Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-developing a Smart City Cluster (EGSCC) convened its second meeting today (May 15) to continuously deepen co-operation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Guangdong Province in smart city development.

     The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, and the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Government Service and Data, Mr Xiong Xiong, who co-chaired the meeting, reviewed the work progress and achievements of the Expert Group over the past year. They also discussed and exchanged views on the work plan for the coming year. During the meeting, Hong Kong and Guangdong jointly reviewed the following five work details for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong smart city cluster, namely:
 

1. expanding the availability of public services under Cross-boundary Public Services;
2. exploring more industry applications to achieve smart connectivity;
3. promoting the integration and mutual recognition of modern infrastructure public support capabilities between Hong Kong and Guangdong;
4. accelerating the cross-boundary flow of data elements; and
5. strengthening the sharing and co-operation on digitalisation between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

     Mr Wong said in the meeting that following the inaugural meeting of the EGSCC in Guangzhou last year, members of the Expert Group had dedicated themselves to advancing the related work items. They successfully promoted key initiatives such as Hong Kong/Guangdong unified identity authentication, Cross-boundary Public Services, cultural tourism, transportation interconnection, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) 5G infrastructure deployment and large-scale commercialisation as well as the cross-boundary flow of data elements. These efforts made significant achievements for the Hong Kong/Guangdong smart city cluster. He expressed hope that the Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Government Service and Data could continue to maintain close co-operation to promote the synergistic digital development of the GBA city cluster, and contribute even greater efforts to the joint construction of a world-class city cluster.

     Officials from relevant bureaux and departments, including the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Development Bureau, the DPO, and the Transport Department, attended the meeting on behalf of the HKSAR Government. Mainland representatives who attended the meeting included officials from the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Government Service and Data, the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, the Department of Transport of Guangdong Province, and the Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong Province.

     Arranged by the DPO, the Guangdong delegation visited the Smart Government Innovation Lab at the DPO office located at Cyberport after the meeting to learn more about the innovative solutions and products of local start-ups and small and medium enterprises, with the aim of facilitating the adoption of innovative technology to enhance city management and provide better public services for citizens. The delegation then visited Cyberport’s Digital Tech Centre to learn how Hong Kong’s innovation and technology enterprises apply cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, blockchain and Web3.0, and about their business applications. read more

     A 49-year-old incoming male driver was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (May 15) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs officers and police officers of the Airport Police District mounted a joint anti-illicit cigarette operation on January 17 at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and intercepted an inbound private car which was declared to be empty. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 30 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the hollow spaces of the doors, under the seats, in the centre console and the rear compartment. The driver was subsequently arrested and the private car was also seized. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $150,000 and the duty potential was about $99,000.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action.

     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).

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     A former director of Ace Technology Group Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violating requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The former director was convicted earlier and was sentenced at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (May 15) to 200 hours’ community service. The former director was also ordered to pay the employees concerned an outstanding sum of about $439,000.
          
     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened requirements of the EO, failing to pay two employees’ wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contracts of about $306,000, and also failing to pay the awarded sums of about $439,000 within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The former director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.
           
     “The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have personal liability to ensure payment of wages and sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO,” a spokesman for the LD said. 
      
     â€‹”The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added. read more

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 Bank of Singapore Limited relating to a fraudulent social media account, which has 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 social media account 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 Islands District Office (IsDO), in collaboration with relevant government departments and local organisations, conducted a rescue and evacuation drill today (May 15) to enhance their and residents’ preparedness in the event of serious flooding in Tai O, and to further increase residents’ understanding of the emergency response plan.
 
     The IsDO, the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), the Drainage Services Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Civil Aid Service, the Tai O Rural Committee, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Hong Kong Red Cross and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College participated in the drill. The drill simulated an actual situation with unexpected elements to increase the difficulty. Participating departments and organisations were required to carry out rescue tasks immediately under unexpected circumstances, posing challenges to and strengthening their response capabilities.

     According to the emergency response plan, when the HKO forecasts that the sea level at Tai O would rise to 3.3 metres above Chart Datum or more in the coming few hours, the emergency response plan for severe flooding in Tai O will be fully activated. The HKO will issue an alert to relevant government departments, organisations, Tai O resident representatives and fishermen representatives by SMS. Upon receipt of the alert, the IsDO will activate an emergency co-ordination centre at the Tai O Rural Committee Office, jointly set up by government departments and non-governmental organisations. The emergency co-ordination centre will co-ordinate any necessary evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts for Tai O.
 
     Upon receipt of the HKO’s alert, resident representatives and fishermen representatives in Tai O will also help disseminate the information to residents to enable them to stay vigilant and take refuge in safe locations if necessary. In addition, temporary shelters at the Tai O Rural Committee Office, the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College, and the Transit Centre situated at Lung Tin Estate will be opened for residents in need.

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