Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Department of Health (DH) said today (October 29) that cybersecurity experts had conducted a thorough review of the HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk), and confirmed that no unauthorised individuals or hackers have accessed the website or its email account or compromise any sensitive data. The website has now resumed normal operations. The DH will continue to assist the Police in investigating the incident.
      
     On the night of October 23, DH staff discovered suspected unauthorised use of the website’s email account. Emails and text messages (SMS) were sent under the guise of the DH, claiming that the recipients were exposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and should seek medical advice and get tested as soon as possible. The DH staff immediately conducted a comprehensive inspection of the network system, and reported the incident to the Police and notified the Digital Policy Office.
      
     Preliminary investigations revealed that a backup function of the website was misused. It has been confirmed that the email addresses and phone numbers of the intended recipients were invalid. No members of the public received the fraudulent messages. After a thorough inspection by cybersecurity experts, the vulnerabilities of relevant system were patched.
      
     The DH has always attached great importance to cybersecurity. It will continue to conduct regular information security risk assessments, continuously review and enhance existing security measures to keep relevant measures abreast of the times in order to safeguard network and system security. At the same time, the DH will conduct a comprehensive review of the incident to further strengthen protective measures to help prevent similar incidents from occurring again. read more

     The Government today (October 29) released the report submitted by the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The report has been uploaded to (www.gov.hk/en/residents/government/policy/g… read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 28) seized eight live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $54,000, at Hong Kong International Airport.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted two parcels declared as containing plush toys and building blocks from the United States to Hong Kong. Upon inspection, the batch of live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species was found inside the two parcels.

     The cases were handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up actions.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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).

    

     Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels in October. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $26 million were seized.
          
     Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods, thus formulated enforcement operations. 
      
     In the first case, two suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Australia via ocean-going vessels were selected for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including over 8 000 electronic products and household products, from the two containers, which were declared as containing storage racks and plastic boxes respectively.
      
     In the second case, a suspicious container scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to India via an ocean-going vessel was selected for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found over 7 000 suspected smuggled used computers from the container, which was declared as carrying chimney parts and infrared spare parts.
      
     Investigations on the two cases is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
          
     Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.
          
     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 upon conviction.
          
     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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).

    

     The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a fresh provision shop in Mong Kok to suspend business for 14 days, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally.

     The shop, located at Block F on the ground floor of Cheung Fai Building at 22 Tong Mi Road, has been ordered to suspend business from today (October 29) to November 11.

     “Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the shop licensee in January and September this year. A total fine of $5,200 was levied by the court, and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

     The licensee concerned had a record of two convictions for the same offence in July and September last year. A total fine of $4,800 was levied, and 30 demerit points were also registered, leading to a seven-day licence suspension in December last year.

     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises are licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html). read more