Tag Archives: China

     The Security Bureau (SB) today (January 27) made a statement that in order to crack down on illegal activities, the Police have to conduct investigations according to the law and where necessary, collect evidence and request information from relevant organisations. Some people made biased remarks to mislead the public that collection of evidence could only be conducted legally with the consent of suspects concerned, attempting to create an illusion of injustice on the part of the Police. Moreover, some foreign politicians exerted pressure on institutions which have been fulfilling their obligations. The SB seriously condemns these misleading remarks and political manipulation.
 
     A spokesman for the SB emphasised that the Police conduct their operations and investigations strictly according to the relevant laws and regulations. Under prevailing legislation, the Police have statutory duties to take lawful measures for preventing and detecting crimes and illegal acts. The law also provides the Police the legal power to make application to the magistrate for warrant to collect evidence. In their investigation of a case, the Police will, if necessary, request for information related to crime investigation from relevant people or organisations. This is the statutory duty of the Police and must be performed in accordance with the law.
 
     On the other hand, while local financial institutions have been complying with the laws of Hong Kong and fulfilling their responsibilities regarding the handling of funds from suspected money laundering activities in accordance with the law, some foreign politicians attempted to exert pressure on them. The spokesman pointed out that the acts by such politicians disregarded the rule of law and were purely politically motivated. As a matter of fact, on anti-money laundering, the intergovernmental organisation Financial Action Task Force requires competent authorities to be able to obtain all relevant documents and information for money laundering investigations, prosecutions, and related actions, including to require financial institutions to produce customer records to the competent authorities. The laws of Hong Kong comply with the relevant requirements.
 
     The spokesman stressed that Hong Kong is a society that upholds the rule of law, and law enforcement agencies are duty-bound to take action against all unlawful acts. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government affirms and supports the financial institutions’ rightful fulfilment of their legal obligations in assisting in the Police’s investigations. read more

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (January 27) was arranged to conduct the annual reporting of work to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang separately via video conferencing, during which she reported to them the latest economic, social and political situation in Hong Kong.
      
     Mrs Lam expressed gratitude to the state leaders for fully acknowledging the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in the past year, and for the care and support from the Central Government to Hong Kong on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, economic development and improvement of people’s livelihoods. She pointed out that Hong Kong experienced a challenging year in which the city’s economy and livelihoods were hard hit by the epidemic, but that the city essentially functioned normally with the financial system remaining stable. She said that the top priority of the HKSAR Government at present is to curb the epidemic to protect people’s health and restore economic activities.
      
     Mrs Lam reported to the state leaders that since the implementation of the National Security Law on June 30 last year, street violence has significantly subsided and calm has been restored in society, and that the HKSAR Government will fully implement the National Security Law to prevent and stop acts that endanger national security. Thanking President Xi for his warm regards to her and other HKSAR Government officials who have been sanctioned by the US Government unreasonably, she, on behalf of each of the government officials, reiterated that they will continue to discharge their duty to safeguard national security without fear.
      
     Mrs Lam also reported on the series of measures involving the Central Government’s support as set out in her 2020 Policy Address. She said that in the opening year of the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan, she will lead her team to leverage the unique advantages of Hong Kong to better integrate into the overall development of the nation through its participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thereby advancing the economy and improving livelihoods. read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (January 27) that the provision of public services will be resumed at its offices at the Immigration Headquarters, Immigration Branch Offices, Registration of Persons Offices, Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (SIDCCs) and Births, Deaths and Marriage Registries and the special arrangement of the following types of services with effect from February 1 (Monday) as follows:
 

Types of Services	Services Available
Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise	SIDCCs to provide identity card collection service to those persons who had completed their identity card replacement applications and with appointment bookings for replacement of identity cards only. Other applicants are advised to make appointment for replacement of their identity cards.   Currently, the application period of replacement of identity cards for persons born in 1962 and 1963 will end on January 30, 2021. The ImmD is planning to extend its application period. Details will be announced later. For those persons born from 1970 to 1972, the replacement period will end on April 30, 2021.   For enquiries regarding the replacement exercise, please call 3521 6565 (8.45am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 12noon on Saturday, except public holidays).
Visas and extension of stay	Offices to accept only the applications of visas and extension of stay by drop-in. Applicants must provide a local telephone number for contacts (preferably a mobile phone number), the respective offices will contact them for follow-up procedures afterwards (For enquiries regarding visa and extension of stay applications, please call 3521 1840 from 8.45am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 12noon on Saturday, except public holidays).

     
     To avoid the gathering of crowds, the ImmD appeals to applicants to submit applications through its homepage or mobile application, or by post or drop-in. Members of the public who have previously made appointments may proceed to relevant offices/registries without the need of making another appointment. Those without appointments should make one prior to their visit. In accordance with the regulations implemented by the Government, persons entering the premises of the ImmD are required to wear masks and comply with the epidemic prevention measures and maintain social distancing.
      
     The hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit on (852) 1868 will continue to operate as normal to provide practicable assistance for Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong.

     â€‹In addition, according to the existing arrangements of the HKSAR Government, except for the Hong Kong International Airport, Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Points, passenger immigration clearance services in other immigration control points will remain suspended until further notice. Moreover, the operating hours of the passenger clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Points have been adjusted as follows with effect from April 3 and 5 last year respectively until further notice. The details are as follows:
 
Shenzhen Bay Control Point:
 

• Operating hours of the Passenger Clearance Building and private cars’ passenger clearance services are from 10am to 8pm daily while cargo clearance service was adjusted to 24 hours daily from December 10 last year.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point:
 

• Operating hours of the Passenger Clearance Building (i.e. for passengers crossing the boundary on cross-boundary coaches and shuttle buses) are from 10am to 8pm daily; and
• Operating hours of clearance for private cars are from 6am to 10pm daily while cargo clearance will remain in operation 24 hours daily.

     For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by calling the enquiry hotline on 2824 6111 from 8.45am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 12noon on Saturday, except public holidays or by email to enquiry@immd.gov.hk. read more

     To align with the announcement by the Government to resume more basic public service, the Fire Services Department (FSD) said today (January 27) that starting from tomorrow (January 28), in addition to the continued provis… read more

     To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government in view of the latest development of the epidemic situation, the Highways Department announced today (January 27) that, from January 28 it will extend its public services including the resumption for part of non-emergency road repair works, which have been suspended due to the epidemic situation.
      
     The Highways Department will continue to provide essential and emergency public road repair services including daily inspections of expressways and emergency road repairs, as well as processing of excavation permit applications for excavation works on public roads. It will also arrange for its contractors to continue to enhance the cleansing work for the handrails of footbridges, subways and escalators, as well as the buttons of lifts, under the department’s purview.
      
     The Reporting Centre of the Highways Department will maintain operation to handle road repair matters. For any suggestions, enquiries or complaints on the services, members of the public may continue to call the 24-hour hotline 2926 4111 or call 1823. Public may also contact Highways Department by email or by fax. Details are as follows:

Email addresses :
enquiry@hyd.gov.hk (for enquiries)
complaint@hyd.gov.hk (for complaints)

Fax numbers :
2714 5216 (for enquiries)
2187 2243 (for complaints) read more