Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (May 16) continued her trip to Korea and visited Seoul National University (SNU). She exchanged views with the President of the University, Dr Ryu Hong Lim, on deepening higher education collaboration between Korea and Hong Kong, and promoted the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.
 
     Dr Choi said that Hong Kong boasts a highly internationalised and diverse post-secondary education sector. A number of measures have been put in place by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international education hub. Apart from striving to host international education conferences and exhibitions, the HKSAR Government also encourages local post-secondary institutions to enhance collaboration and exchanges with their counterparts around the world in promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand on a global scale, as well as attracting more overseas students to study in Hong Kong through the provision of scholarships.
 
     In addition, the HKSAR Government is developing the Northern Metropolis University Town to encourage local post-secondary institutions to introduce more branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions in a flexible and innovative manner.
 
     At the meeting, Dr Choi introduced to the SNU the various large-scale education mega events to be held in Hong Kong, for example the Learning and Teaching Expo to be held during Digital Education Week in July this year, and the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition to be held in February next year. She welcomed representatives from universities in Korea to come to Hong Kong to take part in the events and forge collaborations and exchanges with institutions worldwide. She also welcomed students from Korea and other places to study in Hong Kong or participate in short-term student exchange programmes, and said that she looked forward to further strengthening education ties between Korea and Hong Kong.
 
     Dr Choi also met Hong Kong students studying at SNU to learn about their school life. She encouraged them to return to Hong Kong to develop their careers after completing their studies.
 
     Today and yesterday (May 15), Dr Choi paid courtesy calls on the Chinese Ambassador to Korea, Mr Dai Bing, and the Consul General of China in Jeju, Mr Chen Jianjun, respectively to introduce Hong Kong’s latest education policy.
 
     Yesterday, she also participated in a side event of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Education Ministerial Meeting to visit an elementary school in Jeju to learn about the school’s experiences in promoting AI and digital innovation education.
 
     Dr Choi concluded her visit to Korea today and will depart for a visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow (May 17).

            

     A Thai man who smuggled 187 eggs of endangered parrot species was convicted at the District Court today (May 16) for violating the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) and sentenced t… read more

     An incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (May 16) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
      
     Customs officer arrested a 49-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on February 17. A total of about 25 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 113 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $420,000 and a duty potential of about $83,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
      
     Under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys duty-not-paid tobacco commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Greenlane”, “Lightshadow”, and “Twilight”, and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” and “Windsand”, for four consecutive days from May 12 to yesterday (May 15). A total of 10 suspected illegal workers, four suspected employers and two overstayers were arrested.

     During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 70 target locations including an exhibition hall, residential buildings and restaurants. Ten suspected illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised six men and four women, aged 27 to 57. Among them, two women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, one man and one woman were also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card; one woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. One man and three women, aged 35 to 61, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

     During operation “Champion”, enforcement officers raided 72 target locations in Central, Eastern and Mong Kok districts. Two overstayers were arrested. The arrested overstayers comprised two women, aged 31 and 53.

     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.