Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) celebrated the Year of the Snake with Atlanta, Georgia, at the Hong Kong Spring Reception on February 19 (Atlanta time).
      
     In her welcome remarks, the Director of New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, emphasised the strong ties between Hong Kong and Atlanta and the state of Georgia.
      
     “Last year, total exports from Georgia to Hong Kong reached US$980 million, a 14.5 per cent year-on-year increase. This makes Georgia the fifth largest exporter to Hong Kong among all 50 US states in 2024,” she said.
      
     Ms Ho also highlighted Hong Kong’s resilience in navigating global uncertainties, noting that the city’s GDP growth of 2.5 per cent last year is a testament to its ability to maintain stability and leverage its strategic position as a gateway between East and West.
      
     “Looking ahead, we remain committed to enhancing our existing strengths, including our competitiveness as an international financial centre,” she added. “We are also exploring and investing in emerging sectors, such as fintech, biotech, and green energy. These sectors are not only reshaping our economic landscape but also paving the way for sustainable growth and innovation.”
      
     Some 200 guests from Atlanta’s academic, business, diplomatic, finance, and political sectors, as well as students from Hong Kong, attended the annual event cohosted by New York ETO and the Hong Kong Association of Atlanta. Ms Ho encouraged them to visit Hong Kong and experience first-hand the city’s vibrant offerings – from delectable culinary delights and iconic skyline to its breathtaking natural scenery and the dynamic arts and cultural scene, which seamlessly blend East and West.
      
     To further showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant culture and culinary flair, the event featured two inflatable installations designed by popular Hong Kong creative brand Chocolate Rain, as well as two Hong Kong-themed cocktails.

          

　　The Transport Department (TD) announced today (February 21) that the application numbers of the 1 500 personalised vehicle registration mark (PVRM) applications selected by lot for the 53rd exercise have been published on its website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_application/index.html) and posted on the notice boards of the TD’s licensing offices.
 
　　”The applicants have already been sent an acknowledgement of receipt bearing an application number. They may check the list to see whether their applications have been selected. Applicants will also be notified of the ballot results by post in batches,” a department spokesman said.
 
　　The department will later check the proposed PVRMs selected against the basic combination requirements. If, among the selected applications, more than one applicant proposes the same PVRM, only the one on which the lot falls first out of those applications will be further processed.
 
　　If the selected PVRMs meet the basic requirements, the department will send notices by registered mail to the applicants in batches, requiring them to pay a deposit of $5,000 within the period specified in the notice. If an applicant fails to pay the deposit within that period, his or her application will be cancelled automatically and will not be further processed.
 
　　Upon receipt of the deposit, the Commissioner for Transport will determine, with the assistance of a vetting committee, whether an application should be approved or rejected. PVRMs approved in the 53rd exercise will be put up for auction in batches. Auction details will be published in newspapers and on the TD’s website in due course.
 
　　For enquiries, applicants can call the TD Hotline at 2804 2600. read more

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (March).        Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at th… read more

     The Government announced today (February 21) the appointments to the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) for a two-year term with effect from March 1, 2025, pursuant to section 11(3) of the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Cap. 608) (MWO). The appointments were gazetted on the same day.
 
     The Chief Executive (CE) has reappointed Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze as the chairperson of the MWC and appointed its 12 members from the labour sector, the business sector, academia and the Government. The chairperson and the nine non-official members are appointed on an ad personam basis.
 
     Among the non-official members, the three reappointed serving members are Professor Joyce Ma Lai-chong, Ms Ng Wai-yee and Professor Tang Hei-wai, while the six new members are Mr Calvin Chan Ka-wai, Mr Allen Cheng Siu-kai, Professor Fong Yuk-fai, Mr Wilson Kwong Wing-tsuen, Mr Lam Chi-ting and Dr Ricky Szeto Wing-fu.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, welcomed the appointments. He said, “The MWC assumes the important mission of reviewing and recommending the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate. The MWC for the new term, under Ms Wong’s leadership, will assist the Government in implementing the new annual review mechanism for the SMW. I am confident that with the wealth of knowledge and abundant experience in various fields possessed by the chairperson and members of the MWC, it will continue to discharge its statutory function effectively.”
 
     Mr Sun also thanked the six outgoing members, Mr Chan Wing-on, Mr Lau Chin-shek, Ms Juan Leung Chung-yan, Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi, Dr Malina Ngai Man-lin and Mrs Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying, for their excellent support and sterling contributions to the MWC.
 
     Established under the MWO, the main function of the MWC is to report to the CE in Council its recommendations about the SMW rate. In performing its function, the MWC is required to maintain an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, and give due regard to sustaining Hong Kong’s economic growth and competitiveness.
 
     The membership of the MWC for the next term is as follows:
 
Chairperson
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Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze
 
Non-official Members (Note)
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Mr Calvin Chan Ka-wai (new member)
Mr Allen Cheng Siu-kai (new member)
Professor Fong Yuk-fai (new member)
Mr Wilson Kwong Wing-tsuen (new member)
Mr Lam Chi-ting (new member)
Professor Joyce Ma Lai-chong
Ms Ng Wai-yee
Dr Ricky Szeto Wing-fu (new member)
Professor Tang Hei-wai
 
Official Members
—————————————-
Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Government Economist
 
Note: Non-official members are listed in the alphabetical order of their surnames. read more

     A property owner was fined over $8,000 and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts earlier this month for persistently failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap 123).

     The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 28 square metres on the roof of a factory building at Ka Fu Close, Sheung Shui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.

     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD in 2020 and was fined $6,040 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the BD instigated prosecution again in 2024. The owner subsequently completed the removal of the UBWs, and was convicted and fined $8,305 and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on February 4.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (February 21), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building safety.”

     Failing to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. read more