Tag Archives: China

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL) has recently noted two types of fraudulent websites purported to be from HKICL:
 
Type 1:

• systemfps.sbs
• hksystemfps.sbs

 
     These fraudulent websites imitate as “Buyer Online Protection” to provide services including 1) refund to buyer, 2) unauthorised online transaction reporting, and 3) online transaction support, for online transaction over FPS payment. They intend to trick users into giving away personal document number and ID photo together with phone number for real name verification in order to get cash reward. In addition, they also trick users into providing bank name, bank account number and bank account holder’s name to top up and withdraw money from their platforms’ virtual wallet. Further, they direct users to a fraudster impersonating as customer service personnel.
 
Type 2:

• fps-hkpay.net

 
     This fraudulent website intends to trick users into giving away login credentials.
      
     Please be reminded that Type 1 and Type 2 fraudulent websites may have multiple combinations at the end of the link, e.g.:

• systemfps.sbs/page/place_an_order/?uuid=refund
• hksystemfps.sbs/page/place_an_order/?uuid=refund
• fps-hkpay.net/login

 
     HKICL advises that these fraudulent websites have no affiliation with HKICL, or any business of HKICL. HKICL will not directly provide FPS service to individual members of the public or contact individual members of the public proactively under usual circumstance. The genuine official website addresses of HKICL are www.hkicl.com.hk and fps.hkicl.com.hk.
      
     HKICL urges the public to beware of suspicious calls, websites or other communications, and to remain vigilant in protecting personal information. If members of the public receive any suspicious communication purportedly from HKICL, please call HKICL’s general line at 2533 1111 to verify. Members of the public who suspect that they have become the victim of fraudulent acts should report promptly to the Police. read more

     ​Hong Kong Customs today (October 22) detected two drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 8 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $1.7 million. Two men were arrested.

     In the first case, a 30-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 5kg of suspected cannabis buds inside his carry-on suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

     In the second case, a 36-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3kg of suspected cannabis buds inside his carry-on suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

     Investigations of both cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. 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 Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (​eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

read more

     The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) held a signing ceremony today (October 22) to welcome a new batch of 18 strategic enterprises (see Annex) establishing or expanding their operations in Hong Kong. The ceremony was officiated by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan.

     The new cohort demonstrates the growing momentum of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and enterprises’ confidence in the city’s development prospects. Half of the new partners come from the Chinese Mainland, while the other half are from other parts of the world, underscoring Hong Kong’s role as a place where businesses, talent and ideas from around the world come together to prosper. Several of the enterprises have market capitalisations or valuations exceeding HK$100 billion.

     The enterprises span a wide range of sectors, including advanced manufacturing, new energy, AI, life and health technology, fintech, and cultural and creative technology. They include a trailblazer in embodied AI robotics, a multinational healthcare innovator with a strong presence across pharmaceuticals and medical technologies, one of the world’s largest gold refineries of precious metals service providers, a leader of next-generation financial infrastructure and digital asset solutions, and a global microelectronics leader in intelligent power management solutions, alongside pioneers in AI, physical AI, digital twins, clinical decision support, microelectronics, new energy technologies and systems, smart vehicles, new and integrated media and entertainment.

     With the addition of this new batch, the total number of OASES enterprises has reached 142. Together, they are expected to bring in some HK$84 billion worth of investment and create some 26 700 jobs, including high-value positions in research and development (R&D) and management over the coming years.

     Welcoming the new enterprises, Mr Chan said the first six batches had exceeded investment expectations by 30 per cent and job creation expectations by 34 per cent, taking up more than 2.8 million square feet of commercial and industrial space. He emphasised their role in driving I&T forward, providing new impetus to the economy and employment, and delivering solutions that make people live better.

     Mr Chan said I&T is a priority under Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the “four centres and one hub” framework. The Government will connect finance, research, talent and industry, with “Finance+” helping enterprises secure capital to innovate, commercialise and expand.

     He added that the Northern Metropolis’s three planned university towns will bring education, research, talent development and industry closer together, accelerating the journey from laboratory discoveries to market-ready solutions. And through the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, Hong Kong is making it easier for people, goods, capital, data and samples to flow across the boundary. Closer Mainland-Hong Kong collaboration on clinical trials and drug approvals will help bring new treatments to patients more quickly.

     Highlighting Hong Kong’s openness, international connectivity and free flow of goods, capital, information and talent, Mr Chan invited enterprises to build their businesses, conduct research and nurture talent in the city, using it as a springboard to take their innovations further.

     The Director-General of OASES, Mr Peter Yan, said that the new cohort will further strengthen Hong Kong’s strategic industries and enrich its I&T ecosystem. With initial projects spanning sectors such as fintech, clinical research, precious metals services, advanced manufacturing and embodied robotics commercialisation, the enterprises are expected to bring cutting-edge technologies, high-calibre talent and significant investment to Hong Kong. 

     These leading enterprises will not only bring capital, technology, and talent, but also serve as “chain leaders” to cluster upstream and downstream enterprises and partners in Hong Kong. This will foster deep integration across the industry, innovation, and capital chains, further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an I&T hub. 

     He added that OASES will continue to align its work with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, while fostering a more conducive environment for attracting high-quality strategic enterprises and further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leading international I&T centre.

read more

     The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in September showed a drop of 508 cases, representing a decrease of 0.3 per cent compared with that of August, according to the latest CSSA caseload stat… read more

     The Government Laboratory (GL) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the National Institute of Metrology, China (NIM) today (October 22) signed an amended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Beijing, with the aim of further deepening exchanges and co-operation between the two parties in the field of metrology, and enhancing their capabilities and expertise in chemistry and related measurement disciplines.

     NIM is the nation’s highest research facility of measurement science, and a national statutory authority in the field of metrology. The GL, as the designated institute representing Hong Kong, China in the field of chemical metrology, has been disseminating traceability of chemical measurements to local laboratories, thereby enhancing the reliability and accuracy of chemical testing results within the testing sector.
     ​
     The MOU on Cooperation was signed by the Government Chemist, Dr Cheung Tsz-chun, and the Director General of NIM, Dr Li Wentao. According to the MOU on Cooperation, both sides will continue to deepen exchanges in the fields of chemistry and related metrology disciplines, and foster a long-term partnership. 

     Dr Cheung said, “As the country is fully implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan, metrology, as a vital foundation for scientific and technological innovation and high-quality development, faces higher expectations and greater opportunities. Through this MOU on Cooperation, the GL looks forward to strengthening communication, deepening personnel exchanges and capability building, and jointly enhancing metrological capabilities to support and serve the high-quality development of the country and the region.”

     The GL delegation yesterday (October 21) and today also engaged in detailed exchanges with NIM scientific experts, visited scientific facilities at NIM’s Changping Campus and Hepingli Campus, and gained an understanding of the production process and approval procedures for Reference Materials.

read more