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     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (May 6) started his duty visit to Kolkata, Pune and Mumbai in India as part of Invest Hong Kong’s (InvestHK) continued efforts to promote Hong Kong’s business attractions.
      
     Mr Phillips arrived in Kolkata yesterday and will later visit Pune and Mumbai. During the six-day visit he will meet with leaders of various sectors including multi-sector conglomerates, industrial manufacturers, energy company, a port authority, technology and creative companies and chambers of commerce. He will speak at a seminar in Kolkata hosted in collaboration with The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and at another in Mumbai co-organised with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, to update local executives on Hong Kong’s favourable business environment. In Pune, he will speak at a startup networking event on Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem and InvestHK’s StartmeupHK Festival.
      
     Mr Phillips said, “India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and also a major startup base. The country has a very good foundation in technology and is a leader in research and development. At the same time, Hong Kong is seeing a crucial economic transformation, putting greater focus on technology and innovation development. A number of new sectors like fintech and biotech are developing fast in Hong Kong. Over the years, our startup ecosystem has also grown rapidly. The two economies share a lot of similarities.
     
     “The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area sets out Hong Kong’s multiple roles, amongst other things as an international financial city, a global innovation hub and the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. These areas of work are all conducive to developing Hong Kong further as an international metropolis with enhanced competitiveness. Indian companies that aim to expand into Asia and the world should leverage on the unique international status of Hong Kong.” The Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Hong Kong and India that recently came into effect should add more appeal for Indian companies to consider Hong Kong as a regional base, Mr Phillips added.
          
     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area covers nine cities in Guangdong Province, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing, as well as the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao. It is an enormous market with a population of 71 million and a gross domestic product of US$1.6 trillion.
          
 About InvestHK
             
     InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate … read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 6) that due to big… read more

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, will depart for London, the United Kingdom (UK) tomorrow (May 6) afternoon to lead a delegation to attend the UK-Hong Kong Financial Dialogue 2019 (Dialogue) … read more

     Hong Kong Customs has stepped up enforcement action against drug trafficking activities between Hong Kong and Macao during the period of March 18 and yesterday (May 4) and detected 11 cases with seizures of about 1.5 kilograms of different kinds of suspected dangerous drugs. The estimated market value of the seizure is about $1.34 million and 12 persons were arrested.

     Of the abovementioned cases, ten were effected at Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in which one was an inbound case and nine were outbound cases, while the remaining one was an inbound case effected at China Ferry Terminal.

     The seized suspected dangerous drugs, including heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cannabis buds, were found concealed inside the clothes, shoes and personal belongings of the arrested persons.

     One of the arrested persons is a 17-year-old student, and the rest aged between 20 and 39.

     Except the inbound case detected on April 28 during which about 1.3 kg of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $1.18 million was seized at Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, each of the other cases only involved a small quantity of suspected dangerous drugs which were packed in small packages for further distribution.

     Customs believes that the arrested persons attempted to traffick in drugs by using the “ants moving home” tactic at different time period.

     A Customs spokesman stresses that stringent enforcement action would be taken at the incoming and outgoing passage of every boundary control point.

     The spokesman reminds members of the public, in particular the youth that they should not take any chances and think hiding small quantity of dangerous drugs can easily evade investigation. They also should not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. Trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence and will lead to a criminal record upon conviction. This would exert considerable impact on further education as well as other aspects.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to the Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     The spokesman reiterates that Hong Kong Customs will continue to strengthen law enforcement actions at all control points to combat cross-boundary trafficking activities of dangerous drugs.