Author Archives: hksar gov

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

     â€‹The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have recently signed the “Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Fintech Innovation Supervisory Cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)”, which aims to fully implement the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. Under the MoU, the two authorities have agreed to link up the PBoC’s Fintech Innovation Regulatory Facility with the HKMA’s Fintech Supervisory Sandbox in the form of a “network”. Under the premise of compliance with laws and regulations, the “network link-up” will promote financial technology innovation co-operation, enhance the quality and efficiency of financial services in the GBA, and strengthen financial support for the development of the GBA in an orderly fashion.

     As the next step, the two authorities will, following the principles of mutual trust, mutual understanding and mutual respect under the co-operation framework of the MoU, provide efficient Fintech innovation testing services, with a view to injecting new impetus into the quality financial development of the GBA. 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 Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA relating to a fraudulent website, 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 e-mails 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 concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

     Two men were sentenced by Tuen Mun and Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (October 26) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C).
 
     The first case involved a man aged 23, who gave his residential address for use as place of quarantine to an authorised officer at a boundary control point on July 7, 2020, and was later found not staying at that place of quarantine. He was charged with contravening section 9 of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 10 days.

     The second case involved a man aged 25, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on February 28, 2021, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. He was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today to imprisonment for 14 days, suspended for 12 months.
 
     Breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 197 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations. read more

     Hong Kong Customs and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) mounted joint operations at Shenzhen Bay Control Point on October 24 and yesterday (October 25) and seized a total of about 12 000 suspected smuggled hairy crabs and about 700 kilograms of suspected smuggled frozen food with a total estimated market value of about $650,000.

     Customs officers intercepted four incoming goods vehicles at the control point on the above-mentioned two days. After inspection, the batch of suspected unmanifested hairy crabs and frozen food was found mingled with other properly declared goods on board the vehicles.

     The estimated market value of the suspected unmanifested hairy crabs seized was about $600,000 while that of the suspected unmanifested frozen food, including meat and poultry, was about $50,000.

     Furthermore, the seized hairy crabs did not come with health certificates issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting economies and failed to comply with the requirements of the Shell Fish (Hairy Crab) Permit. The frozen meat and poultry seized also came without health certificates issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin or obtaining prior permission in writing from the FEHD.  
          
     Four male drivers aged between 52 and 59 were arrested. An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public that 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.

     According to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations, any person who imports game, meat, poultry or eggs should produce a health certificate issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin or obtain prior permission in writing from the FEHD. Offenders are liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment.

     According to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction. Moreover, under the Food Safety Ordinance, any person who, without reasonable excuse, does not register but carries on a food importation or distribution business commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     Customs and the CFS will keep up close co-operation and intelligence exchanges, while joint operations will be conducted to combat illegal food import activities.

     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).

    

     A Government spokesman said today (October 26) that consent has been given to resume the foundation works within the railway protection area for the public works project "Relocation of Supporting Operational Facilities of Tsim … read more