Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 11) seized 53 suspected smuggled auto parts and 672 suspected smuggled electric guitar strings with an estimated market value of about $220,000 at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and in Yuen Long. This is the first smuggling case to have adopted an "ants moving home" tactic using a private car as temporary storage.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing private car at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday afternoon and seized 15 auto parts on board the vehicle.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers further seized 38 auto parts and 672 electric guitar strings from a private car parked at a car park in Yuen Long.

     In the operation, a 36-year-old man was arrested and two private cars were detained.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     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.

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

      

     The Education Bureau today (July 12) announced the re-appointment of Mr Lester Garson Huang as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) for two years with effect from July 1, 2019.
 
     Mr Huang is a solicitor by profession and has been involved extensively in education matters. He is currently the Chairman of the Council of City University of Hong Kong, an ex-officio member of the Education Commission, and an honorary member of the Court of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
 
     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said, "Under Mr Huang's able leadership in the past four years, SCOLAR has launched various initiatives that complement the work of the Government and other advisory bodies or stakeholders in enhancing Chinese and English language learning and teaching at all levels, building a professional language teaching force, and creating a motivating and conducive language learning environment."
 
     He also thanked the outgoing members, namely Dr Julia Chan, Ms Margaret Cheng, Mr Tavier Lau, Ms Gloria Leung and Mr Ma Ching-nam, for their sterling service and contributions to the work of SCOLAR.
 
     The Education Bureau also re-appointed seven serving members and appointed five new members to SCOLAR for two years.
 
     The membership list of SCOLAR with effect from July 1, 2019 is as follows:
 
Chairman
————
Mr Lester Garson Huang
 
Re-appointed members
—————————
Ms Chan Shin-kwan
Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung
Professor Cecilia Chun Ka-wai
Ms Cecilia Lee Sau-wai
Ms Shirley Marie Therese Loo
Dr Paul Tsui Hon-yan
Dr Yuen Chun-wah
 
Newly appointed members
——————————
Ms Joanne Fong Yee-man
Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him
Professor Erwin Steve Huang
Mr Armstrong Lee Hon-cheung
Dr Tse Wai-lok
 
Ex-officio members
———————-
Deputy Secretary for Education
Chairperson of Curriculum Development Council’s Committee on Chinese Language Education
Chairperson of Curriculum Development Council’s Committee on English Language Education
Chairperson of Curriculum Development Council’s Committee on Early Childhood Education
Chairperson of the Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals
Secretary-General of Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority or representative
 
     SCOLAR was set up in 1996 to advise the Government on language education and on the use of the Language Fund.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent website and phishing SMS message, which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 11) seized about 1.7 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $4.7 million and a duty potential of about $3.2 million at Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck declared as carrying assorted goods at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday morning. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside 170 cartons mix-loaded with other goods on the truck.

     The 53-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. Investigation is ongoing.

     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.

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

  

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a tenancy of the government property at Shop No. 2 on the ground floor, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.

     The premises should be used for the purposes of a convenience store for the sale of products including but not limited to prepackaged take-away food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages), but shall exclude the sale of cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products; or a take-away food store for the sale of prepackaged take-away food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages) only.

     The term of the tenancy would be three years subject to the provisions for renewal for a further term of three years as stipulated in Special Condition No. (45) of the Third Schedule to the Form of Tenancy Agreement.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (July 12) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 31/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, during office hours (8.30am to 5.45pm from Mondays to Fridays). The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend the tender briefing should make prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 2594 7654 on or before July 24 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, before noon on August 6 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted.