The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, attended as a member the first meeting of the task force on the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (task force) in Beijing today (June 18) to discuss work related to the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area. The Acting Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mrs Millie Ng, sat in at the meeting.
 
     Mr Yang thanked the relevant Central Authorities, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology, for their staunch support for Hong Kong's innovation and technology development. He also reported to the task force the work progress in developing an international innovation and technology hub in Hong Kong, including the setting up of two world-class research clusters on healthcare technologies and artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, developing technological infrastructures, and facilitating the flow of key factors of scientific research within the Greater Bay Area. Mr Yang said he hoped that the Central Government would continue to support Hong Kong in this regard.

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
 
     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (June 18) issued the following statement:
 
     The ExCo Non-official Members note that the Chief Executive has further responded on the legislative amendment exercise on the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and that she has pledged to redouble her efforts in balancing the diverse interests of society and listening to people from all walks of life, as well as to walk forward with the community with one heart and one mind.
 
     The ExCo Non-official Members will, in their best endeavours, assist the Chief Executive in the long-term interest of Hong Kong. They also hope that the community can restore its calm and put aside disputes so that different sectors of the community and the Government can once again focus on important economic and livelihood matters.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a joint operation with the customs administrations of the European Union (EU) member states from June 3 to 16 to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities destined for the EU member states. A total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $670,000 were seized.

     Hong Kong Customs has been working closely with the customs administrations in the EU to exchange intelligence and formulate enforcement strategies for combating cross-border counterfeiting activities under the EU-Hong Kong Action Plan.  

     Hong Kong Customs carried out targeted enforcement action during the period with the customs administrations of 10 EU member states, namely Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, to step up inspection against suspicious goods destined for the EU member states.

     During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones and accessories, watches, clothing, leather goods and footwear, and effectively curbed cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied 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 counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Ninety-five convictions were recorded in May 2019 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).
 
     Eleven of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, six were under the Noise Control Ordinance, four were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, 13 were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, 60 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance, and one was under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
 
    The heaviest fine in May was $60,000, assessed against a company which discharged waste/polluting matter into a water control zone.

     The Development Bureau announced today (June 18) the re-appointment of Mr Wai Chi-sing as Director of the Board of the Urban Renewal Fund (URF) on an ad personam basis for another term of three years with effect from June 15, 2019.

     The URF, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on August 15, 2011, was set up pursuant to section 6(2)(s) of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance to act as the trustee and settlor of the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund, with an endowment of $500 million from the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), provides an independent funding source to support the operation of the social service teams that render assistance to the affected owners and tenants of the urban redevelopment projects implemented by the URA. The Trust Fund also supports planning and related studies by District Urban Renewal Forum as well as initiatives related to heritage preservation and district revitalisation proposed by non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in the overall context of urban renewal. Pursuant to the Articles of Association of the URF, the directors of the Board of the URF shall be nominated by the Secretary for Development and appointed by the URF. The establishment of the Trust Fund was one of the major initiatives under the Urban Renewal Strategy promulgated by the Government in February 2011.