Tag Archives: China

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Appointments to new term of Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation

     The Government today (March 28) announced the membership of the Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (HKCPEC). Professor Tam Kar-yan has been reappointed as the Chairman of the HKCPEC, while Ms Emily Cheung, Mr Dickson Kwok, Ms Edith Law, Dr Miranda Lou and Professor Lui Hon-kwong have been reappointed as members. Mr Nicholas Lai, Ms Sophia Lee and Dr Raymond Wong have been appointed as new members. The aforementioned non-official members are appointed for a new term of two years from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026.
 
     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the Chairman and the other eight non-official members for accepting the appointments. Their experience and expertise in their respective sectors will undoubtedly provide useful insights to the HKCPEC in promoting regional economic co-operation. I would also like to thank the outgoing members, namely Professor Chan Wai-sum, Mr Geoffrey Kao, Mr Kelvin Lau and Miss Oriana Yeung, for their valuable contributions during their tenure.”
 
     The HKCPEC is a tripartite forum, comprising members from the academic, business and government sectors, to co-ordinate Hong Kong, China’s participation in the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), a non-profit, policy-oriented regional organisation with 22 member economies dedicated to the promotion of regional economic development. Over the years, apart from contributing actively to the discussion on the PECC front, the HKCPEC has also been promoting locally the importance of regional trade and economic co-operation through a series of internship and youth programmes.
 
     The new membership list of the HKCPEC is as follows:
 
Chairman
Professor Tam Kar-yan
 
Vice Chairman
Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry
 
Members
Ms Emily Cheung
Mr Dickson Kwok
Mr Nicholas Lai
Ms Edith Law
Ms Sophia Lee
Dr Miranda Lou
Professor Lui Hon-kwong
Dr Raymond Wong
Government Economist or his/her representative
Director of Research of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or his/her representative read more

CS attends opening plenary of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024 and exchanges views with Hainan and Hong Kong entrepreneurs (with photos)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024 and the Hainan-Hong Kong Entrepreneurs’ Luncheon in Hainan today (March 28).

     In the morning, Mr Chan attended the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024. The theme of this year’s conference is “Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities”. The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Zhao Leji, delivered a keynote speech at the opening plenary. 

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan attended the Hainan-Hong Kong Entrepreneurs’ Luncheon to learn about the latest developments and co-operation between entrepreneurs of the two places, and exchange views with them. Addressing the forum, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong and Hainan enjoy close geographical, cultural and business ties, and that delegation visits are organised from time to time to attract enterprises and investments, as well as deepening bilateral relationships. He also said that Hong Kong is the largest source of foreign investment in Hainan Province, and the further opening up of Hainan Province in recent years has provided numerous business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises.

     Mr Chan added that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been steadfastly facilitating Hong Kong enterprises’ tapping of the Mainland market. Its work includes supporting the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s setup of a Hong Kong pavilion at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, and its organisation of a business delegation of Hong Kong enterprises to participate in the Expo for better seizing the development opportunities brought about by the country’s domestic circulation. The HKSAR Government also supports the implementation of the initiative on a global free-trade zone partnership announced by Hainan at the Boao Forum for Asia last year to further promote the interplay between domestic and international markets, thereby bringing more business opportunities to Hong Kong enterprises.

     Mr Chan looked forward to Hainan and Hong Kong entrepreneurs continuing to pursue deeper and higher-level exchanges and co-operation in more areas under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits, with a view to jointly developing new quality productive forces for injecting stronger impetus into the country’s high-quality development.

     When summarising his visit to Hainan, Mr Chan said that it is now the golden time for Hong Kong, with a more stable and safer society, to strive for development and build a vibrant economy at full speed, as well as to foster exchanges and co-operation with different places around the globe including Asia and tell good stories of Hong Kong. He stressed that the HKSAR Government will continue to foster tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community in focusing on developing the economy and improving people’s livelihood. It will also support Hong Kong in steadfastly serving as a bridge between the Mainland and the rest of the world, while duly playing its dual role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”, on the Asian and global stages.  

     Mr Chan concluded his visit to Hainan and will return to Hong Kong today.

Photo  Photo  
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Two property owners fined over $130,000 in total for not complying with removal orders

     Two property owners were convicted and fined over $130,000 in total at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts this month for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The first case involved the alteration of a unit into mini-storage and erection of an unauthorised structure with an area of about 76 square metres on the flat roof of an industrial building on Wo Liu Hang Road, Fo Tan, Sha Tin. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without the prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), and they obstructed the means of escape as well as affecting the fire resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, 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 and was fined $53,620 upon conviction at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on March 6.

     The second case involved the alteration of a unit in an industrial building on Au Pui Wan Street, Sha Tin. As the alteration works obstructed the means of escape and affected the fire resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, 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 $8,300 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the BD instigated prosecution again. The owner’s representative explained to the court that part of the unauthorised building works (UBWs) had been removed and the remaining UBWs would be removed as soon as possible. The owner was eventually fined $79,200 upon conviction at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on March 13.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (March 28), “UBWs and unauthorised alteration works causing obstruction to the means of escape or affecting the fire resisting construction of a building 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, so as to ensure building safety.”

     Failure 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

Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme starts application from April 1

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) today (March 28) announced that the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme will be open for application from next Monday (April 1) to provide funding subsidy for clansmen associations to organise activities promoting hometown culture.
      
     The Chief Executive announced in his 2023 Policy Address the launch of the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme for a period of three years, with a total funding of $30 million earmarked for application by clansmen associations to organise activities promoting hometown culture. The scheme aims to deepen the public’s understanding of and sense of belonging to their hometowns, thereby fostering the spirit of loving the motherland, Hong Kong and their hometowns. The HAD will earmark a dedicated funding of $10 million for each of the next three financial years for application by clansmen associations. 
      
     Any locally registered clansmen associations with good reputation and track record; which have all along been committed to promoting hometown culture and fostering exchanges between Hong Kong and hometowns in order to promote the spirit of loving the motherland, Hong Kong and hometowns; and with experience in organising relevant activities, are eligible to apply for subsidy under the scheme to organise relevant activities to promote and preserve hometown culture, unite clansmen in Hong Kong and facilitate exchanges between the two places. There is no restriction on the form of the activities. As long as the activities are non-profit-making in nature and in line with the objectives of the scheme, applicant associations can make applications under the scheme. Generally speaking, the funding ceiling for each activity is $200,000; applications exceeding the funding ceiling will be considered on a discretionary basis, taking into account the scale, creativity and content of the activities.
      
     The HAD will accept funding applications for 2024-25 from clansmen associations starting from April 1, and hold briefings on April 2 and 5 to introduce the details of the scheme to eligible applicant associations. Application for 2024-25 will be open until April 30. For enquiries, please contact the HAD by email (clansmen@had.gov.hk) read more