The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) conducted today (May 25) an ad hoc market surveillance around Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po, and distributed pamphlets to members of the public and traders to remind them not to use, purchase or sell SIM cards from unknown sources or allegedly having completed registration.

     "To raise public awareness on the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards (Real-name Registration Programme), OFCA regularly conducts market surveillance and publicity activities to remind members of the public and traders not to defy the law and to complete the real-name registration with their own identity document, with a view to protecting their own interests and avoiding any loss and criminal liability," a spokesman for OFCA said.

     Under the Real-name Registration Programme, all SIM cards issued and used locally (including service plan SIM cards and pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards) must have their real-name registration completed before service activation. Since the full implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme on February 24, OFCA has been carrying out a series of monitoring and enforcement actions to ensure that the real-name registration systems of telecommunications service providers comply with the requirements of the law and relevant guidelines.

     OFCA and telecommunications service providers also conduct sample checks on the registration information from time to time. According to the law and relevant guidelines, if a telecommunications service provider has reasonable grounds to believe that the registration information of the relevant SIM card is incomplete or irregular, the telecommunications service provider must take reasonable steps to request the relevant user to rectify. If the users subject to sample checks are unable to verify pursuant to the instructions of the respective telecommunications service providers, the relevant PPS cards will be deregistered and cannot be used afterwards.

     The spokesman added, "Upon the receipt of an SMS from his/her telecommunications service provider using the designated sender address 'SIMREG', the user subject to sample check should provide his/her own identity document again by following the instructions provided in the SMS for verification of the registered information. Please be reminded that telecommunications service providers would not ask users to transfer money or provide bank account number and password, etc. under any circumstances. If in doubt, users should contact the telecommunications service providers concerned for more information." 

     In addition, OFCA has been maintaining close contact with telecommunications service providers, requesting them to strengthen the inspection of the user information of the registered PPS cards. In case of any suspicious cases of real-name registration, they should promptly be referred to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. Recently, based on a telecommunications service provider's report the Police arrested suspects of using fake identity card information to register a large number of PPS cards.

     The spokesman emphasised that providing false information and/or false document under the Real-name Registration Programme may constitute a criminal offence. Depending on the nature of the act and proof of evidence, the applicable offences include obtaining services by deception under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and/or using false instrument under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200). In addition, any person who knowingly transfers PPS cards for illicit purpose may be liable for aiding and abetting the commission of the relevant offence under section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221).

     For details of the Real-name Registration Programme, please visit OFCA's website (www.ofca.gov.hk/simreg/en).

    

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre Establishment Anniversary & MOU Signing Ceremony today (May 25):

His Excellency Dr Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol (Secretary-General, Asian African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO)), Mr Nick Chan (Director, AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre), Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. It is my great privilege to address you all as we gather here to celebrate the first anniversary of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre this evening.  

     Marking the centre's first anniversary, I am encouraged to reflect upon Hong Kong's ever-closer relationship with AALCO. We have gone from strength to strength since our first participation in AALCO's Annual Session as part of the Chinese delegation back in 2015, followed by Hong Kong hosting the 59th Annual Session of AALCO in hybrid mode in November 2021, and the announcement of the establishment of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre at the same Annual Session. With the centre opening its doors this time last year, here I wish to give my thanks to AALCO and the Secretary-General and his staff at the secretariat for their efforts in making this happen, transforming an idea to establish a new AALCO arbitration centre in 2018 to where we are today. 

     Special thanks and gratitude must also go to the staunch, effective and lasting support and immense trust of the Central People's Government, without which our collaborations with AALCO cannot be possible. Being a Special Administrative Region and enjoying the unique advantages afforded to us, notably our common law system under the principle of "one country, two systems", the establishment of the sixth AALCO Regional Arbitration Centre in Hong Kong reflects the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative launched by President Xi a decade ago, and contributes to strengthening co-operation in this region and also among Asian and African countries.

     In addition to the unwavering support of the Central People's Government, Hong Kong has a wealth of legal and dispute resolution professionals with attributes including cross-regional experience, legal and sector-specific expertise, multilingual proficiency and cultural diversity. The establishment and operation of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre goes a long way in enhancing the synergy between the legal, dispute resolution and business communities. Coupled with the provision of professional and quality legal and dispute resolution services in Hong Kong, I am very confident that the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre will significantly contribute to Hong Kong's position as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the region and beyond. 

