In connection with a murder case happened in Sha Tin on March 16, Police further arrested two more men and one woman.

     Police arrested a 25-year-old man at Hong Kong International Airport for murder yesterday (April 1). Police also arrested a 27-year-old woman at Hong Kong International Airport on March 23 and a 32-year-old man at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on March 24, both for assisting offenders.

     Investigation revealed that the three arrestees were in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Sha Tin on March 16 afternoon, in which a 52-year-old man died.

     The 25-year-old man is being detained for further enquiries; the 27-year-old woman was laid a holding charge with one count of “conspiracy to wound” and the case was mentioned at the Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts on March 26; the 32-year-old man has been released on bail pending further enquiries and is required to report back to Police in mid-April.

     Police arrested two other men and one woman, aged between 28 and 76, in suspected connection with the case earlier.

     Active investigation by the Regional Anti-Triad Unit of New Territories South is under way.

     With the support of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion (ACP), internationally renowned composer and conductor Tan Dun continued to curate large-scale performing arts productions in Hong Kong in 2024, and he also lined up a number of local young artists to participate in various international performances in Mainland China, Hungary, Canada and France, consolidating Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges.

     Tan today (April 2) shared the achievements of performances in Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas over the past year. He also introduced this year's major projects and engaged in a dialogue with some local young artists who have moved forward to global stages lined up by Tan, including pianist Rachel Cheung, soprano Candice Chung, percussionist Elise Liu, tenor Henry Ngan and bass-baritone Apollo Wong, sharing their experiences in the performances and how they benefited from them.

     Tan expressed that there are many talented young artists in Hong Kong. By introducing them to collaborate with artists from different regions, they can gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's unique cultural identity through the lens of arts. With his global perspective, Tan is committed to nurturing more promising local young artists, not only by providing them with a stage but also by fostering intellectual exchange and sharing innovative ideas. This, in turn, generates boundless vitality and possibilities for the future of Hong Kong's art scene.

     Last year, Tan curated the opening performance "Sound River" for the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Arts Festival in Hong Kong and also invited numerous local artists to join his performances across the globe, working alongside world-class symphony orchestras and renowned artists. The participating artists expressed heartfelt gratitude for these valuable opportunities, which allowed them to collaborate with Tan and esteemed creatives from around the globe. Highlights from the collaborations include tenor Henry Ngan's participation in the Hungarian premiere of Tan's "Buddha Passion" in Budapest last April, as well as violinist Liu Fangxi's performances in concerts in Changsha and Qingdao last July, collaborating with artists of diverse cultural backgrounds in a string quartet. Soprano Candice Chung and pianist Rachel Cheung, together with the New York Bard Percussion Ensemble and Mainland artists, performed the "Deer of Nine Colours" and "Xuanzan's Return to the East" at the "Opera and Dance Theatre" programme in Qingdao and at a concert in Shanghai last July and August respectively. Soprano Louise Kwong, mezzo-soprano Samantha Chong and bass-baritone Apollo Wong participated in the performance of "Buddha Passion" last November in Vancouver, Canada. Also, Soprano Candice Chung and percussionist Karen Yu took part in the world premiere of "Échos des grottes de Mogao" at the Guimet – National Museum of Asian Arts in France last December, where they presented the rich Chinese culture of Jiuquan's Mogao Caves to local audiences.

     Tan has been appointed as Hong Kong's first ACP by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau since January 1, 2023, and has introduced 15 local young artists to participate in 27 performances in Mainland China, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Canada, France and Italy since then.

     This year, the "Tan Dun-WE Festival" will return in June as part of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025, featuring three extraordinary performances, ranging from a Zen-inspired opera to dialogues between traditional and modern percussion, as well as ancient Dunhuang music and dances. Tan's newly formed Hong Kong Women's Percussion Ensemble and a number of local young musicians will also join in the performances, under the theme of "tea culture", leading audiences to appreciate the charm of tea through music.

