Tag Archives: China

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 10) for people in need of the service.
     
     The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 11) when the cold weather warning is still in force.

     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 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 Districts:
——————–

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 Districts:
——————

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:
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, 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

     In response to the joint statement on arrests in Hong Kong made by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, a Government spokesman today (January 10) said:

     “It is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)’s constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national security. Since enactment of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law) by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on June 30, 2020 and promulgation for its application in Hong Kong on the same day in accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (the Basic Law), the HKSAR Government has been discharging its duty to safeguard national security in Hong Kong lawfully and dutifully.”

     “The National Security Law, or indeed any law in the HKSAR, applies equally to every person in Hong Kong; no one is above the law. We are appalled by remarks made by some overseas government officials that seemed to suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions.”

     “Hong Kong prides itself on the rule of law; law enforcement agencies are duty-bound to take action against unlawful acts, regardless of the political background of the suspects. Arrests made are based on evidence and strictly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.”

     “As provided for in the Basic Law, the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government makes independent prosecutorial decisions based on evidence, applicable laws and in accordance with its Prosecution Code, free from any interference. Any person who is prosecuted has the right to a fair trial by our independent courts, and the burden is on the prosecution to prove that the accused committed a crime beyond reasonable doubt before there can be a conviction. Enshrined in the Basic Law – Articles 2, 19 and 85, the courts of the HKSAR enjoy judicial power independently, including that of final adjudication, free from any interference.”

     “Whilst it would not be appropriate for us to comment on specific cases into which investigations are still ongoing, we consider it necessary to refute comments made in the joint statement about the National Security Law to set the record straight.”

     “Safeguarding national security through legislation is in line with international practice. Contrary to allegations that the National Security Law undermines the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, the National Security Law fully and faithfully implements the principles of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ and a high degree of autonomy. It clearly stipulates four types of offences endangering national security and the penalties. At the same time, the National Security Law contains specific provisions upholding Hong Kong people’s rights and freedoms under the Basic Law as well as the relevant provisions of international covenants on human rights as applied to Hong Kong. The Law also provides for the presumption of innocence, the prohibition of double jeopardy, and the right to defend oneself and other rights in judicial proceedings that a criminal suspect, defendant and other parties in judicial proceedings are entitled to under the law.”

     “These important features have put the National Security Law on par with, if not superior to, similar national security laws in other jurisdictions. In making those slandering remarks about the National Security Law in their joint statement, senior officials of other jurisdictions are clearly adopting double standards.”

      “Since implementation of the National Security Law, street violence which had haunted Hong Kong people for months since June 2019 have subsided and stability restored. The legitimate rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong have been upheld and criminals are brought to justice through our independent judiciary. A stable environment is vitally important to the prosperity of Hong Kong and the business activities of both local and overseas enterprises here.”

     “Taking people who have contravened the law to justice is the duty of every government, and where the offence concerns national security, the interests of the country and every citizen are at stake. This national obligation should be fully respected in the international arena.” read more

     A team of Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education engineering students and their tutors have developed a device to help citizens maintain drainage pipes and prevent viruses from entering homes during the COVID-19 epidemic.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke to the engineering team to learn about the device’s special features and operation.
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (January 10) in text and video format. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:
 
     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (January 12) to consider three applications for new issue and renewal of liquor licences.
 
     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
—————
CAPO SAI YING PUN in Sai Ying Pun
 
Kowloon:
————
“Ng Lau Sau” in Hung Hom
RELAX THAI RESTAURANT AND BAR in Sham Shui Po
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai. In response to the latest developments of coronavirus disease 2019, to avoid the gathering of people in an enclosed environment and to safeguard the health of all participants, public seats will not be available for all open hearings of the LLB in the interim. read more

     The total number of local companies registered under the Companies Ordinance was 1,387,919 by the end of 2020, up 7,734 from the corresponding figure for 2019, according to the statistics released by the Companies Registry today (January 10).
 
     A total of 99,405 local companies were newly registered with the Registry in 2020, among which 51,340 were incorporated online at the e-Registry (www.eregistry.gov.hk) or via the “CR eFiling” mobile application.
 
     With effect from August 31, 2020, the Limited Partnership Fund Ordinance came into operation, enabling investment funds to be registered in the form of limited partnership in Hong Kong. “The new regime enabled investment funds, including private equity and venture capital funds, to set up and operate in Hong Kong and further strengthened Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international asset and wealth management centre,” the Registrar of Companies, Ms Kitty Tsui, said.
 
     The registration fees for annual returns have been waived from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2022 (both dates inclusive) in accordance with the Companies (Fees) Amendment Regulation 2020, and the fees payable in relation to the incorporation of companies and registration of non-Hong Kong companies through electronic means have been reduced by 10 per cent.
 
     In 2020, 1,757 non-Hong Kong companies that have newly established a place of business in Hong Kong were registered under the Companies Ordinance, 12.15 per cent down from 2,000 in 2019. The total number of registered non-Hong Kong companies reached 13,752 by the end of 2020, up 10.07 per cent year on year.
 
     The number of charges on properties of companies received for registration in 2020 was 15,603, 22.84 per cent down from 20,221 in 2019. The number of notifications of payments and releases received for registration decreased by 16.10 per cent, from 20,345 in 2019 to 17,070 in 2020.
 
     In 2020, a total of 190 prospectuses were registered, a decrease of 4.04 per cent from 198 in 2019.  
 
     The total number of documents delivered for registration in 2020 decreased by 15.82 per cent to 2,812,471, compared to 3,340,912 in 2019.
 
     A total of 4,827,540 searches of document image records were conducted using the Registry’s electronic search services in 2020, a decrease of 6.11 per cent from 5,141,520 in 2019.
 
     As regards the licensing of trust or company service providers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, a total of 485 licences were granted in 2020, and the number of licensees reached 7,161 by the end of 2020.
 
     For details of the statistics, please visit the “Statistics” section of the Registry’s website (www.cr.gov.hk). read more