â€‹To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Sik Sik Yuen is hosting the Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China – Sik Sik Yuen Intangible Cultural Heritage Lantern Festival between September 15 and October 6. The Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and Wong Tai Sin District Office collaborated with Sik Sik Yuen to organise an exhibition to introduce 12 ICH items inscribed on the National List of ICH from Hong Kong. ICH bearer organisations from Hong Kong and the Mainland are also invited to showcase their unique ICH items through performances, showcasing and promoting the excellence of Chinese culture.
      
     The exhibition will take place from today until October 6 at the Fung Ming Hall of Wong Tai Sin Temple, introducing Hong Kong's items inscribed on the National List of ICH, which include Cantonese opera, Wong Tai Sin belief and customs, Mid-Autumn Festival – the Tai Hang fire dragon dance, Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung, Quanzhen Temples Taoist ritual music, Tai O dragon boat water parade, Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, the arts of the guqin (the craft of qin making), Yu Lan Festival of Hong Kong Chiu Chow community, herbal tea, Hong Kong cheongsam making technique and Tin Hau Festival in Hong Kong. Members of the public can learn more about traditional Chinese culture through the exhibition.
      
     In addition to the exhibition, over 20 ICH bearer organisations from Hong Kong and the Mainland will deliver nearly 100 performances at the Wong Tai Sin Temple Square, showcasing unique and invaluable ICH performing arts to the public. They include Cantonese opera, face-changing of Sichuanese opera, fire dragon dance, lion and dragon dance, unicorn dance, pixiu dance, Hong Kong martial arts, puppet shows, Nanyin and more.
      
     Other Lantern Festival programmes include lectures on intangible cultural heritage with different themes, exploring topics related to the display of ICH, the origins and changes of Wong Tai Sin belief and customs, and the analysis of Cantonese opera drama script. Moreover, there will be workshops and demonstrations hosted by different ICH bearers from Hong Kong and the Mainland, including Wudang martial arts, puppet shows and Cantonese opera movements. They will also demonstrate the technique on sugar-blowing, Hong Kong-style milk tea making, heritage restoration and birdcage craftsmanship. Together with a drone show, and an open day at Wong Tai Sin Temple, the festival allows the public to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture.
      
     Pre-registration is not required for any events, and admission is free. For more event details, please visit www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/sik_sik_yuen_ich_lantern_festival.html.

            

     Hong Kong Customs will set up a booth at the Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW), to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), from tomorrow (September 18) for five consecutive days to publicise the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime (the Regime), and will provide on-site counter services to assist non-Hong Kong dealers in submitting cash transaction reports during their participation in the exhibition.

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), the Regime came into effect on April 1, 2023. Any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones, and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs and fulfil his/her anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing statutory obligations as appropriate. All dealers in precious metals and stones must successfully obtain a relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

     For non-Hong Kong dealers fulfilling the prescribed conditions (including those who come to Hong Kong to participate in exhibitions), although they are exempt from registration, they are required to submit to Hong Kong Customs a cash transaction report for any cash transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 carried out in Hong Kong within one day after the transaction, or before the dealer or the person acting on behalf of the dealer leaves Hong Kong, whichever is earlier.

     Non-Hong Kong dealers can make an online submission of a cash transaction report via the Regime's webpage at www.drs.customs.gov.hk by accessing the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System. They can also download the related form at www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsform/CED418_Form%208_Cash%20transaction%20report.pdf and then submit the report in person at Hong Kong Customs' booth at the JGW. 

     The Hong Kong Customs' booth (Booth 1A426) is located at HKCEC Hall 1A and will be open from 10am to 6pm between September 18 and 21, and from 10am to 5pm on September 22.

     Dealers can visit the website (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html) for more information about the Regime.

    

     Hong Kong Customs on September 12 seized about 2 kilograms of suspected crack cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2.1 million in Kwai Chung.

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected an air parcel, declared as nutrition supplements and arriving in Hong Kong from the United States, at a warehouse of a local consolidator company in Kwai Chung. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected crack cocaine concealed inside the parcel.

     After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation today (September 17) in Tsuen Wan and arrested a 17-year-old male consignee.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Customs reminds young people to pay attention to the fact that drug trafficking is a serious criminal offence. A criminal conviction will result in grave repercussions for their future, and they should not take risks in the hope that they may not be caught.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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 Home Affairs Department is opening 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (September 17).

     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
————————–

Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent social media account and phishing instant messages, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the social media account or instant messages concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.