The Government published the Firearms and Ammunition (Declaration of Arms) (Amendment) Regulation 2021 (Amendment Regulation) in the Gazette today (June 4). The Amendment Regulation lists out, by way of subsidiary legislation, specific essential firearm (i.e. genuine firearm) component parts as "arms" under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Cap. 238), so as to combat the misuse of arms by criminals, who smuggle the component parts of genuine firearms into Hong Kong in separate shipments and then assemble them into fully functional genuine firearms, posing threats to citizens' lives and property.
 
     A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "The Amendment Regulation seeks to provide a clearer and more concrete definition of genuine firearm component parts. The Amendment Regulation only targets the component parts of genuine firearms. Component parts of other categories (e.g. component parts which can only be used in air guns) are not affected. 
 
     "The Amendment Regulation also provides that an item that would have been capable of being used as a firearm component part had it not been defective, out of repair or modified and adapted will also be regarded as arms. This is consistent with the existing practice under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance. 
 
     "The Government conducted a four-week public consultation in February 2021 and received a total of 257 written submissions. The majority of the respondents supported the proposed amendments. In respect of the specific questions raised in the consultation paper, close to 90 per cent of the respondents supported a clearer statutory definition of firearm component parts and over 80 per cent agreed to regulating the proposed essential firearm component parts. Eighty per cent of the respondents also supported the provision of a 90-day grace period before the legislative proposal takes effect."
 
     The Government will introduce the Amendment Regulation into the Legislative Council on June 9 for negative vetting. The Amendment Regulation will come into operation on November 1 such that those being affected may dispose of the component parts or apply for a licence from the Police.
 
     The Legislative Council brief has been uploaded to the website of the Security Bureau (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/firearm/index.html).

     â€‹The Government Gazette published today (June 4) contains a Legal Notice to the effect that the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury has authorised a change in the rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates. From June 7, 2021, the new annual rate of interest will be 0.05 per cent against the current rate of 0.0833 per cent, i.e. the new rate will be $0.0042 per month per $100.

     Tax Reserve Certificates bear simple interest, and interest is calculated monthly (including part of a month) from the date of purchase to the date of payment of tax.

     Interest is only credited when certificates are used to pay tax and no interest is due where the principal value of a certificate is repaid to its holder.

     The rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates is periodically revised in line with the market trend. Currently, it is reviewed every month based on the average prevailing interest rate for the 12-month time deposit for $100,000 to $499,999 offered by the three note-issuing banks.

     The new rate will apply to all certificates purchased on or after June 7, 2021. Certificates purchased before June 7, 2021, will continue to earn interest at the rates prevailing on their respective purchase dates. Below is a summary of the interest rates for the past periods:
 

     This is always subject to the general rule that interest ceases to accrue after 36 complete months.

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 4) that due to inclement weather, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Hongkong Post today (June 4) announced that Speedpost service to the United Kingdom and air letter and packet services to Canada will resume from June 7, as air traffic capacity provided by airlines has increased.
 
     Members of the public may visit the web page of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_1060.html to refer to the service types currently available for overseas destinations.

     The Government gazetted today (June 4) the proposed road works to facilitate the future commercial development at Kwun Tong Action Area.

​     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building, 
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Kwun Tong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, 
G/F, Eastcore,
398 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

District Lands Office, Kowloon East and Kowloon West,
4/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices,
11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

​     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan are available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.

​     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau's Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

​     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than August 3, 2021.