     The LCSD aspires for the ACP initiative to provide local young artists with more invaluable opportunities to perform in Mainland China and overseas to enrich their experience and broaden their horizons, while showcasing Hong Kong's cultural soft power to the world through outstanding performances and telling good stories of Hong Kong through the arts.

                    

     The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced today (April 2) the following updated list of qualifying arbitral and dispute resolution institutions and permanent offices under Article 2(1) of the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Arrangement) effective from April 2, 2025, (listed in arbitrary order):

* Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
* Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group
* South China International Arbitration Center (HK)
* eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre
* Shanghai International Arbitration (Hong Kong) Center
* Asia Pacific International Arbitration Chamber Hong Kong Arbitration Center
* AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre
* China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center
* International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce – Asia Office

     Under the Arrangement signed on April 2, 2019, between the DoJ and the Supreme People's Court, parties to arbitral proceedings seated in Hong Kong and administered by eligible arbitral institutions which have been designated would be able to apply for interim measures from the relevant Mainland courts.

     The designation for institutions or permanent offices qualified under Article 2(1) of the Arrangement will be valid for a period of two years from the date of designation, ending on April 1, 2027, subject to further application for designation upon expiry. 

     Depending on the circumstances and operational considerations, the DoJ may update the list or consider future applications from time to time.

     For details, please visit the DoJ website.

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) today (April 2) invites the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) within three months for eco-tourism development proposals at ex-Lamma quarry site, South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui.
           
     The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address (PA) to promote island and coastal tourism in Hong Kong. Along with other initiatives to be spearheaded by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the DEVB has been working on the land use and project planning aspects of three projects under large-scale land disposal, which are to develop the ex-Lamma quarry site into an area for resort and outdoor recreational uses; to develop Cheung Sha, Pui O, Shui Hau and Shek Pik into the South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor; and to develop Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai into eco-tourism nodes.  

     This is the first time in recent years that the Government has initiated large-scale land disposal for the building of new tourism and recreation areas. The Government is also striving to make full use of corporate participation and market forces in the implementation. All three projects are on islands or coastal destinations in rural settings with rich natural resources and water bodies. They all present opportunities for the Government to collaborate with the private sector in promoting tourism and recreational developments while capitalising on local and rural characteristics.  

     A spokesman for the DEVB said, "We are also launching these three EOIs before commencing any statutory planning process. This goes to demonstrate the Government's goodwill to garner feedback from the market before finalising development requirements. It is believed that this process would help ensure the ultimate development schemes to be more attuned to market interests and considerations."

     The three projects have different positionings and content, accommodating varying market interests: 
     
Ex-Lamma Quarry Site

     Its tranquil seaside location in a rural island setting, wealth of tourism and recreation resources particularly a large man-made lake, and proximity to the urban area have rendered this site suitable for development as a high-end lakefront and hillside resort, to be complemented by a world-class marina and low-rise luxury housing. The initiative aims to help promote yacht tourism on the one hand, and also help support the development of island hopping in Hong Kong. For this EOI, we will consult the market on ways to optimise the use of the site by suitably incorporating the above-mentioned elements in its overall development and synergising with other attractions in the area. On implementation, it is proposed to adopt a single-developer approach for this project. In other words, the 25-hectare site would be sold by public tender to one single developer or consortium. This approach could facilitate a more co-ordinated and holistic design for the entire development, and expedite the provision of necessary infrastructure by leveraging market forces, while enabling the future developer to enjoy a high degree of flexibility in land-use allocation.

South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor

     The South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor project aims to make good use of the rich natural ecological, cultural and historical resources along the southern coast of Lantau. It provides a variety of recreation and eco-tourism facilities in Cheung Sha, Pui O, Shui Hau and Shek Pik with a view to shaping South Lantau into a one-of-a-kind leisure and recreation destination as well as bringing more experiences to the general public and tourists. On implementation, developers or consortiums may adopt a cluster approach to develop the entire areas or only focus on individual or multiple ecological and recreational facilities. This approach not only enhances the flexibility of project implementation, but also accelerates the development of the eco-recreation corridor.

Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai Eco-tourism Nodes
     
     The proposal to develop two Eco-tourism Nodes at Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai was generally supported in the public engagement exercise on the Broad Land Use Concept Plan for the Lau Fau Shan area in 2024, with the former to be positioned as a "Thematic Activity Node" and the latter a "Tranquil Scenic Node". This EOI exercise aims to collect market proposals based on the more detailed development parameters for these two Nodes the Government has formulated following the public engagement. On implementation, given the substantial sizes of the two Eco-tourism Nodes (87 hectares for Tsim Bei Tsui and 33 hectares for Pak Nai), the future developer(s) may develop and operate the whole or part(s) of the Tsim Bei Tsui Eco-tourism Node, the whole or part(s) of the Pak Nai Eco-tourism Node, or the whole or part(s) of both Eco-tourism Nodes.  In other words, there can be more than one developer.

     "These three projects have different development scales, characteristics, objectives, timelines and deliverables (a table summarising major parameters is at the Annex). Through the three EOI exercises, we hope to collect market views and suggestions on the respective developments early in order to formulate appropriate development parameters and implementation details for incorporation into statutory plans and land tender documents."

     "We would also like to have market feedback on alternative implementation approaches that can help speed up the developments. For example, in the case of ex-Lamma quarry site, we are proposing to launch the land tender right after the Government's substantial completion of the statutory planning process, while facilitating the successful bidder to complete the remaining statutory procedures with our assistance and support. Such an approach can allow the successful bidder to start a detailed design and other preparatory works while the remaining statutory procedures are underway," the spokesman added.

     The Invitation Documents for the EOIs have been uploaded onto the following websites:

(a) Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai Eco-tourism Nodes (www.nm.gov.hk/en/high-end-professional-services-and-logistics-hub#c2);
(b) Ex-Lamma Quarry site (www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/index.html); and
(c) South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor (www.lantau.gov.hk/en/our-projects/leisure-and-recreation/eco-recreation-corridor/index.html). 
      
     Interested parties must submit their EOIs by noon on July 2 (Wednesday).
    
     The DEVB will hold three briefing sessions, one for each of the EOI invitations on April 14 (Monday). For details of the briefings, please refer to the respective Invitation Documents for the three EOIs.
           
     Taking account of the views and suggestions received through the EOI exercises, the DEVB will suitably refine the development parameters and requirements for the three projects. The land tender arrangements and timings will be firmed up thereafter, with reference to the market feedback received.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 1) in Wong Tai Sin shut down a suspected dangerous drugs distribution centre, seizing different kinds of suspected narcotics including the "space oil drug", a batch of electronic cigarette devices and suspected drug packaging paraphernalia with a total estimated market value of about $7 million. Two men suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
      
     During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in the vicinity of Wong Tai Sin yesterday, Customs officers intercepted a 19-year-old man and found about 1.1 kilograms of suspected crack cocaine, 1kg of suspected cocaine, 1 500 tablets of suspected ecstasy, 100 grams of suspected ecstasy powder, and 102 electronic cigarette devices containing suspected cannabis oil inside a suitcase carried by him. He was then arrested. Customs officers later escorted the arrested man to a nearby public housing unit where he lived for a search, and further seized 129 suspected "space oil drug" capsules, about 5kg of suspected cocaine, about 200g of suspected crack cocaine, 80 electronic cigarette devices, and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. Another man, aged 54, inside the unit was also arrested.
      
     An investigation is ongoing.
      
     Customs will continue to step up enforcement and stringently combat against trafficking of the "space oil drug". If public rental housing units are found to be involved in drug trafficking crimes, Customs will notify the Housing Department for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).