The Government proposes to amend the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (IMSBC Code) Regulation to incorporate the latest requirements of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) into local legislation.
      
     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau today (March 22) said, "The IMSBC Code requires shippers to inform the ship master, prior to loading solid bulk cargoes onto a ship, whether the cargo being carried is harmful to the marine environment in accordance with the criteria set out at Annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. As the provision of such information has been exempted in the existing Regulation, there is a need to amend the Regulation to remove such exemption in order to implement the IMO's requirement."
      
     The Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development and the Hong Kong Fleet Operation Advisory Committee of the Marine Department have been consulted on the legislative proposal. Members supported the proposal.
      
     The proposed legislative amendment was gazetted today and will be tabled at the Legislative Council on March 27 for negative vetting.

     Renowned Greek dance theatre director Dimitris Papaioannou will bring his dance work "The Great Tamer" to Hong Kong for its local debut in June. The work, through unique choreography and visual arts, presents the relationship aroused in the context of life and death.
 
     In 2017, Papaioannou staged his first internationally co-commissioned work "The Great Tamer". This dreamlike production focuses on ancient and modern myths, conjuring a masterpiece of visual art based on the most powerful of creators: death. It features 10 performers whose flawless collaboration looks into the deepest, darkest parts of the human soul. This presentation is part an international tour which also includes the famed Festival d'Avignon in the south of France.
 
     Born in Athens, Greece, Papaioannou gained early recognition as a painter and comic artist before shifting his focus to the performing arts. He is a director, choreographer and performer as well as a designer of sets, costumes, make-up and lighting.
 
     Papaioannou was a student of iconic Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis before studying at the Athens School of Fine Arts. He formed the Edafos Dance Theatre in 1986 as an initial vehicle for his original stage productions, which are hybrids of physical theatre, experimental dance and performance arts. Originating in the underground scene, the company challenged the perceptions of the time. "Medea" (1993) marked the company's transition to more prestigious theatres and is considered its iconic work.
 
     Papaioannou became more widely known as the director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Refocusing on dance theatre in 2006 with his production "2", he found himself in the odd position of creating avant-garde works for major theatres in Athens. In 2009, he began using this platform to create theatrical experiments on a large scale, including "Nowhere" (2009) for the inauguration of the renovated National Theatre of Greece and "Inside" (2011) for the Pallas Theatre.
 
     "The Great Tamer" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The performances will be staged at 7.45pm on June 14 (Friday) and 15 (Saturday) at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets, priced from $200 to $580, are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_732.html. Please note that the programme contains loud noise and nudity scenes and is recommended for people aged 16 and above.
 
     Post-performance talk to be conducted in English will be held on June 14 (Friday) with Dimitris Papaioannou as the speaker. Members of the audience are welcome to stay behind for the session.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     With a global outlook and international connectivity, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals play an indispensable role in making Hong Kong the prime platform for Hungarian enterprises to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said at a Chinese New Year Reception in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday (March 21, Budapest time).

     The reception, hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, provided a good opportunity for over 100 Hungarian business leaders and chamber representatives to establish connections with a Hong Kong business and professional delegation and a parallel Guangdong delegation.

     Mr Yau said that Hong Kong has all along maintained close bilateral trade relations with Hungary, which is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Central and Eastern European region.

     He added that the Belt and Road Initiative is bringing about flourishing development in global trade and infrastructure. With Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems" and its traditional strengths as a maritime, trade, financial and services centre, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals can offer world-class services to Hungarian enterprises and explore the Belt and Road opportunities together.

     Mr Yau is leading a delegation comprising more than 30 business people and professionals as well as representatives of start-ups to visit Hungary.

     Before the reception, Mr Yau met with the Deputy Governor of Magyar Nemzeti Bank, Dr Ferenc Gerhardt; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr Levente Magyar; and the State Secretary for Financial Affairs of the Ministry of Finance of Hungary, Mr Gábor Gion, to learn about Hungary's monetary and fiscal policy and economic development plans as well as the overall investment and business environment in the region. He also took the opportunity to meet with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Hungary, Mr Duan Jielong, at a lunch meeting.

     In the morning, Mr Yau attended a briefing on investment opportunities and the economic outlook in Hungary with the delegation. In the afternoon, they visited Rail Cargo Hungaria Zrt to understand the logistics infrastructure development in Hungary. Rail Cargo Hungaria Zrt is a subsidiary of the Rail Cargo Group, a leading rail logistics specialist in Europe that links trade routes within Europe and from Europe to Asia. To strengthen its presence in the Far East, the Group exhibited at the China International Import Expo last year.

     This morning (March 22, Budapest time), the delegation will pay a visit to the plant of Johnson Electric Hungary Kft in Budapest to understand the investment and operating conditions of Hong Kong-based companies in Hungary. A listed company in Hong Kong since 1984, Johnson Electric Hungary Kft is one of the world's largest automotive component suppliers and one of the largest Hong Kong investors in Hungary.

     Before concluding the visit in the afternoon, the delegation will attend a networking lunch with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Budapest.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (March 23).

                

     The money service operator licence of a money changer was suspended today (March 21) by Hong Kong Customs for suspected contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO).

     Customs several months ago received information alleging that three shops of a money changer in Sham Shui Po and Cheung Sha Wan were suspected to have violated the AMLO.

     After in-depth investigation and evidence gathering, Customs officers found that the money changer was suspected to have violated the requirements under the AMLO and have failed to take all reasonable measures to mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing risks, and consequently its licensee may no longer be a fit and proper person to operate a money service.

     Customs officers today issued a notice in writing to the money changer to suspend its money service operator licence with immediate effect. Customs has also reminded the money changer to process the outstanding transactions and payments in an appropriate manner.

     Customs also found that the director of the money service operator was suspected of having applied a false trade description, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), to the remittance service supplied by making a false claim to a customer that the money would be remitted to the bank accounts designated by the customer, but failed to provide the service accordingly. A 47-year-old man was arrested by Customs today.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds all licensed money service operators to comply with the requirements of the AMLO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for seven years. Consumers are reminded to procure service from licensed money service operators. The register of licensees is accessible from the website of Customs' Money Service Operators Licensing System at eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/wsrh/001s1?request_locale=en.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer 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 violations of the AMLO or the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).