Hong Kong Customs seized a batch of suspected high-value smuggled products including bird's nest and electronic products with an estimated market value of about $30 million at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on October 23.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing lorry at Lok Ma Chau Control Point for inspection in the morning on October 23 and seized the batch of suspected smuggled goods in the cargo compartment.

     The 50-year-old male driver was arrested. He has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     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 following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     Members of the Hong Kong Housing Authority's (HA) Building Committee and Tender Committee today (October 25) visited the public housing construction site at Queen's Hill, Fanling to see the works progress.
 
     "The area of the public housing development site at Queen's Hill is about 13.65 hectares. After the completion of foundation, site formation, roads and drainage works, building works of domestic blocks have just commenced," said a spokesman for the HA.
 
     The project comprises seven Public Rental Housing (PRH) blocks and six Subsidised Sale Flats (SSF) blocks, with the provision of retail facilities, carparks, community and social welfare facilities, educational facilities, public transport terminus and ancillary transport facilities.
 
     The overall design and planning embody the HA's objectives of making the best use of land and providing people-oriented, functional and cost-effective designs. Meanwhile, vital elements like strengthening the community network, heritage, protecting trees and sustainable development are also incorporated into the project.
 
     The development is undergoing construction in three building contracts. Committee members appreciated the construction challenges posed by this highly complex mega size project. It is estimated that when all construction works are completed in 2021, the Queen’s Hill public housing site will provide in stages a total of 8 865 PRH flats and 3 222 SSF flats for a population of 34 500 people.
 
     During the visit, committee members were also briefed on the site safety performance of the HA's new works contracts, site safety strategy and safe working cycle.
 
     With its various green initiatives, Queen's Hill construction project recently achieved a Provisional Platinum rating under the BEAM Plus New Buildings scheme certified by the Hong Kong Green Building Council.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:

     The Road Safety Council (RSC), Traffic Hong Kong Island of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (Hong Kong Island and Islands) will jointly hold the Anti-Drink and Drug Driving Halloween Road Safety 2018 event at 6pm tomorrow (October 26) at Forbes Street Temporary Playground in Sai Wan. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

     Highlights will include an artistic roller skating performance by the Kanata Roller Skating Association, a taekwondo performance by the Hong Kong Chido Taekwondo Association, a band performance by the Dawn Society and a performance by the Hong Kong Police Silver Band. After the launch ceremony, the guests will walk through the bar areas of Forbes Street, Cadogan Street and Davis Street to distribute road safety leaflets in order to deliver the "No Drug and Drink Driving" message to road users.

     The ceremony will be officiated by the Chairlady of the Road Safety Campaign Committee of the RSC, Ms Rebecca Ma; the Superintendent of Traffic Hong Kong Island (Investigation and Support Division) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Ms Petrina Lai; the Acting Chief Inspector of Police and Assistant Divisional Commander (Administration) of Western Division of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Yeung Kwun-chung; Senior Inspector of Police, Road Safety Unit, Traffic Branch Headquarters, Ms Susie Tsai; the Regional Commander of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (Hong Kong Island and Islands), Dr Baldwin Cheng; and the Chairman of the Central and Western District Road Safety Campaign Committee, Mr Chow Chiu-sheung.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (October 25) attended the fourth cultural ministers' meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan. Mr Lau participated in the meeting as a representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and as a member of the Chinese delegation led by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Luo Shugang. The theme of the forum is cultural exchange and collaboration of China and Arab states under the international co-operation framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
     
     Speaking at the meeting, Mr Lau said, "Hong Kong strives to expand co-operation and strengthen arts and cultural exchange with regions along the Belt and Road, in order to forge people-to-people bonds. Hong Kong has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co-operation with Egypt. We look forward to establishing closer ties on cultural collaboration with more Arab states."

     He said Hong Kong has various kinds of cultural exchanges and co-operation with countries around the world, and the cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Arab states have been remarkable. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have supported and participated in the yearly Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances, co-organised by the Hong Kong Government and consulates. Reciprocal visits have been arranged for officials responsible for cultural affairs from Hong Kong and the Arab states to conduct exchanges on museum services and library work.

     During the meeting, Mr Lau introduced the latest developments of the West Kowloon Cultural District, including the commissioning of the Xiqu Centre at the end of this year. The Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ will be completed in the coming years. He said these two large-scale museums would integrate ancient and contemporary arts as well as Eastern and Western culture at the West Kowloon Cultural District.

     Today, Mr Lau visited cultural facilities in Chengdu to keep abreast of the city's latest cultural developments. At night, he will attend the closing ceremony of the fourth Arabic Arts Festival. Mr Lau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (October 26).

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) Board discussed and endorsed at the Administrative and Operational Meeting today (October 25) the arrangement to extend maternity leave to 14 weeks with immediate effect.
 
     The HA spokesperson said that the arrangement was adopted, following the Policy Address on October 10 which suggested extending statutory maternity leave from the current 10 weeks to 14 weeks, to allow mothers more time to spend with and take care of their newborn babies. Except for the extension of the duration of maternity leave, the prevailing arrangements in respect of maternity leave for HA employees such as eligibility, the period for commencement of maternity leave, notification and documentary proof requirements shall remain unchanged.
 
     "The HA employees whose actual date of confinement or expected date of confinement falls on or after today are eligible for the extended maternity leave for 14 weeks," the spokesperson said, adding that the HA will issue a human resources circular with frequently asked questions and answers to facilitate staff members' understanding of the implementation details. The relevant webpage will also be updated accordingly for reference.