Police today (March 30) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Mong Kok.

     Lee Wing-cheong, aged 54, went missing after he left an elderly home on Tai Tsun Street on March 27 morning. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on March 28.
    
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue vest, a black and grey stripe long-sleeved shirt, grey trousers and black sports shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8038 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Financial Leaders Forum (FLF), chaired by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, held its eleventh meeting today (March 30).

     Members were first briefed on the work of the Government and financial regulators in maintaining the financial stability of Hong Kong amidst volatility in the financial markets as the situation of COVID-19 has evolved. They noted that different facets of Hong Kong's financial system have been functioning smoothly and orderly so far amidst challenges in the global, regional and local environment. The Government, financial regulators and the industry have also implemented a number of business-continuity measures including work-from-home arrangements as needed. The Government and financial regulators will continue to stay alert and closely monitor the market situation.

     Members were also briefed on the latest progress of the implementation of various initiatives to promote Hong Kong's financial services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Members noted that various initiatives relating to personal banking and insurance services have been implemented to promote the flow of people and capital in the GBA. Capitalising on the vast opportunities presented by the GBA development, the Government and financial regulators will continue to liaise closely with Mainland authorities to explore further measures to strengthen financial co-operation in the GBA.
 
     Members were also briefed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited's (HKEX) strategy and action plan for the internationalisation of its businesses. Members agreed that the HKEX's plan for internationalisation would be conducive to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.

     Three men were sentenced to immediate imprisonment for up to three months by magistrates' courts today (March 30) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap 599C) (the Regulation).
      
     In the first case, a 31-year-old man gave a false residential address for use as place of quarantine to an authorised officer at a border control point. He was charged with contravening section 9 of the Regulation and was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for three months at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     The second and third cases involve two men aged 37 and 41 respectively. They were issued compulsory quarantine orders stating that they must conduct their quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine orders, they left the place of quarantine without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and were stopped by staff of the Immigration Department at border control points. They were charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and were sentenced at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 10 days and six weeks respectively.
      
     The Government welcomed the judgments. The sentences send a clear message to the community that breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and that the Government will not tolerate such actions. The Government reiterates that compliance with quarantine orders is of paramount importance in Hong Kong's fight against COVID-19.
      
     Pursuant to the Regulation, save for exempted persons, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to a compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap 599E), starting from March 19, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to a compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum imprisonment for six months and fine of $25,000. The Department of Health solemnly reminds persons under quarantine to comply with the statutory requirements and conduct their quarantine for 14 days.

     A man who went missing in Sheung Shui has been located.

     Ma Lok-ki, aged 30, went missing after he left his residence in Kan Tau Tsuen on March 14 noon. His family made a report to Police on March 17.

     Police located the man on On Pong Road, Tai Po on March 28 afternoon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     Hong Kong Customs earlier mounted a territory-wide operation against restaurants supplying food with false trade descriptions and arrested seven persons in different districts for suspected contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), including five directors and two sole proprietors of the restaurants involved.

     Customs earlier conducted spot checks and test purchases at various restaurants in the territory. During the operation, Customs officers test-purchased dishes claimed as "grouper" and "abalone" and sent samples to the Government Laboratory for examination.

     Examination results confirmed that the fourteen dishes claimed as "grouper" and six dishes claimed as "abalone" test-purchased at seven restaurants were catfish and squid respectively, different from what had been declared.

     After an investigation, Customs took enforcement action on March 27 and arrested six men and one woman, aged between 47 and 62, at the seven restaurants located in Sheung Shui, Tai Po, Kwai Chung, Yau Ma Tei, To Kwa Wan, Wan Chai and Quarry Bay. They are the directors or sole proprietors of the restaurants concerned.

     Investigations of all cases are ongoing.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable restaurants.

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).