Tag Archives: China

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Wuhan, Hubei Province today (September 25).

     In the morning, Professor Sun attended the 2024 China Automotive Supply Chain Conference and the Third China Intelligent Networked New Energy Vehicle Ecological Conference organised by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Dongfeng Motor Corporation, as well as the launching ceremony of the International Automotive and Supply Chain (Hong Kong) Summit and the 2025 International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong).

     Speaking at the Conference, Professor Sun said that the automobile industry has entered the new energy era, making it an emerging industry under new industrialisation. In the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, new energy vehicle is also one of the significant industries advocated for development under new industrialisation.

     He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology signed the Co-operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation last week. Those areas jointly promoted by the two sides are intertwined with the supply chain of new energy vehicle industry. Over the past two years or so, the HKSAR Government attracted over 100 strategic innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises to set up their businesses in Hong Kong, including BeyonCa, a joint enterprise established earlier in Hong Kong by today’s event co-organiser Dongfeng Motor Corporation and France’s Renault Group. He is confident that Hong Kong can make new contributions to the innovative development of the national supply chain of new energy vehicle industry, thereby augmenting the new advantages of Chinese vehicle brands.

     Professor Sun then visited Dongfeng Motor Corporation and learned about the corporation’s latest development, product planning and corporate culture. He had in-depth exchanges with the Chairman of the corporation, Mr Yang Qing, on the corporation’s development of new quality productive forces in the future and potential co-operation opportunities between the two parties in aspects such as new industrialisation, with the aim of making good use of Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” and the unique function as a dual lane to assist Mainland enterprises to go global and expand overseas markets. He particularly hoped that both sides’ collaboration on the project of BeyonCa setting up in Hong Kong will serve as a demonstration of co-operation with each other.

     Professor Sun also visited the corporation’s Mengshi Tech Intelligent Park to tour the assembly final workshop, and experience the functionality and performance of the latest domestic high-end off-road electric vehicles at the off-road experience field. Through on-site visits, exchanges and interactions, as well as dynamic experiences, he learned more about the production process and technology capabilities of Mengshi automobiles. Besides, Professor Sun was briefed in detail on the first model car of BeyonCa and he called for accelerating the plan of setting up assembly production line in Hong Kong.

     In the afternoon, Professor Sun visited Wuhan FineMEMS Inc. to gain an understanding of the national high technology enterprise’s technology research and development and products in providing MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) sensors, and metallic thick film pressure sensors and system. He also visited the fully automated one piece flow smart production line established by the company.

     Professor Sun then proceeded to the Wuhan University to meet and exchange views with leaders and experts from Wuhan University, other local higher education institutions, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Hubei Province, Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province, as well as high-tech enterprises. Professor Sun gave the participants an update on Hong Kong’s overall I&T development. They also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration in scientific researches among higher education institutions between Hubei and Hong Kong, as well as advancing the expansion of business by Hubei I&T enterprises to Hong Kong. Professor Sun expressed his support for deepening co-operation in the I&T aspect among higher education institutions between the two places, noting that the HKSAR Government would provide appropriate support and services to university spin-off start-ups planning to establish their footholds in Hong Kong. He also encouraged start-ups in Hubei Province to leverage on Hong Kong’s edges of internationalisation and a highly market-oriented environment to expand their businesses overseas.

     The Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming, also joined the visit.

     Professor Sun concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

              

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation in Mong Kok between September 20 and today (September 25) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 8 500 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $3.6 million.

     Customs earlier conducted patrols and discovered some fixed-pitch hawker stalls selling suspected counterfeit goods in Mong Kok. After investigations, Customs officers took enforcement action during the abovementioned period and raided 25 fixed-pitch hawker stalls on Tung Choi Street and a nearby upstairs counterfeit goods storage. A batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, wallets and headphones, was seized.

     During the operation, Customs arrested two women, aged 35 and 41. An investigation is ongoing.

     With the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of counterfeit goods activities in order to safeguard consumer rights at full strength.

     Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Customs also reminds traders not to sell counterfeit goods and to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling 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 any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Madrid, Spain, today (September 25, Madrid time).

