Tag Archives: China

     â€‹In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary cold shelters in various districts today (March 31) for people in need of the service. The temporary shelters will remain open when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.
 
     Clean mattresses and blankets/quilts, hot meals and hot water will be provided to shelter users free of charge during the opening of the temporary shelters.
      
     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
      
     Anyone seeking temporary refuge, or those with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters, may call the department’s hotline 2572 8427 for more information.
      
     The 18 temporary cold 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:
——————
 
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:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, 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:
—————-
 
Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall 
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, 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 read more

     The Intellectual Property Department (IPD) announced today (March 31) the results of the Survey on Public Awareness of Intellectual Property (IP) Right Protection 2024, which showed that the general public maintained a high level of awareness of IP rights protection.

     A total of 1 002 members of the public responded to the survey. Over 90 per cent of them were aware that copyright, trade marks and patents are protected by dedicated ordinances in Hong Kong, maintaining the high level recorded in the 2022 survey results.
 
     The Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, said, “The IP system has always been an important driving force for innovation and creativity. The survey results, which show that the awareness of IP rights protection remains high among the general public, notably the widespread public recognition of statutory protection of copyright, trade marks and patents, are encouraging.”    
 
     Similar to the results of the last survey, this survey showed that over 60 per cent of the respondents were of the view that with Hong Kong being a regional IP trading centre, the protection of IP rights could facilitate the development of local arts, culture and creative industries as well as local innovation and technology, promote IP-related professional services in Hong Kong, attract foreign investment and strengthen the competitiveness of Hong Kong.

     With regard to the use of copyright works in the digital environment, over 80 per cent of the respondents did not browse or use infringing content from unauthorised websites or mobile apps in the past year. The major reasons cited were “worry about getting infected by computer virus/being hacked by hackers/leaking personal information on illegal websites” (28.6 per cent), “better quality assurance from authorised websites/mobile apps” (17.7 per cent) and “comply with IP laws” (15.7 per cent).
 
     The survey also showed that 90 per cent of the respondents had seldom or never bought pirated or counterfeit goods in the past year. The major reasons cited were “quality of genuine goods is guaranteed (38.8 per cent)”, “no need to buy or not interested in pirated or counterfeit goods” (36.9 per cent), and “respect and support IP rights/support genuine goods/immoral or wrong to infringe IP rights” (16.9 per cent).
    
     In terms of the attitude towards IP rights protection, over 80 per cent of the respondents agreed that “it is morally wrong to browse or use the content on unauthorised websites or mobile apps knowing that it is an infringement of IP rights” (83.0 per cent), and that “it is morally wrong to buy pirated or counterfeit goods knowing that it is an infringement of IP rights” (85.9 per cent). Both percentages are similar to the results of the last survey, indicating that the respondents maintain a very positive attitude towards IP rights protection.
 
     “Public education is crucial in promoting IP rights protection. The Government will continue to enhance public awareness of protecting and respecting IP rights, especially among the younger generation, through various educational and promotional activities,” Mr Wong said.
 
     To encourage the purchase of genuine goods, the “No Fakes Pledge” Scheme has been rolled out by the IPD alongside a number of retail and industry associations. “No Fakes” logos are displayed to help distinguish merchants that sell genuine goods. The survey revealed that 77.6 per cent of the respondents had heard of the Scheme, among which, most (75.0 per cent) considered the Scheme helpful in building confidence among consumers and tourists to shop in Hong Kong, and strengthening Hong Kong’s reputation as a “shopping paradise”.
 
     Similar surveys have been commissioned by the IPD regularly since 1999, with the previous round conducted in 2022. The report of the latest survey is available on the IPD’s website. read more

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 31) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly p… read more

     The Chief Executive has reappointed five serving members of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), including Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi, Mr Chris Ip Ngo-tung, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Ms Judy Chan Kapui and Ms Carmen Kan Wai-mun, and appointed six new members to the HA, effective from April 1, 2025, for a two-year term.
 
     The new HA members are:
 
Mr Leung Man-kwong
Ms Eviana Leung Bon-yuen
Mr Jason Chiu Tsz-kiu
Mr Philip Lo Kai-wah
Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung
Mr Michael Luk Chung-hung
 
     “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the six retiring HA members, who are Ms Melissa Pang, Mr Shiu Ka-fai, Mr Anthony Chiu Kwok-wai, Mr Lau Chun-kong, Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan and Mr Tang Ka-piu, for their invaluable contributions to the HA’s governance, estate management and construction programme over the years. I also welcome the new HA members and look forward to working closely with them in taking forward public housing developments,” said the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho.
 
     The membership of the HA as at April 1, 2025, is as follows:

Chairman
————
Secretary for Housing
 
Vice-chairman
——————
Director of Housing


Non-official members
—————————
Dr Johnnie Chan Chi-kau
Ms Cleresa Wong Pie-yue
Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi
Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan
Mr Alan Man Hoi-leung
Ms Ann Au Chor-kwan
Mr Chris Ip Ngo-tung
Dr Lo Wai-kwok
Ms Judy Chan Kapui
Ms Carmen Kan Wai-mun
Ms Jeny Yeung Mei-chun
Mr Rex Wong Siu-han
Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung
Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau
Mr Leung Man-kwong
Ms Eviana Leung Bon-yuen
Mr Jason Chiu Tsz-kiu
Mr Philip Lo Kai-wah
Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung
Mr Michael Luk Chung-hung
 
Official members
———————
Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury)
Director of Lands read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport over the past two days (March 29 and 30) and seized a total of about 102 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $50 million.
      
     The first case involved two female passengers, both aged 23, who arrived in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany, on March 29. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 81kg of suspected ketamine inside their check-in suitcases. They were subsequently arrested. The arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
      
     In the second case, a 27-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday (March 30). Customs officers seized about 21kg of suspected ketamine from her checked-in suitcase during customs clearance. The woman was subsequently arrested.
      
     The two cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (April 1).
      
     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.
      
     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/en).