â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 6) detected a case involving online sale of counterfeit perfume and cosmetics, and seized about 1 500 items of suspected counterfeit products with an estimated market value of about $680,000. A woman was arrested.

     Customs earlier carried out cyber patrols and made use of a big-data analytics system to conduct risk assessments and analyses. It was found that suspected counterfeit perfume and cosmetics had been put on sale at an online shop opened via a social media platform.

     Customs officers then posed as customers and conducted test-purchases online. After an in-depth investigation, and with the assistance of the trademark owners, Customs officers took action yesterday and met a female seller of the online shop in Tuen Mun to make a deal. One bottle of suspected counterfeit perfume was seized and the 26-year-old woman was then arrested.

     Customs officers later escorted the arrested woman to an industrial unit in Tuen Mun, where a search was carried out and a batch of about 1 500 items of suspected counterfeit perfume and cosmetics were further seized.

     An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out. Also, Customs is looking into the source of the suspected counterfeit goods involved in the case, and samples will be sent to the Government Laboratory for safety testing.

     Customs reminds customers to purchase goods at reputable shops or online shops, and to avoid conducting transactions with suspicious online shops. Customers should check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Customs has been striving to protect consumer rights and carries out inspections in the market and on the Internet from time to time. Moreover, Customs officers made use of a big-data analytics system to conduct risk assessments and analyses to verify whether online shops complied with the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) with a view to safeguarding the interests of consumers while making online purchases.

     Under the TDO, 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 infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     A Government spokesman said today (June 7) that during the construction of foundation works for a public housing development project at Kai Tak Site 2B3, the reading in a settlement monitoring checkpoint installed at the MTR Sung Wong Toi emergency egress point of Tuen Ma Line reached 20 millimetres on June 5, which was the pre-set trigger level for suspension of works. In accordance with the established procedures, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has, on the same day, suspended the relevant foundation works of the development project within 30 metres from the emergency egress point as requested by the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing.
 
     The above-mentioned monitoring checkpoint was installed by the HA to meet the requirement of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) in accordance with the established procedures for railway protection. These procedures aim to facilitate the MTRCL's monitoring of settlement data of nearby projects, thereby ensuring that the structural safety of railway facilities and the safety of railway operation would not be affected by the works concerned.
 
     The ICU, the HA's building team, the Buildings Department (BD) and the MTRCL have deployed staff to inspect the emergency egress point concerned and confirmed that it is structurally safe. The settlement has not affected the structural safety of other adjacent railway facilities. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has reviewed the monitoring data submitted by the MTRCL in relation to operation safety of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway fulfilled the operation safety requirements. The construction works concerned have not affected the structural safety of the railway facilities and safe operation of the railway.
 
     The ICU and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation and maintain close communication with the BD and the EMSD to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and safe operation of the railway.
 
     The ICU and the MTRCL will request the HA's building team responsible for the development project to formulate mitigation measures and suitable construction methods that would not cause adverse impacts on the railway facilities.
 
     Upon receipt of the above-mentioned proposal and application for resumption of the suspended works from the HA, the ICU will vigorously scrutinise the application including consulting the MTRCL and other relevant government departments, so as to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and safe operation of the railway. The EMSD will also confirm that the MTRCL has put in place stringent monitoring measures to ensure the safety of railway operation. Moreover, if the HA's building team proposes to revise the monitoring trigger level(s) for suspension of works, the ICU will, on the basis of ensuring the structural safety of the railway facilities and safe operation of the railway, consider the proposal having regard to the circumstances after consulting the MTRCL and other relevant government departments. When the application for resumption of suspended works has been agreed, the ICU, the BD and the EMSD will make an announcement to the public about the decision.

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, joined by the Legislative Council (LegCo) President and Members, called on continued support from the public for organ donations in an event held for the same good cause at the LegCo Complex today (June 7). He reiterated that organ transplants are still the best chance for many patients with end-stage organ failures to live a new life. Members of the public showing their willingness to donate organs by registering on the Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR) (www.codr.gov.hk) carry great significance to patients awaiting organ donations and their families.
 
     Professor Lo said, "Despite the rapid advances in medical development, organ transplants remain the only hope for rekindling the lives of many patients with end-stage organ failures. At present, over 2 600 patients with organ failures in Hong Kong are waiting for organ transplants. Among them, most are waiting for kidney transplants and the average waiting time for a cadaveric kidney transplant is about five years, with the longest reaching 29 years. The average waiting time for patients queuing for heart, lung and liver transplants is about two to three years. Many of these patients indeed passed away while waiting."
 
     Hong Kong has been adopting an "opt-in" system for cadaveric organ donations. Members of the public may indicate their wish to donate organs by registering on the CODR. The registration number of the CODR has increased from 45 150 in 2009 to over 350 000 now, reflecting the strong support for organ donations from the general public. Nevertheless, according to the projection of the Thematic Household Survey Report No. 74 published in 2021, over 1.3 million people indicated that they are willing to donate their organs after death. The figure shows a huge discrepancy with the CODR registration figure, implying that quite a number of kind-hearted persons have yet to put their thoughts into action.  
 
