Tag Archives: China

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has officially launched the Packaging Reduction Charter to encourage businesses to reassess and reduce their packaging usage, foster a waste reduction culture in commercial activities, and support Hong Kong’s long-term goals of “zero landfill” and carbon neutrality. So far, 102 local and multinational companies have already undertaken the initiative.

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, officiated at the launching ceremony today (March 31). In his speech, he highlighted that while packaging plays a crucial role in protecting products during transportation, most packaging materials are discarded after a single or limited use, placing a significant burden on the environment.

     He stated, “The launch of the Packaging Reduction Charter aims to encourage businesses to adopt sustainable packaging reduction practices, including reviewing their packaging designs to minimise unnecessary material usage, enhancing the recyclability and reusability of their packaging, as well as exploring innovative solutions. These efforts not only alleviate the pressure on landfills, but also help businesses fulfil their social responsibilities, contributing to Hong Kong’s long-term goals of ‘zero landfill’ and carbon neutrality.”

     Signatory companies to the Charter undertake to submit to the EPD their annual total packaging material usage, implement measures to reduce packaging or adopt sustainable packaging solutions, as well as encourage their upstream and downstream suppliers, business partners and customers to reduce packaging materials and enhance packaging management.
 
     To assist businesses in packaging reduction and management, the EPD has published the Practical Guides on Packaging Reduction and Management (Practical Guides) for eight specific sectors (Note) on its website. The EPD has also conducted briefing sessions for relevant trades and will closely monitor their progress in packaging reduction.

     The Packaging Reduction Charter also serves as a platform for knowledge exchanges and collaboration, enabling businesses to connect and share experiences through various activities, promote industry partnerships, and drive innovation in developing efficient and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Furthermore, the initiative will assist local businesses in preparing relevant data to meet Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting requirements on product packaging.

     Details of the Packaging Reduction Charter and the Practical Guides are available on the Hong Kong Waste Reduction website: www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk. For enquiries, please contact the Charter’s Secretariat at 5279 1936 or by email to lesspackagingcharter@bec.org.hk.

Note: The eight specific sectors covered by the Practical Guides are supermarkets and grocery stores, logistics, e-commerce, hotel and hospitality, electronics and electrical appliances, beverage manufacturing, food manufacturing, and importers.

      

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (March 31) launched the Platform for Cemeteries and Crematoria Services (service platform) (app.fehd.gov.hk/ccsp). This one-stop portal provides online services for all cemeteries and crematoria facilities under the FEHD’s management, streamlining the electronic application process and offering personalised services to further facilitate the handling of after-death arrangements for members of the public.

     Starting today, members of the public can submit applications for all cemeteries and crematoria services managed by the FEHD via the service platform, including cremation services, allocation of public niches, cemetery services, green burial, cremation or keeping services for abortus, free memorial sails and the establishment of the Internet Memorial Service Website (Advanced Planning Version). The service platform features a key function that allows members of the public to create an integrated service account to manage after-death arrangements for multiple deceased individuals, reducing cumbersome procedures. Users can also manage multiple applications for the same deceased in a single account and track the application progress of each service at a glance.

     The service platform also supports multiple electronic payment methods, saving time for the public by eliminating the need to visit cemetery and crematorium offices in person for applications and fee payments.

     Applicants must register and complete authentication on the service platform before applying for cemetery and crematorium services. The FEHD encourages the use of the “iAM Smart” electronic identity verification, which automatically fills in parts of the online forms to expedite the application process.

     To facilitate the public in registering as users of the service platform and understanding how to handle after-death arrangements through the new system, the FEHD has produced a series of demonstration videos and pamphlets. For details, please visit the following website: www.fehd.gov.hk/english/cc/platform_for_cemeteries_and_crematoria_services.html. read more

     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