Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation codenamed "Summer" during the summer holidays at the airport, land boundary, railway and ferry control points in a bid to combat smuggling and other illegal activities through passenger channels.

     Starting on June 1 and concluding yesterday (August 30), a total of 2 791 cases were detected in the three-month operation, resulting in the seizure of items with an estimated value of $17.5 million and the arrest of 2 786 persons.

     On the anti-narcotics front, 53 dangerous drug cases were detected with the arrest of 53 persons, including five young people aged under 21. About 24 kilograms of suspected dangerous drugs with an estimated market value of $9.6 million were seized. Most of the intercepted items were methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice"), cannabis resin and cocaine found mainly from inbound air passengers.

     During the operation, Customs officers also seized about 910 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and 126 litres of dutiable liquor with an estimated duty potential of $1.93 million in the passenger channels at various control points. Of the 2 482 persons arrested, 179 were prosecuted and 2 303 others were fined.

     Customs officers also detected 117 smuggling cases involving items of suspected endangered species, including American ginseng, dried seahorse, rhino horn, agarwood and controlled frog species with an estimated value of $3.5 million. Five hundred and sixty kilograms of meat and poultry without a health certificate were also seized. The cases were handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department respectively for follow-up.

     Reiterating that Customs has always adopted a zero tolerance approach towards cross-boundary smuggling activities, a department spokesman said that the operation was successful in hitting smuggling and other illegal activities through passenger channels.

     The spokesman reminds members of the public, particularly young people, not to engage in drug trafficking and smuggling activities. "It is anticipated that criminals may make use of cross-boundary students for smuggling of various prohibited and controlled items when the school year starts. Hong Kong Customs pledges to step up enforcement action against smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis."

     Smuggling is a serious offence. The spokesman urges parents and guardians not to make use of children as smuggling tools.

      

      The Process Review Panel in relation to the Regulation of Mandatory Provident Fund Intermediaries (PRP) published its 2018 Annual Report today (August 31), covering the work of the PRP in the current review cycle, from November 1, 2016, to October 31, 2017, the 12 months after the last review.
 
     Welcoming the publication of the 2018 Annual Report, the PRP Chairman, Dr Eddy Fong, said, "In the current review cycle, there were a total of 41 completed conduct cases relating to Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) intermediaries. Among all, the PRP selected 14 cases for detailed review. Leveraging on our members' professional knowledge, the PRP has made constructive comments and suggestions to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) for enhancing the regulatory regime. I am also pleased to note the MPFA's favourable response and actions taken in response to the PRP's recommendations in past Annual Reports."
 
     Dr Fong added, "I am grateful to the MPFA for co-operating closely with the PRP, and their continuous dedication to perfecting the regulatory regime for MPF intermediaries."
 
     The 2018 Annual Report has been uploaded to the website of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau at (www.fstb.gov.hk/fsb/topical/doc/prp_mpfi_2018_e.pdf).
 
     Following the commencement of the statutory regime for the regulation of MPF intermediaries in November 2012, the Chief Executive appointed the PRP in November 2013 to review and advise the MPFA on the adequacy and consistency of its internal procedures and operational guidelines governing its actions and operational decisions in the regulation of MPF intermediaries and associated matters.
 
     The PRP attaches great importance to the views of the public and market participants. Comments relating to the PRP’s work can be referred to the Secretariat of the PRP via email at enq@fstb.gov.hk.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
  
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced that in accordance with the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance (the Ordinance), the Monetary Authority (MA) published in the Gazette today (August 31) notices to designate the relevant retail payment systems operated respectively by Joint Electronic Teller Services Limited and EPS Company (Hong Kong) Limited (designated systems), as well as to declare activities that are allowed to be carried out through the relevant designated systems (Annex). 
 
     The Ordinance empowers the MA to designate important retail payment systems and oversee their operations. Implementation of the designation regime for retail payment systems will enhance the operating standards of the local retail payment industry. It will also help strengthen public confidence in the payment systems.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (August 31) announced that the 37th invitation exercise in the Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks (PVRMs) Scheme will be launched on September 1.