     "Organ donation is a selfless and generous act of benevolence to save lives. Registration through the CODR is an effective means to clearly indicate to family members and medical staff one's wish for an organ donation," Professor Lo added.
 
     The Department of Health (DH) has set up an organ donation promotion booth on the ground floor of the LegCo Complex for operation from 10am to 5.30pm today and from 9am to 5pm tomorrow till next Tuesday (June 13), except Saturday and Sunday. Members of the public are welcome to visit for registration. Moreover, members of the public may register by themselves via the CODR website any time, anywhere. If citizens opt for online registration via "iAM Smart", they can even have their identity validated during the application process at ease in no time.
 
     Furthermore, the DH has also set up a booth to promote organ donations at the Central Government Offices this week to enable government personnel to register on the CODR and encourage them to spread the message for supporting organ donations to their families and friends.
 
     The Government will, in collaboration with community partners, continue to spare no effort in advocating organ donations in different aspects by strengthening public education and promotion through a multi-pronged approach in a bid to cultivate a receptive and respectful culture for organ donations, such that more patients awaiting an organ transplant will be given a new lease of life, and their families will be filled with joy again. 
 
      For more information on organ donations, members of the public may visit the thematic website at www.organdonation.gov.hk or the "Organ Donation@HK" Facebook page at www.facebook.com/organdonationhk.

            

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (June 7) that the official foreign currency reserve assets of Hong Kong amounted to US$421.0 billion as at the end of May 2023 (end-April 2023: US$427.4 billion) (Annex).

     There were no unsettled foreign exchange contracts at end-May 2023 (end-April 2023: US$0.8 billion). 

     The total foreign currency reserve assets of US$421.0 billion represent over five times the currency in circulation or about 40 per cent of Hong Kong dollar M3.

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     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund's data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund's Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA's policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of June 2023, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

     The Director of Audit, Professor Nelson Lam, led a delegation of the Audit Commission on June 5 to start a two-day visit to Beijing. The delegation visited the National Audit Office (NAO), the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council and the Beijing Municipal Audit Bureau to give briefings on the work of the Audit Commission and to gain an understanding of the latest development of auditing work on the Mainland.
 
     On the first day of the trip, Professor Lam visited the NAO and met the Auditor General, Mr Hou Kai. Professor Lam briefed Mr Hou on the recent work of the Audit Commission, while Mr Hou shed light on the latest trend of audit work on the Mainland. The officials discussed, among other issues, the participation of Audit Commission staff in United Nations audit projects as part of the NAO team, and also the strengthening of co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in areas of auditing, personnel exchange and training.
 
      "It is my first time visiting Beijing as the Director of Audit since assuming the position last year. This is a meaningful occasion for me to lead my colleagues of the Audit Commission to visit the NAO. I have to express my heartfelt gratitude to the NAO for giving our staff the precious opportunity to take part in United Nations audit projects as part of the NAO team. From this meeting, we have gained from our motherland the spirit and practical skills in auditing, which we will definitely bring back to Hong Kong and put into solid practice. On top of that, tapping into the advantage of 'one country, two systems' of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, we will reach out and connect with the world, with the strong support of our motherland, to showcase the auditing excellence of our nation," said Professor Lam. Mr Hou shared with the delegation the essence of the first meeting of the Central Auditing Commission under the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, and said, "The NAO pays close attention to the development of auditing work in Hong Kong and will offer even stronger support in areas such as capacity building. The auditing work in Hong Kong should be delivered in such a way as to fit better into the grand scheme of national development and make greater contribution to the enhancement of governance, strengthening of development momentum, addressing of people's concerns and difficulties, and safeguarding of social harmony for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region." 
 
     The delegation paid a visit yesterday morning (June 6) to the HKMAO and met the Director-General of the Department of Exchange and Cooperation, Mr Wu Wei. Professor Lam gave a brief introduction on the latest work of the Audit Commission, and exchanged views with Mr Wu on applying the spirit of the 20th National Congress and the "two sessions" to auditing work, hereby enhancing the supervisory role of auditing in public service. "The Audit Commission will fully and faithfully implement the Central Government's principle of 'one country, two systems' in delivering our duties and stay fully committed to supporting the governance of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," said Professor Lam. 
 
     In the afternoon on the same day, the delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Audit Bureau and met its Director-General, Ms Ma Lanxia. The officials exchanged views on issues of mutual interest about auditing.
 
     Officials accompanying Professor Lam on the trip included the Deputy Director of Audit, Mr Ken Liang, and Principal Auditor Mr Anthony Lo of the Audit Commission. Two officers of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also accompanied Professor Lam for the visit. The delegation returned to Hong Kong last night.