The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, visited Sham Shui Po this afternoon (March 29) to keep himself abreast of the latest developments in the district.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, Mr Ambrose Cheung, and the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Damian Lee, Mr Chan first visited So Uk Estate to learn about its environment-friendly and greening facilities, as well as conservation projects.

     Mr Chan then proceeded to the junction of Yen Chow Street West and Tung Chau Street to inspect the site for transitional housing and an automated car park.

     For the last leg of the visit, Mr Chan met with Sham Shui Po District Councillors to exchange views on local transport and housing issues.
 

     A man was fined $2,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (March 29) for contravening the Karaoke Establishments Ordinance.

     The courts heard that officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department posed as customers and patronised a karaoke establishment on Yau Tin East Road in Yuen Long in August last year. They also found audio-visual and other devices for karaoke activity in the premises.

     According to the OLA's records, the premises did not possess a valid permit or licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The man responsible for managing the karaoke establishment was therefore charged with contravening section 4(1) of the Ordinance.

     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing a karaoke establishment without a valid permit or licence is a criminal offence. Upon conviction, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine at level five and six months' imprisonment. The spokesman appealed to the public with information about suspected unlicensed karaoke establishments to report it to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498).

     A red tide has been sighted, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (March 29).
 
     Staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted the red tide at Shing Mun River Channel near Banyan Bridge on March 27. The red tide still persists and no associated death of fish has been reported so far.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Heterosigma akashiwo, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters.  According to overseas studies, this species might be capable of producing toxins which are harmful to fish."
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (March 29) attended the "ASEAN-China Governors/Mayors' Dialogue" session at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2019 in Hainan. She also visited a medical tourism facility in Boao and met with the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and the Governor of the Bank of Thailand.

     In the morning, Mrs Lam addressed the "ASEAN-China Governors/Mayors' Dialogue" session at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2019. She told the participants about the pivotal role Hong Kong can play in strengthening connections between Mainland China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). She said that Hong Kong set up in Bangkok its third Economic and Trade Office in ASEAN last month and that ratification of its Free Trade Agreement signed with ASEAN at the end of 2017 is making good progress. She expressed the hope that Hong Kong can go further by joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in due course, creating a bigger economic pie for Hong Kong, ASEAN and related signatory states. She also encouraged ASEAN to make use of Hong Kong's world-class financial and professional services to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative together.

     After the session, Mrs Lam and the other officials visited the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone where they toured the exhibition centre, the traditional Chinese medicine clinic and the hospital, and received briefings on the zone's operation. The state-level pilot zone was founded in 2013 with the approval of the State Council to develop international medical tourism-related industries including healthcare, elderly services and scientific research on a trial basis, providing an ecosystem with low carbon emission and encouraging co-operation and exchanges in relevant aspects at home and abroad. Given that the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area includes the creation of an environment favourable for Hong Kong and Macao residents to retire in Guangdong and promotion of the integration of medical and elderly care in the Greater Bay Area by providing comprehensive facilities for healthy ageing, Mrs Lam said the development model of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone has considerable reference value.

     Mrs Lam then met with the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Mr Liu Cigui, and congratulated him on the successful hosting of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2019. She said that Hong Kong and Hainan have close ties with frequent exchanges of people, goods and capital and that the two sides are actively exploring more collaboration in various aspects including tourism, economic and trade affairs and youth exchanges with a view to further strengthening the close ties of the two places.

     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam met the Governor of the Bank of Thailand, Dr Veerathai Santiprabhob. Stressing that Hong Kong is an international financial centre and the world's largest offshore Renminbi (RMB) hub, she welcomed Thailand enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's capital raising platform and issue RMB bonds in Hong Kong as well as make use of Hong Kong's RMB clearing and settlement system for RMB trade settlement with Mainland enterprises. She also encouraged companies from Thailand to actively make use of Hong Kong's financial services including insurance and asset and wealth management.

     Mrs Lam concluded her visit and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

              

     The Government announced today (March 29) that the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury has appointed Ms Joan Ho Yuk-wai and Professor Tam Kar-yan as panel members of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Review Tribunal for a three-year term with effect from April 1, 2019.
 
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, said, "Professor Tam and Ms Ho have a strong public service record. I am confident that their expertise and experience will contribute to the effective operation of the tribunal."
 
     Mr Lau also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing members, Mr Wilson Fung Ying-wai and Professor Lam Kit-chun, for their valuable contributions over the years.
 
     The Tribunal was established under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615) to review decisions made under the Ordinance by a relevant authority (including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, the Insurance Authority, and the Customs and Excise Department) to take disciplinary action against a financial institution, any decision of the Commissioner of Customs and Excise on licensing matters in respect of money service operators, and any decision of the Registrar of Companies on licensing matters in respect of trust or company service providers.