     "Starting from September 1, applications are invited under the 37th invitation exercise for the allocation of PVRMs upon sale by auction. Completed application forms should reach the department no later than September 30. If there are more than 1 500 applications, those to be considered will be selected by lot," a TD spokesman said.

     Interested persons should complete and submit the application forms (TD569). Those who possess a digital certificate may also make use of the online application service at the GovHK website (www.gov.hk).

     Application forms (TD569) and Guidance Notes for Application can be downloaded from the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or obtained from the TD's Licensing Offices as well as the Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department. Completed applications can be put in the drop-in box at any of the TD's Licensing Offices or posted to Vehicle Registration Marks Unit, Transport Department, Room 506-508, 5/F, Harcourt House, 39 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Applications received by mail will be dated by the postmark. No payment of deposit is required at this stage.

     Applicants are advised to read carefully the Guidance Notes for details of the scheme before completing the application forms. They can also check whether a proposed PVRM is in compliance with the basic combination requirements by using the online service at the GovHK webpage at www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/vehicle/onlineservices.htm.

     Each applicant may submit only one application in each exercise. If an applicant submits more than one application, none of his/her applications will be processed. Once submitted, the applicant cannot withdraw the application or change the arrangement of the PVRM stated in the application form.

     An acknowledgement will immediately be sent to the applicant upon successful submission of online application. Those who submit the applications by TD569 will receive TD's acknowledgement by ordinary post within two weeks after submission. Applicants who do not receive the acknowledgement within this time frame should call the TD hotline at 2804 2600.

     Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between September and November 2018. The schedule for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2018 was provided to the media in September 2017. No change has been made to the original schedule.
 
September 2018
============

Date                 Press Release
—–                 ——————
6                      Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for second quarter 2018
 
10                    Quarterly business receipts indices for service industries for second quarter 2018
 
11                    Construction output statistics for second quarter 2018
 
11                    Statistics on trade involving outward processing in the mainland of China for second quarter 2018
 
13                    Index of industrial production and producer price index for the industrial sector for second quarter 2018
 
14                    Gross National Income and external primary income flows for second quarter 2018
 
18                    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for June – August 2018
 
19                    Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for second quarter 2018
 
20                    Consumer Price Index for August 2018
 
20                    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for July 2018
 
20                    Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2018
 
21                    Balance of Payments and International Investment Position statistics for second quarter 2018
 
27                    External merchandise trade statistics for August 2018
 
27                    Wage and payroll statistics for June 2018
 
October 2018
==========

Date                 Press Release
—–                 ——————
2                      Retail sales statistics for August 2018
 
18                    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for August 2018
 
19                    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for July – September 2018
 
19                    Business expectations for fourth quarter 2018
 
23                    Consumer Price Index for September 2018
 
25                    External merchandise trade statistics for September 2018
 
26                    Salary indices for managerial and professional employees for June 2018
 
November 2018
============

Date                 Press Release
—–                 ——————
1                      Retail sales statistics for September 2018
 
5                      Restaurant receipts and purchases statistics for third quarter 2018
 
15                    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for September 2018
 
16                    Gross Domestic Product for third quarter 2018 : data contained in the press release entitled "Economic                                      Situation in the Third Quarter of 2018 and Latest GDP and Price Forecasts for 2018" issued by the Office of the                          Government Economist under the Financial Secretary's Office (Note)
 
16                    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for August – October 2018
 
20                    Consumer Price Index for October 2018
 
26                    External merchandise trade statistics for October 2018
 
30                    Retail sales statistics for October 2018
 
Note: The Office of the Government Economist under the Financial Secretary's Office will issue a press release on the Third Quarter Economic Report 2018 and final update of the GDP and prices forecasts for 2018 as a whole. The GDP for the third quarter of 2018 will also be released there. No separate press release on the GDP for the third quarter of 2018 will be issued by the Census and Statistics Department on that day.
 
The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2018 can be downloaded from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp).