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     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (December 23) laid a charge against a Mainland fisherman on board a Mainland fishing vessel suspected of engaging in illegal fishing in Hong Kong waters north of Wong Mau Chau.

     AFCD and the Marine Police officers mounted a joint anti-illegal fishing operation in the above-mentioned waters last night (December 22), a Mainland fishing vessel suspected to be carrying out illegal fishing by cage traps was intercepted for investigation at about 8.30pm. Some fishing gear was seized on board.

     A charge was laid against the Mainland fisherman, who was suspected to have violated the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) (the Ordinance). The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 24).

     Only vessels registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters. Regardless of the type of fishing gear used, a non-local fishing vessel is not allowed to carry out fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. Any offender upon conviction is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     An AFCD spokesman said, “The Government is committed to cracking down on illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will maintain close co-operation with relevant law enforcement departments and step up patrols and stringently enforce the law.”

  

     According to the report “Hong Kong Innovation Activities Statistics 2020” released today (December 23) by the Census and Statistics Department, the gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) of Hong Kong in 2020 amounted to $26,554 million, representing an increase of around 25 per cent compared with the corresponding figure in 2017, having increased from $26,333 million in 2019 despite the epidemic in 2020. The GERD as a ratio to the Gross Domestic Product increased to 0.99 per cent in 2020.
      
     A government spokesman said, “Innovation and technology (I&T) is a key policy area of the current-term Government. We have unprecedentedly invested over $130 billion in developing infrastructure, promoting research and development, nurturing talent, and supporting the industry, and more, thereby striving to enhance the I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong. Although Hong Kong was affected by the pandemic in 2020, different sectors have been proactively embracing the challenges, continuing to leverage our strength in technology to enhance their competitiveness and business performance.”
      
     The spokesman also said that, with the support from the Central Government for Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T hub as mentioned in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which also included the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Loop as a major platform of co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Government would give full play to Hong Kong’s strengths and develop I&T with brand new mindset. A series of initiatives were announced in the 2021 Policy Address, including developing areas around Lok Ma Chau/San Tin synergistically with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park to form the San Tin Technopole, and set up an InnoLife Healthtech Hub.
      
     “The Government strives to enhance the I&T ecosystem. The Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology, established and chaired by the Chief Executive, regularly monitors progress including the implementation of the relevant measures under the Government’s eight major areas to develop I&T. These measures are expected to continue to bear fruits gradually,” the spokesman added. read more

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 23) raided an unlicensed cold store at Tai Shu Ha Road West, Yuen Long.

     During the operation, the FEHD arrested one person and initiated procedures on prosecution for operating an unlicensed cold store, and found about 9 900 kilograms of chilled poultry with official health certificates on the premises. In addition, about 139kg of chilled poultry offal without official health certificates were seized for disposal.

     Under the Food Business Regulation, the maximum penalty for operating an unlicensed cold store is a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     “We will continue our stringent enforcement action against unlicensed food business to safeguard food safety and public health,” an FEHD spokesman said.

     Members of the public can report any suspected illegal food business activities by calling the FEHD hotline at 2868 0000.

  

     Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police yesterday (December 22) mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation and detected a suspected speedboat-related smuggling case in Sai Kung. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including electronic goods, cosmetics and apparels, with an estimated value of about $10 million was seized.

     Law enforcement officers last night spotted several suspicious men loading suspected smuggled goods from a seven-seater private car to a speedboat at a seashore in Tai Mong Tsai. The officers then took action and the men jumped into the speedboat and fled.

     During the operation, Customs detained the seven-seater vehicle suspected to be connected to the case. A batch of suspected smuggled goods in the case was seized from the vehicle and at the seashore, including electronic goods such as central processing units, smartphones and earphones.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities by proactive risk-management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times and maintaining close co-operation in its intelligence exchanges with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to land a solid blow against relevant activities.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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

  

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department… read more