     This afternoon we will witness the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre and various legal and dispute resolution organisations. We are also bearing witness to the hard work of Nick and his team in bringing together so many distinguished organisations for further co-operation. The signing of such MOUs will not only strengthen the co-operation between the organisations, but will also further the advancement of the legal and dispute resolution professions in Hong Kong, promoting and increasing the capacity of the use of dispute resolution mechanisms in Hong Kong and in the region.  

     It should therefore be of no surprise that Hong Kong has been ranked among the top five preferred seats for arbitration globally since 2015, and ranked the third most popular seat for arbitration in the most recent survey in 2021. This is due in part to our continued collaborations with international organisations such as AALCO, our robust and up-to-date dispute resolution framework such as updates to the law last year to allow outcome related fee structures for arbitration, and of course our close collaborations with the Mainland, providing for unique mechanisms such as the interim measures arrangement which has been in effect since 2019.

     Ladies and gentlemen, collaborations with international organisations will continue. Our dispute resolution framework will continually be updated to reflect international practice. Our relationship with the Mainland will become ever stronger. There is no question that Hong Kong will continue to play a leading role as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region and will do so for many years to come. On this note, I congratulate again the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre on its anniversary, and look forward to continuing our collaborations. Thank you.

  

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (May 25) chaired the 17th meeting of the Commission on Children (CoC).

     At the meeting, members were briefed by the representative of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau on the Youth Development Blueprint announced by the Government in December 2022. The Blueprint outlines the overall vision and guiding principles for the Government's long-term youth development work. In the four chapters of the Blueprint that refer to different development stages of youth, the chapter "Exploration" highlights that young people transitioning from childhood to adulthood are at the enlightenment stage of their lives. They should be encouraged to explore and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge, and be instilled with positive values to help them develop talent and prepare for their future pursuits. Members welcomed the array of over 160 specific actions and measures in the Blueprint and offered views on how the Government should join with various sectors of society to implement the initiatives effectively.

     Moreover, members discussed the views collected from children and stakeholders (including parents, school principals, teachers, social workers and healthcare professionals) in an engagement session organised by the CoC in early May on the challenges of moving on from the COVID-19 epidemic and resuming normal school life. The children were generally happy with the resumption of school life, yet experienced anxiety about restoring the routine and adjusting to the schoolwork pattern. The stakeholders were concerned about children's socialising and academic skills, eye health and physical fitness, Internet surfing habits, etc. Members said that they were pleased to note the Government's steadfast implementation of a series of support measures for children, families and schools. They include enhancing learning activities within and beyond the classroom, nurturing positive thinking, strengthening mental health, and offering guidelines on healthy digital screen time. Also, the Government has been providing support for children with special needs and children having recovered from COVID-19 to assist with their early adjustment to normal school life.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (May 25) reminded members of the public to think carefully before participating in mercy releases of animals.

     A spokesman for the AFCD said, "Some members of the public have engaged themselves in mercy release activities which involve releasing of animals in recent years. However, releasing animals improperly, including releasing them into an unsuitable habitat, may affect their survival. In addition, if exotic species or species that are incompatible with the local ecology are released, they may compete with native species for resources and adversely affect the local ecology. Therefore, the Government does not encourage the public to release animals."

     The AFCD inspects places where animal releasing activities are likely to take place at appropriate times, and carries out publicity and education work.

     Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to animals by releasing them improperly. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years upon conviction.

     The spokesman reiterated that to safeguard animal welfare, members of the public must think carefully before participating in animal release activities and may also consider other options such as planting trees or participating in volunteer services with animal welfare groups and environmental protection organisations in lieu of animal release.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Rhinovirus/Enterovirus in a ward of the Developmental Disabilities Unit, the spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre gave the following update today (May 25):

     One more female patient (aged 16) of the same ward has presented with fever and respiratory symptoms since May 24. Her viral test result was positive for Rhinovirus/Enterovirus. The patient is being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.

     Enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward concerned according to prevailing guidelines. Droplet and contact precautions, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the environment and equipment have also been strengthened. The ward concerned has also suspended visiting arrangements.

     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.