A Mainland female was charged at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with two counts of making false representation to an Immigration Department (ImmD) staff member, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment on June 9.

      The 48-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor. During her stay, the defendant submitted applications for an extension of stay to the ImmD, and claimed her reason for the extension was for visiting her husband in Hong Kong. The ImmD later found out that the defendant's husband had passed away in Hong Kong prior to the defendant's arrival, and thus began an investigation into the defendant.

      After investigation, the defendant was charged with the offence of making false representation to an Immigration staff member for the reason of extension. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts on June 9.

      "Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to an Immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," an ImmD spokesman said.

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 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to fraudulent social media posts, 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 posts 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.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 12) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Network of Family Office Service Providers Launch Ceremony organised by Invest Hong Kong today (June 12):
 
Chris (Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui), Salina (Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Ms Salina Yan), professional service providers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 
 
     Welcome to this milestone event in our effort to promote Hong Kong as a hub and premier destination for family offices. As you know, Hong Kong, with our vibrant financial ecosystem, sophisticated financial infrastructure and the best professional services providers like you all, is naturally the preferred choice of location for global family offices. Let alone our connectivity with the Mainland which has made us the only place in the world where Mainland and global investment opportunities converge.
 
     The Chief Executive, in his Policy Address last October, has set a target of attracting at least 200 family offices to establish or expand in Hong Kong by the end of 2025. This year, we had a great event, the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit. Taking that opportunity, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau launched a policy statement outlining our vision and action plan to develop Hong Kong into a premier hub for family offices. On that particular occasion, more than 200 top family offices owners and managers went to Hong Kong. Now, after the Summit, we are pleased to report that you will be seeing some of them to be located here, and a lot more others are in the pipeline.
 
     On the Government's side, we have passed legislation to enhance the competitiveness of our tax system for family offices. We have also set up a dedicated team in Invest Hong Kong, FamilyOfficeHK. With the support of the financial regulators – the SFC (Securities and Futures Commission), the HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority), you name it – the Hong Kong Inc. as a team will give it our all to accelerate development in this particular area.
 
     Indeed, this Network of Family Office Service Providers brings together the relevant professional services providers, including private bankers, trustees, lawyers, accountants, wealth management professionals, etc, where you can meet each other and make mutual business referrals. And at the same time, help us, as a team, to promote Hong Kong to our target markets.
 
     Very important too, is the network's representation of the sector for policy advocacy, to give us advice on how we can better facilitate the sector's business growth and thrive together.
 
     One particular point that I would like to make here is that when you speak to family office owners and managers about the business opportunities in Hong Kong – of course, you are more than able to tell it well in the frontline – please impress upon them that Hong Kong is much more than business. Hong Kong is indeed a very good place to live in. We have over 200 restaurants recommended by Michelin. We have no duty on wine. So if you like food and beverage, Hong Kong is the place. What's more, if they like the countryside, our trails are excellent. We have many diverse cultural activities, which is a strength of Hong Kong.
 
     Speaking of cultural activities, the recently completed cultural infrastructure, such as the Palace Museum, the M+ Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Arts, are fantastic places for people to visit. So do share with them.
 
     And of course, the diversity of our education programmes here, where we have more than 50 international schools covering programmes of different countries and jurisdictions. And for law and order, Hong Kong is a very safe city. These are all important factors for family offices owners and their managers to consider in making decisions on where they would base.
 
     I hope and I believe you will, having heard the above, be as optimistic as I am about our prospects in family offices development in Hong Kong.
 
     Finally, may I also take this opportunity to thank Invest Hong Kong for organising this event, and thank each and every one of you for joining us. I wish you the best of health and business in the many years to come.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
 
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to two major international sports events that will be held in June this year, namely the FIVB Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2023 presented by China Life (Overseas) (June 13 to 18) and the 2023 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races (June 24 and 25).
      
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (June 12) that like all other "M" Mark events, these two events will add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong and thereby bring in more visitors from abroad.

     "After a four-year hiatus, these two 'M' Mark events will be held in Hong Kong again, which does not only showcase Hong Kong's capability to host world-class events, but also enhance Hong Kong's position as a centre for major international sports events. These events will allow Hong Kong audiences to enjoy high-level competitions and cultivate a sporting culture in the community," Mr Ng said.

     The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help "local national sports associations" and private and non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events. 
      
     For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.