Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 6.68 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Labour Day festive period (from April 30 to May 5). Among them, about 82 per cent, or around 5.48 million passengers, will pass through land boundary control points. The number of inbound passengers using land boundary control points will reach its peak on May 1 (Wednesday), with around 595 000 passengers arriving in Hong Kong, while the number of outbound passengers will be at its highest on May 4 (Saturday) with around 543 000 passengers departing Hong Kong.
 
     Lo Wu will be the busiest control point, and it is estimated that there will be around 1.58 million passengers, with a daily average of about 263 000 passengers, travelling via this control point during the festive period. The passenger traffic at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay control points will also be heavy, with daily average forecasts of about 185 000 and 146 000 passengers respectively.
 
     To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for front-line officers for flexible deployment and operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks. Additional security guards will also be deployed to provide crowd management support.
 
     Furthermore, the ImmD, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with the Mainland frontier inspection authorities. To ensure smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
 
     To avoid congestion and a longer than usual waiting time for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance and avoid making their journeys during busy periods, and to keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at the various control points. The expected busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk. Furthermore, passengers may also check the estimated waiting times of all land boundary control points at any time or place via the Immigration Mobile Application (ImmD Mobile App). They can then plan their trips effectively and save time queuing up at control points. The ImmD Mobile App can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store (supports iOS version 9.0 or above) and Google Play (supports Android version 5.0 or above). The links for downloading can also be found on the ImmD website, www.immd.gov.hk. In addition, information on public transport services to and from various control points is available on the Transport Department website at www.td.gov.hk.
 
     The ImmD will upload daily passenger statistics for the above festive period to its website at www.immd.gov.hk for public reference.
 
     For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
 
     Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
 
     Over 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. Re-enrolment for the e-Channel service is required for enrolled Mainland visitors holding a booklet-type Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao who have changed their enrolment information, e.g. having renewed their exit endorsement. Furthermore, eligible Mainland holders of the electronic Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (e-EEP) can enrol for the e-Channel service by using their e-EEP and undergoing the enrolment process at a traditional entry counter on their first visit to Hong Kong. Eligible Mainland visitors who have renewed their e-EEP have to go through the aforesaid enrolment process again before they can use the e-Channel.
   
     In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departure for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure) which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
 
     Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868. read more

     The Government announced today (April 26) that the Chief Executive has appointed three new members and re-appointed 11 incumbent members to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) for a term of two years with effect from May 2… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Communication Authority:
 
     This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 85th meeting held in April 2019:
 
Review of the class licence for offer of telecommunications services
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     The class licence for offer of telecommunications services (CLOTS) authorises any person meeting the criteria or conditions set out in CLOTS to offer any telecommunications service to the general public without establishment, operation or maintenance of any means of telecommunications. In view of the emergence of new technologies and the adoption of new business models and commercial practices by market players, the CA commenced a public consultation on January 4, 2019, to solicit views and comments from the public on its proposals to strengthen the licensing regime in CLOTS for better consumer protection.
      
     Taking into account all views and comments received in the public consultation, the CA decided to vary the conditions in the CLOTS with a view to enhancing regulatory oversight. 
      
     A key feature of the revised CLOTS is the introduction of a registration requirement for those CLOTS licensees with a customer base of 10 000 subscriptions or more. This requirement enables the CA to have better communications with these licensees for more effective regulatory oversight, compliance monitoring and handling of customer complaints. 
      
     The revised CLOTS is published in the Gazette today (April 26). To allow existing CLOTS licensees sufficient time to make necessary adjustments to their business systems and procedures for compliance with the revised CLOTS, the revised CLOTS will take effect on October 26, 2019, while the registration requirement will be subject to a further three-month grace period after the effective date. The CA will issue guidelines on the relevant administrative procedures for registration and other implementation details to provide practical guidance to the CLOTS licensees. 
 
     For further details, please refer to the revised CLOTS (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/common/licensing/Offer_of_Tele_Services_effect_from_20191026_en.pdf) and the CA Statement published on the CA’s website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/502/ca_statement_20190426.pdf).
 
Non-compliance with reporting and submission requirements by Luxury Hotels International of Hong Kong Limited
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     The CA decided that Luxury Hotels International of Hong Kong Limited (LHIHK), an “other licensable television programme service” (other licensable TV) licensee, had breached sections 21(2) and 39(3) of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap 562) and Condition 5 of its other licensable TV licence for failing to submit to the CA by April 1, 2018, an annual statutory declaration for 2018, to report to the CA the changes of its directors within seven days of the changes, and to promptly notify the CA of the change of the address of its registered office. The submission of the statutory declaration was late by about 10 months and the reports on the changes of directors were late by 178 days and 52 days, while the change of address of registered office was reported about three years and two months after the change. Taking into account LHIHK’s representations, as well as the duration and severity of the breaches, the CA decided that LHIHK should be strongly advised to observe more closely the relevant provisions. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (April 26) announced that the 39th invitation exercise of the Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks (PVRMs) Scheme will be launched on May 1.
      
     “Starting from May 1, applications are invited under the 39th invitation exercise for the allocation of PVRMs upon sale by auction. Completed application forms should reach the department no later than May 31. If there are more than 1 500 applications, those to be considered will be selected by lot,” a TD spokesman said.
      
     Interested persons should complete and submit the application forms (TD569). Those who possess a digital certificate may also make use of the online application service at the GovHK website (www.gov.hk).
      
     Application forms (TD569) and Guidance Notes for Application can be downloaded from the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) or obtained from the TD’s Licensing Offices as well as the Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department. Completed applications can be put in the drop-in box at any of the TD’s Licensing Offices or posted to Vehicle Registration Marks Unit, Transport Department, Room 506-508, 5/F, Harcourt House, 39 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Applications received by mail will be dated by the postmark. No payment of deposit is required at this stage.
      
     Applicants are advised to read carefully the Guidance Notes for details of the scheme before completing the application forms. They can also check whether a proposed PVRM is in compliance with the basic combination requirements by using the online service at the GovHK webpage at www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/vehicle/onlineservices.htm.
      
     Each applicant may submit only one application in each exercise. If an applicant submits more than one application, none of his/her applications will be processed. Once submitted, the applicant cannot withdraw the application or change the arrangement of the PVRM stated in the application form.
      
     An acknowledgement will be immediately sent to the applicant upon successful submission of an online application. Those who submit the applications by TD569 will receive TD’s acknowledgement by ordinary post within two weeks after submission. Applicants who do not receive the acknowledgement within this time frame should call the TD hotline at 2804 2600. read more

     The Government intends to allow Start Treasure Limited to carry out proposed works in relation to seawall and landing steps within an area of approximately 35 600 square metres of the foreshore and seabed at Kwun Tong Tsai Wan (Yau Tong Bay). The proposed works aim to facilitate the implementation of the proposed Yau Tong Bay comprehensive development. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (April 26).

     The proposed works include the repair and strengthening of seawalls and construction of new seawalls at Kwun Tong Tsai Wan (Yau Tong Bay), as well as the construction of two flights of landing steps along the existing seawall at Kwun Tong Tsai Wan (Yau Tong Bay), which involve modification, demolition and reconstruction of the existing seawall and related works. To facilitate the proposed works, a temporary works area would need to be erected at Kwun Tong Tsai Wan (Yau Tong Bay). The proposed works are scheduled to commence in 2020 for completion by 2023.

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan can also be viewed at the following locations:
 
* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);
 
* Kwun Tong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Kwun Tong District Office (G/F, The Grande Building, 398 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon); and
 
* Lands Department’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and sea-bed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before June 26. The notice of such objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected. read more