     In the morning, he led a delegation of technology start-ups to attend an exchange session organised by the IESE Business School, in which the delegation’s start-ups met and connected with over 10 Spanish start-up entrepreneurs, representatives of venture capital funds, investors, and enterprises for business matching. The IESE is one of the top business schools in Europe and the world, and has close collaborations with several universities in Hong Kong, as well as with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport.

     Mr Chan introduced the new advantages and new opportunities in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the policies and measures of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting innovation and technology, along with the recent flourishing development of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem. Representatives of start-ups and investors from both economies also introduced their businesses and development strategies, with a view to enhancing mutual knowledge and understanding, and opening up more opportunities for collaboration.

     Thereafter, Mr Chan met with the Dean of the IESE Business School, Professor Franz Heukamp, to exchange views on the business environments of Hong Kong and Spain, as well as promoting academic exchanges and co-operation between the two places. Mr Chan welcomed the IESE to further leverage Hong Kong’s international academic environment, as well as convenient connections with Mainland China and Asia, to deepen exchanges with various academic institutions and businesses in Hong Kong, promoting more bilateral co-operation in education, company executive training, and other business areas. 

     Mr Chan will leave Madrid this afternoon local time, and proceed to visit London, the United Kingdom.

      

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 25) held a joint press conference to report on the latest number of illegal import of regulated food (such as raw meat, poultry and eggs) cases and to remind members of the public not to illegally bring regulated food into Hong Kong.

     In the first eight months this year, Customs detected about 1 300 cases of illegal imports of regulated food through passenger channel at land boundary control points, exceeding the 1 019 cases in the year of 2023 and doubling that of the same period last year. This reflects that there has been a significant increasing trend in such cases recently.

     The CFS said members of the public who illegally bring regulated food into Hong Kong will not only be prosecuted, but also need to be aware that these foods may be improperly stored during travel, such as at an improper temperature or unhygienic packaging, leading to the growth of pathogenic bacteria and increased food safety and personal health risks.

     With the National Day Golden Week approaching, Customs and the CFS reminded members of the public not to illegally bring regulated food from the Mainland or overseas into Hong Kong for the sake of convenience, so as to avoid criminal liability and health risks. Meat and egg products not fully cooked and raw meat products in any forms of packaging (including vacuum packed or tinfoil) are all subject to the control of relevant regulations. Customs and CFS officers will distribute leaflets at different land boundary control points before and during the holiday to remind inbound travellers to abide the relevant regulations. 

     In addition, according to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), it is an offence to bring any game, meat, poultry or eggs into Hong Kong without a health certificate issued by an issuing entity of the place of origin and/or without prior written permission granted by the FEHD. An offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months.

     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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). read more

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, today (September 25) continued his visit programme in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a delegation comprising representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) organisations.

     In the morning, Mr Lam and his delegation met with the Chief Supervisor of the China Business Association Ho Chi Minh City Branch, Mr Sun Guo Qiang, to discuss and explore business opportunities in both places and learn about the demand for legal services in the local business sector. They then had lunch with Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam Mr Fred Burke to have a better understanding of the Vietnam business environment and their need for cross-jurisdictional legal services.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lam and his delegation met with representatives from the Vietnam International Arbitration Center to exchange views on recent developments in the arbitration landscape in both places and explore ways to strengthen collaboration. They then had a meeting with representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association to discuss the development of the legal profession and explore potential future collaborations in building stronger and closer ties.

     In the evening, Mr Lam will have dinner with the Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Xu Zhou, to share with him the latest developments in Hong Kong’s legal and ADR sector.

     Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday afternoon, Mr Lam and his delegation attended a forum titled “Hong Kong: The Common Law Gateway for Vietnamese Businesses to China and Beyond”, followed by a networking dinner, organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to meet local legal and business sectors. Speakers from the Hong Kong delegation shared their views with the audience on various topics, including Hong Kong’s diversified legal and dispute resolution services, its unique advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world under “one country, two systems”, and the opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. The event received an enthusiastic response with over 120 participants from the legal, business and other sectors of Vietnam.

     Mr Lam and the delegation will conclude their visit to Ho Chi Minh City and depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tomorrow (September 26) to attend a seminar to promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services.