Tag Archives: China

     â€‹In response to overseas reports suggesting that Haribo candies may be contaminated and tested positive for cannabis, a government spokesperson stated today (June 6) that the Government Laboratory has completed the test on 58 samples of Haribo candy products that had already been removed from shelves. The results showed that none of the samples contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabis component. The relevant traders have been informed of the test results.

     Upon receiving relevant information, the Centre for Food Safety (the Centre) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department contacted local food traders and consulted authorities in the Netherlands. The affected batch of products was not imported into Hong Kong, but for prudence sake, the Centre had previously informed the trade to temporarily remove the brand’s candies from shelves.

     The government will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate actions as needed. read more

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Gala Dinner this evening (June 6):

Consul General (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe), Alain (President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, Mr Alain Li), friends from the French business community, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Bonsoir. Good evening. Thank you for the kind invitation to join you at this splendid gala dinner. It is a real pleasure to be here with so many friends from the French business community in Hong Kong. Tonight is more than a celebration. It is a testament to the deep and enduring resonance between Hong Kong and France.

     For many years, the French Chamber in Hong Kong has served as a bridge between our two economies, well beyond just business. From organising the Smart City Forum, to supporting signature events like French GourMay, you have contributed to closer co-operation and deeper friendship between our two peoples. Your efforts are truly appreciated. 

     Indeed, the ties between Hong Kong and France are strong and wide-ranging. In business and trade, we are trusted partners. Look at how French products are loved here in Hong Kong. From Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, cosmetics, designer fashion, handbags to sportswear, French elegance is everywhere in this city. 

     With the growing affluence of the Greater Bay Area and across the Mainland and the Asian region, I believe there is tremendous potential for French products to expand their presence. The appetite for French quality, craftsmanship and style is strong in this region. 

     With our strategic location, connections and deep understanding of these markets, Hong Kong is the ideal base to bring your ambitions to life. I’m heartened to see a rising number of French businesses establishing their presence here. As of last year, some 360 French companies call Hong Kong home, many serving as regional headquarters. 

     Let me assure you that Hong Kong remains firmly committed to open markets and free trade, despite rising protectionism and geo-economic fragmentation. We continue to offer a predictable, transparent and pro-business environment. One that best connects the opportunities in this part of the world with businesses from Europe.

     At the same time, with China being the largest Asian investor in France, Hong Kong has a unique and strategic role to play: as a conduit channeling Mainland investments into France, and as a springboard for Mainland companies going to Europe.

     Ladies and gentlemen, our partnership with France is not only growing in scale, but also in depth and diversity. French technologies and expertise have long contributed to Hong Kong’s development in such areas as waste management, smart mobility, energy efficiency and construction engineering. 

     And new frontiers of co-operation are emerging, especially in the area of innovation and technology. With your innovation prowess and a vibrant startup ecosystem, France is actually one of the top sources of start-up founders in Hong Kong. And we are seeing more exchanges and collaboration. Following your participation in our InnoEX in April, I’m pleased to note that 20 Hong Kong start-ups, engaging in AI, biotech, green tech and fintech, will showcase their solutions at VivaTech’s Hong Kong Pavilion next week. 

     Another exciting area of collaboration is aviation. A French company, which is a global leader in aeronautical services, will establish facilities in Hong Kong for aircraft dismantling, parts recycling and manpower training. This will support our vision to become a regional centre for aircraft parts processing and trading.

     Beyond business, our affiliations are brought to life through people-to-people connections. In the first five months of this year, we welcomed over 64 000 French visitors, a 9 per cent increase compared to last year. Each visit, each exchange, adds to the vibrant tapestry of friendship between our communities.

     These bonds will be enriched and sustained through arts, culture, sport and culinary delights. French creativity, elegance and excellence continue to inspire us here in Hong Kong. And we are equally delighted that Hong Kong’s films and arts enjoy a good following in France. 

     We all eagerly look forward to more interactions. This July, our brand-new Kai Tak Sports Park will host a game featuring the Europa League champion. Yes, we want better. We’re hoping to host the Champions League winner here some time soon. Or perhaps even Les Blues themselves.

     Ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate this evening of friendship and partnership, let’s enjoy the fine food, wine and champagne, and most of all, the good company. Once again, I thank the French Chamber for organising this dinner. Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much.

    

     A man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan has been located.        Yu Wai-hung, aged 70, went missing after he was last seen in a hospital on Princess Margaret Hospital Road yesterday (June 5) afternoo… read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 5) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 22 kilograms of suspected ketamine and about 8kg of suspected cocaine, with a total estimated market value of about $16 million.
      
     The first case involved an 18-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, about 22kg of suspected ketamine was found in his check-in suitcase and a product containing about 6 grams of suspected nicotine was found on him. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
      
     In the second case, an 18-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Madrid, Spain, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, about 8kg of suspected cocaine was found in his check-in suitcase and a batch of suspected alternative smoking products was found on him. This passenger was subsequently arrested.
      
     The arrested male in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of a Part 1 Poison, and the arrested male in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of importing alternative smoking products. Both cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 7). 
      
     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 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.
      
     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
      
     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.
      
     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, importing an alternative smoking product is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities 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).

        

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Contribute”, “Greenlane”, “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, for four consecutive days from June 2 to yesterday (June 5). A total of 16 suspected illegal workers were arrested.

     During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 79 target locations including a food court, a grocery store, a massage parlour, residential buildings, restaurants and a warehouse. Sixteen suspected illegal workers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men and 12 women, aged 24 to 61. Among them, two men and three women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, two women were also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.