Tag Archives: China

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Spanish National Day Reception in Hong Kong today (October 10):
 
Consul General (Consul General of Spain in Hong Kong, Mr Miguel Aguirre de Cárcer), Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. I’m delighted to be here tonight to celebrate the national day of Spain. This is a proud and festive occasion throughout Spain, one of the major economies in the European Union.
 
     A celebration, too, of the growing ties between our two economies.
 
     Less than three weeks ago, the Financial Secretary visited Madrid, leading a high-profile delegation of Hong Kong start-up companies, together with the heads of Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport.
 
     Over three fruitful days, the Financial Secretary and his delegation visited a variety of Spanish start-ups, investors and corporate representatives, such as start-up accelerators IMPACT and Wayra, and Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica, and met with the Director General of CDTI (the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación), which promotes I&T (innovation and technology) co-operation between Spain and other economies.
 
     They also met with Spain Startup President and officials from IE University, the organisers of the renowned innovation and entrepreneurship event South Summit, which brings together a world of start-ups, investors, and entrepreneurs each year. The Financial Secretary welcomed the prospect of holding the South Summit in Hong Kong, and for good reasons.
 
     Asia’s super-connector, Hong Kong is at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its consumer-powered population of more than 80 million people. Technology and innovation will drive the flourishing future of both Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
 
     Hong Kong is also among the world’s leading financial centres – placing third worldwide and topping the Asia-Pacific in the latest Global Financial Centres Index. Also, in the World Bank Group Business Ready 2024 Report which was just published last week, Hong Kong is among the top ten performers among 50 economies covered in that report. 
 
     We are familiar with the common law and we have connection with the Mainland legal system through a number of very important mutual legal assistance arrangements. Hong Kong is also a unique gateway. We can help Spanish start-ups find markets, and fund their expansion in the Mainland China and throughout Asia.
 
     Our legal co-operation with Spain is also well-established. I’m pleased to say that there has been well-established regimes for legal co-operation on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and the co-operation has been smooth and effective.
 
     Our good ties extend to culture and culinary creativity, too. This year’s Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival opens in less than two weeks at Central Harbourfont. And I know Hong Kong will revel in the Festival’s Spanish gourmet delights and featured wine and spirit tastings. They will surely be among the highlights of this year’s Wine & Dine Festival. I’ll see you there.
 
     And now, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast: to the people of Spain.

    

     The “Witty Bear Academy” exhibition is being held by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) from today (October 10) to October 15 at The Wai, Tai Wai. It aims to promote electrical and mechanical (E&M) safety and energy efficiency, and introduce the E&M industry.
      
     Speaking at the opening ceremony today, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, said that the EMSD has been diligently promoting public education and youth development through various channels such as organising activities under the E&M Young Ambassador Programme and deploying a promotion truck, with a view to enabling the younger generation to have a better understanding of the EMSD and the E&M industry to cultivate their interest in joining the industry in the future to unleash their potential and realise their goals.
      
     Admission to the exhibition being held at the L2 Atrium, The Wai, Tai Wai, is free. It features game booths and a virtual reality game. Participants can receive souvenirs after completing the games. Members of the public can also take photos with the EMSD’s mascot, Witty Bear. For details, please visit the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/what_s_new/current/index.html).

      

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 9) raided a suspected illicit cigarette and manufactured tobacco storage centre in Tsuen Wan and seized about 2.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 280 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of about $12.3 million and a duty potential of about $8.8 million.

     During the anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Tsuen Wan last night, Customs intercepted a suspicious man moving suspected illicit cigarettes into a warehouse in an industrial building on Wang Lung Street, Tsuen Wan. Subsequently, Customs seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes and manufactured tobacco from the warehouse and a truck. The man, aged 35, who claimed to be a driver, was arrested.

     Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     The arrested man has been charged with “dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies” and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on October 12.

     Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years. 
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     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements in Kowloon and New Territories this weekend (October 12 and 13) to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Cyclothon.    … read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs conducted a special operation across shopping spots in Mong Kok on October 3 and yesterday (October 9) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods, seizing a total of about 1 100 suspected counterfeit clothes and sneakers with an estimated market value of about $820,000.
      
     Customs earlier received information alleging the sale of suspected counterfeit clothing at two retailers in Mong Kok. After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action on October 3 and 9, and raided the two retailers in Mong Kok and a storage facility in a commercial building in Yau Ma Tei, seizing the batch of suspected counterfeit goods.
      
     During the operation, Customs arrested two men, aged 31 and 52. They have been released on bail pending further investigation. 
      
     An investigation is underway and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
      
     Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of counterfeit goods.
      
     Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the product authenticity is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
      
     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark 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 the sale of suspected counterfeit goods 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).