The Ministry of Finance announced today (June 26) its plan to issue Renminbi (RMB) sovereign bonds totalling RMB10 billion in Hong Kong this year, of which RMB5 billion will be issued in the first half of the year and the remaining RMB5 billion will be issued in the second half of the year. The Ministry of Finance also announced its plan to issue US dollar sovereign bonds outside the Mainland totalling US$3 billion in the second half of the year. Details will be announced later.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the Ministry of Finance's issuance of RMB sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for the tenth consecutive year. This demonstrates clearly the Central Government's support in reinforcing Hong Kong's status as the global offshore RMB business hub, and is conducive to the development of the bond market in Hong Kong."
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Education visited the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) today (June 26) to better understand its services for gifted students. 

     Members first received a briefing on HKAGE's educational programmes and services by the Executive Director of HKAGE, Prof Ng Tai-kai.  Members also took the opportunity to discuss with HKAGE's Board of Directors and Senior Management Team the challenges in developing gifted education in Hong Kong and its future plan in talent development.

     Members then met with alumni and student representatives to further understand how HKAGE's programmes could help them achieve self-actualisation, make the right choice for future development and unleash their talents to contribute to society. 

     Members participating in the visit included the Panel Chairman, Dr Chiang Lai-wan; Panel Deputy Chairman, Mr Ip Kin-yuen; and Panel members Dr Elizabeth Quat, Dr Lo Wai-kwok and Mr Shiu Ka-chun.
 

      

     A man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan was located.

     Kwok Wai-hung, aged 64, went missing after last seen in Lei Cheng Uk Estate on March 12 night. His family member made a report to Police on March 19.

     The man was located in a hospital on Gascoigne Road, Yau Ma Tei this afternoon (June 26). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     Police will launch a new e-Report Centre at its website tomorrow (June 27) in view of an increasing demand for online case reporting services and increase in types of cases reported.

     The existing e-Report Room at the Police website was launched in June 1996 to provide online case reporting services to the public.  In view of the increasing usage of the e-Report Room function in recent years, Police designed the e-Report Centre with new features such as case categorisation and uploading functions, to replace the e-Report Room and better meet the needs of users.

     The new e-Report Centre will adopt a more user-friendly design, offering 23 types of report templates under five categories, namely Crime, Miscellaneous, Road Traffic Incident, Request for Information and Other Online Services. It will also allow users to upload images and document files for Police investigation.

     Other new features of the e-Report Centre include raising screening questions to classify emergent and non-emergent cases; issuing acknowledgment slip to the informant to confirm receipt of the report; and issuing  confirmation email to the informant with an e-reference number and the contact information of the unit responsible for initial handling of the report.

     The e-Report Centre is designed for reports of non-emergency nature and that instant response will not be available.  In case of emergency, members of the public should call 999 or 992 (SMS Emergency Hotline Service/Fax Service for registered users only), or contact the nearest police station.

     The public may also contact the Police via other means, such as making use of telephone hotlines, fax, e-mail, post and Crime Information Form. For details, please visit the Police website at www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/contact_us.html.
     

     A 52-year-old man who sold a dog without a one-off permit was convicted at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (June 26) for violating the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance (Cap 139).
 
     A spokesman of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that AFCD staff had received a complaint about suspected illegal trading of dogs on the Internet in November last year. An AFCD officer, posing as a customer, contacted the trader, and met the 52-year-old man at Kam Sheung Road on December 11. The man was carrying three young dogs in a dog cage. After the man agreed to sell one of the dogs for $8,500, the officer revealed his identity and follow-up investigations were initiated.
 
     Following investigations by the AFCD it was found that the man was selling dogs without a valid licence or permit. AFCD charged the man for selling a dog without a one-off permit. The man was convicted today and fined $4,000.
 
     The amended Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Trading and Breeding) Regulations (Regulations) (Cap 139B) came into force on March 20 last year. Any person who sells a dog must obtain a suitable type of licence or permit. There are three types of licence and one type of permit, namely the Animal Trader Licence and the Dog Breeder Licence Category A and Category B, as well as a one-off permit for dog owners. Those who sell animals or birds without a proper licence or permit are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000, whereas the maximum penalty for contravention of a condition attached to a licence or permit is a fine of $50,000.
 
     Since the amended Regulations came into effect, about 200 complaints have been received by the AFCD in relation to suspected dogs being offered for sale on the Internet without a licence or one-off permit. The AFCD followed up all these cases and detected suspicious elements in 42 cases. Following in-depth investigation, including decoy operations, 21 cases have been successfully prosecuted, 19 cases are still under investigation and two cases were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
 
     The spokesperson reminded the public that since the amended Regulations came into force, all animal traders and dog breeders and those who sell their own dogs should obtain a suitable type of licence or permit, and follow the licence conditions and codes of practice to ensure the welfare of animals. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution. For more details of the regulations and the application procedure for a licence or permit, please visit www.pets.gov.hk or call 1823.