The Transport Department (TD) today (February 28) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on March 20 (Thursday) to noon on March 24 (Monday) through the auction platform E-… read more
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 27) raided a suspected illicit cigarette storage centre in Kwai Chung and seized about 300 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million and a duty potential of about $1 million.
During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Kwai Chung yesterday afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a suspicious local woman outside an industrial building unit on Castle Peak Road. About 37 000 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized from her trolley, and the woman, aged 71 and claiming to be unemployed, was immediately arrested. Later, Customs officers escorted the woman to the industrial building unit for a search and further seized about 270 000 suspected illicit cigarettes.
Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
The arrested woman has been charged with “dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies” and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on March 21.
Customs will also continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at the source, as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling, to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
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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) announced today (February 28) the list of banks for the RMB Trade Financing Liquidity Facility (RMB TFLF) in Phase 1 (see Annex), effective from today.
About RMB50 billion of the total size of RMB100 billion of this facility has been allocated to the participating banks. A specific quota is assigned to each bank based on the pipelines as expected by the bank, and referencing the bank’s existing scale of relevant business, among other factors. The banks can now apply for RMB funds from the HKMA from today through the RMB TFLF based on their provision of RMB trade finance to corporate customers within the assigned quota.
The HKMA will closely review the implementation of the RMB TFLF, including its operation, banks’ RMB trade finance activities and facility usage, as well as market development needs. Subject to the operation of the facility and market demand, we plan to proceed to the next phase of quota allocation around the middle of this year. Banks not yet ready in Phase 1 are encouraged to continue developing their RMB trade finance business so as to be ready to join in later phases. Terms and operation details of the RMB TFLF are found in this Circular. read more
​Hongkong Post announced today (February 28) that, as advised by the postal administration of Mauritius, due to the impact of severe weather, mail delivery services to the country are subject to delay. read more
The Government today announced (February 28) the appointment of Ms Melody Wong Yee-ting and Ms Syalis Kwok Mei-sin as new members to the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) for a term from March 1, 2025, to July 31, 2027.
To facilitate the operation of the Recycling Fund, the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund was established in August 2015 to advise and make recommendations to the Government on matters relating to the overall administration and operation of the Recycling Fund. Furthermore, the Government regularly recruits young persons aged between 18 and 35 who are eager to serve the community to join the Government’s advisory committees through the MSSY with a view to providing more opportunities for young people to participate in policy discussions.
The membership of the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund is as follows:
Chairperson
Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin
Members
Ms Bonnie Chan Jo-ying
Mr Nathan Chau Cheuk-yin
Dr Chung Shan-shan
Ms Judy Ho Pui-Suen
Dr Amie Lai Gor
Mr Nicholas Lai Yui-man
Dr Barry Lee Chi-hong
Dr Frank Leung Yat-cheong
Mr Yuet Ngai-keung
Dr Edward Chan Chi-wing
Mr Jude Chow Chee-ping
Ms Melanie Kwok Hoi-yee
Prof Raymond Leung Hai-ming
Ms Sabrina Leung Heung-ying
Mr Harvey Liu Wing-tai
Mr Thomas Wong Cheung-chi
Ms Melody Wong Yee-ting*
Ms Syalis Kwok Mei-sin*
* New members appointed through the MSSY read more