The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, hosted a lunch for representatives of international and local chambers of commerce at Government House at noon today (July 30) to exchange views with them on Hong Kong's challenges and opportunities with a view to formulating policy measures that would better meet the needs of the community in the upcoming Policy Address.
 
     Mrs Lam said that due to the China-US trade friction and uncertainties in the external environment, Hong Kong's economic momentum has weakened in recent months, with only a modest growth of 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year and no room for optimism for the second quarter and the entire year. She said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been closely monitoring the global and local economic situations and maintaining close contact with the business sector, including numerous local small and medium enterprises, to understand their needs. She added that the HKSAR Government will introduce measures in a timely manner to help companies cope with the economic downside risks.
 
     Mrs Lam also said that the disputes in society in recent months are not conducive to Hong Kong's continued development and that she would spare no efforts to deal with them. Emphasising that the rule of law is the cornerstone of the city's success and violence is not a solution to any problem, she expressed the hope that various sectors would jointly uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong. She pointed out that everyone should continue to have confidence in the city and she firmly believes that with the concerted efforts of various sectors, Hong Kong would find opportunities amid difficulties.
 
     Over the years, the Chief Executive would be invited by chambers of commerce to attend the Joint Business Community Luncheon after delivering the Policy Address to introduce the new initiatives and answer questions. To express her gratitude to the business sector for their long-standing support, and to listen to their views on the forthcoming Policy Address, she hosted a lunch for the chamber representatives for the first time at Government House this year. More than 40 leaders or senior representatives of major chambers of commerce attended.

      

     â€‹The first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting was held in Hong Kong yesterday (July 29) and today (July 30). The meeting was hosted by the Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence and Investigation) of Hong Kong Customs, Ms Ida Ng. The Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Ms Liu Hong, and the Assistant Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Ms Chau Kin-oi, led a delegation respectively to attend the meeting.

     During the meeting, the three customs administrations exchanged views and shared their experiences on the enforcement and strategy for protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and had an in-depth discussion on co-operation for IPR enforcement. They agreed to enhance collaboration for cross-boundary intellectual property cases based on the existing co-operation practices between Guangdong and Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao as well as Hong Kong and Macao so as to make enforcement against IPR infringement more efficient in the three places.

     In addition, the delegations visited a logistic centre of an express company in Tsing Yi to learn about the regulatory and enforcement work carried out by Hong Kong Customs over express parcels as well as the close partnership between Hong Kong Customs and the logistic industry.

     Hong Kong Customs has made, and will continue to make, every effort to protect the interests of IPR owners and combat infringing activities.

    

     Win Sense (China) Limited operating a recycling site in Lin Ma Hang, North District and a person-in-charge of a recycling site in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long were convicted and fined a total of $21,500 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 30) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation as a result of illegally storing chemical waste at their recycling sites.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has all along been striving to combat the illegal collection, storage and handling of regulated chemical waste at open recycling sites in the New Territories, and taking stringent law enforcement actions against non-compliant operations of recycling sites. During blitz operations at the end of last year and January this year, the EPD discovered that waste lead-acid batteries (LABs) and waste LCD monitors, which were classified as chemical waste, were illegally stored at the open recycling sites in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long and Lin Ma Hang, North District. Some of the chemical waste was stored outdoors without order. A number of waste LABs and around 900 waste LCD monitors with an estimated export market value of $140,000 were seized in the blitz operations. The EPD initiated prosecutions against the operating company and the person-in-charge of the recycling sites involved under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation after gathering evidence. Lately, EPD enforcement officers inspected the above-mentioned recycling sites and noticed that chemical waste was properly stored there. The EPD believes that a series of law enforcement actions taken by the department has strengthened the deterrent effect.

     The spokesman stressed that waste LCD monitors and waste LABs are hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste. Chemical waste is hazardous by nature and, if not properly handled and transported, will pollute the environment as well as pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. Offenders contravening the above regulation may be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment on first conviction, and a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment on a second or subsequent conviction.

     For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD's website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 30) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza in the State of Veracruz in Mexico, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
 
     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Mexico for import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. In the first six months of this year, no poultry meat from Mexico was imported into Hong Kong according to the Census and Statistics Department.
 
     "The CFS has contacted the Mexican authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Commission will hold a closed special meeting at 9am tomorrow (July 31).