Area. In particular, enhancing the synergy between Hong Kong International Airport and Zhuhai Airport which is managed by the Airport Authority Hong Kong and strengthening their strategic co-operation in passenger and cargo traffic will be conducive to the development of a world-class airport cluster in the Greater Bay Area, she said.

     In addition, Mrs Lam encouraged Zhuhai to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages in innovation and technology, higher education and healthcare services and deepen co-operation with Hong Kong to add new impetus to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Housing Authority (HA) has been following up closely on the conversion of storerooms and exploring various ways for better utilisation of the storerooms so as to make good use of resources and address community needs. Accompanied by the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Miss Rosaline Wong, the Chairman of the HA’s Commercial Properties Committee (CPC), Ms Tennessy Hui, and various CPC members today (May 9) visited Shun Lee and Shun Tin Estates in Kwun Tong to understand the latest developments of such conversions.
 
     Members of the CPC first visited the converted flats at Lee Cheung House at Shun Lee Estate. A total of 15 public rental housing (PRH) units there, ranging from 33 square metres to 41 sq m, have been converted from storerooms and empty bays. Members said they were pleased to note that technical staff of the Housing Department (HD) had adopted various measures including optimising the fenestration area to enhance the provision of natural lighting and ventilation so as to overcome the effect of insufficient headroom. The completed units are now ready for allocation.
 
     Members then visited the former kindergarten premises on the ground and first floors of Tin Kam House at Shun Tin Estate. They said they were pleased to learn that the ground floor of the premises would be converted into a neighbourhood elderly centre, while the first floor would be converted into six PRH units.
 
     Members then went to Yan Tin Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun for its official opening.
 
     Yan Tin Shopping Centre comprises 22 shops and a single operator market on two storeys, with a total lettable area of about 4 200 sq m. The shopping centre was completed in March 2018 and has opened for business gradually, featuring different trades including a supermarket, eateries, a convenience store, a pharmacy, a clinic and a self-service bank, addressing the daily needs of the residents.
 
     The HD has been organising visits to the HA’s non-domestic facilities for members of the HA’s CPC from time to time to enable them to gain first-hand knowledge of their operation.

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee (FC) originally scheduled at 3pm tomorrow (May 10) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo … read more

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Europe Day Reception this evening (May 9):

Ms Cano (Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, Ms Carmen Cano), Commissioner Song (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Song Ru’an), consuls general, your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good evening.

     It is a pleasure to be with you today, in honour of Europe Day – and in recognition of the bounty that peace has brought to the continent. 

     We celebrate, as well, the deep-rooted ties that bind Hong Kong and the European Union (EU) – 28 nations, each with a voice, an ear and a heart for the people, and the future, of Hong Kong. Indeed, 17 EU countries maintain an official representation here.

     That, I’d say, is remarkable testimony to the importance we place on ensuring the continuity of those ties. 

     There is also a compelling financial incentive for both sides of course. 

     I’m pleased to note that last year, bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and the EU totalled about €77 billion, up nearly 10 per cent, year on year. Indeed, the EU, as a single entity, is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner, in both goods and services, after only the Mainland of China. 

     Our bilateral investment also speaks of the healthy relations we enjoy. Hong Kong’s stock of outward direct investment in the EU totalled about €63 billion at the end of 2017. 

     At the same time, the EU accounted for 8.8 per cent of the inward direct investment (IDI) into Hong Kong, with an IDI stock in excess of €151 billion. 

     Where there is capital, companies will follow. Hong Kong, I’m pleased to report, is home to more than 2 200 EU companies. About half of them use Hong Kong as their regional headquarters or regional office. 

     They’re here, and you’re here, because Hong Kong proudly flies the flag of free trade. Earlier this year, the Heritage Foundation named Hong Kong the world’s freest economy for the 25th year in a row. 

     You take confidence, as well, in the rule of law and our independent judiciary, in our level playing field for businesses and the low and simple tax regime we present.  

     It helps, too, that Hong Kong continues to create outsized business opportunities, thanks to our “one country, two systems” unique arrangement and the singular advantages it gives us. 

     In February, the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was announced. It promises much for Hong Kong and the companies that partner with us. 

     The Plan, which emphasises complimentary development among the 11 member cities covering Hong Kong, Macao, and nine cities in the Guangdong province, calls for Hong Kong to lead the way in several sectors, including financial services and trade and transport. It also supports Hong Kong’s role in innovation and technology – in helping in the Greater Bay Area’s rise as an international hub in this aspect. 

     With a population of some 70 million people, the Greater Bay Area is larger than the Tokyo and San Francisco Bay Areas combined. Its collective GDP is about €1.4 trillion, similar to that of Korea. 

     By 2030, the Greater Bay Area’s GDP is forecast to reach €4.1 trillion, close to that of Japan in 2017. 

     First, of course, we must harness the region’s boundless promise. It’s a challenge Hong Kong has eagerly accepted. And I invite the countries, and the companies, of the EU to join us in building the Greater Bay Area into a global economic powerhouse. 

     Hong Kong is also the financing, risk management and professional services hub for infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. You can learn more about this at the fourth Belt and Road Summit, which will take place here in Hong Kong on September 11 and 12. I would like to invite you all to join us. 

     There are other good reasons for Hong Kong and the EU to come together, and culture is high among them. 

     We are blessed, year-round, with an enviable variety of arts and cultural events from all over the EU. Le French May Festival, for example, opened just a few days ago and continues right through June, packed full of art, film, theatre, dance, and of course fabulous food and wine. 

     Before we turn to the joy of sweets and drinks here, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast: “To the people of the European Union.” read more