Tag Archives: China

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, joined by representatives of the catering sector, met the media on the sector’s measures to boost consumption this afternoon (June 18). Following is the transcript of his remarks:

Reporter: The gentleman just now said thousands of catering sector members will take part. Can you talk about who exactly these people are? Why did they join this scheme? And, secondly, with Mr (Tommy) Cheung beside you, are you concerned that this measure could be seen as helping Mr Cheung’s LegCo (Legislative Council) election campaign? Thank you.
 
Financial Secretary: Mr Cheung is the representative of the catering sector at the Legislative Council at the moment. Over the years, when the Government engages with representatives of different sectors, we of course engage with the incumbent LegCo members. This is very natural.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     In response to media enquiries about the recommendation made by a committee under the Department of Justice of the United States (the Committee) in denying the submarine cable connection by the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) to Hong Kong, a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said the following today (June 18):

     “A submarine optical fibre cable system directly connecting Hong Kong and the US would help further enhance telecommunications capacity of the two places and facilitate trade and business activities. It is of mutual benefit to both places. We disagreed with and are disappointed about the Committee’s recommendation in denying the PLCN connecting to Hong Kong. The recommendation not only hinders the telecommunications development between Hong Kong and the US, it also harms the interests of US investors and entities, and disregards the win-win situation between Hong Kong and the US as brought by investments in communications infrastructure. The concerns raised by the Committee are also ungrounded.
      
     “As a telecommunications hub in the region, Hong Kong has a world-class telecommunications infrastructure. We attach great importance to the security and integrity of our telecommunications networks, which is widely acclaimed internationally. Our robust legal system also offers strong protection to privacy rights. These unique advantages are fully protected under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle.
      
     “Countries around the world have their legislations to protect their countries’ national security. The proposed national security law in Hong Kong will not affect the legitimate rights and freedoms under the Basic Law. As a matter of fact, international investors attach great importance to social stability and security, and we believe the national security law can bring confidence and a stable business environment to them.
      
     “Hong Kong has a vibrant external telecommunications market, with a total of 11 external submarine optical fibre cable systems, 20 overland optical fibre cables and 11 communications satellites connecting Hong Kong with places around the world. The existing and planned capacity of the external telecommunications facilities are expected to meet the medium to long-term external telecommunications demand in Hong Kong. The total equipped capacity has reached 89.6 terabits per second (Tbps), which accounts for only a small fraction (about 11 per cent) of the overall designed capacity.” read more

     A sole proprietor of a money changer was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment today (June 18) at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts after conviction for wrongly accepting payment in the course of business, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). This is the first-ever conviction case of a money service operator for engaging in unfair trade practices when running its business since the TDO was amended in July 2013.

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a money changer in Mong Kok had engaged in wrongly accepting payment in providing remittance service.

     After investigation, Customs found that the money changer had failed to remit the money received from 18 customers to their designated Mainland bank accounts. The total amount involved was about $3.2 million.

     Customs welcomed the sentence and said a clear warning has been issued and a considerable deterrent effect has been imposed on unscrupulous practitioners operating a money changer.

     Customs also reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Any trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at noon today (June 18), one COVID-19 confirmed patient (case number: 665) was discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. So far, a total of 1,072 pati… read more

     The Education Bureau (EDB) issued a circular memorandum to all primary schools and secondary schools today (June 18) to encourage them to make use of the newly launched Summer Reading Programme, including the Gift Book Pilot Scheme (2020) and the free use of the eRead Scheme to help students enjoy reading during the summer holiday.
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said, “The EDB has been promoting ‘Reading to Learn’ through various measures to support schools’ implementation of diversified reading activities, thereby developing students’ reading interest and habits from a young age to enhance their reading skills and learning capabilities.”
 
     The spokesman said, “Due to the deferral of class resumptions caused by COVID-19, schools adopted various learning modes to support students’ learning at home. As the summer holiday is approaching, the EDB launches the ‘Gift Book Pilot Scheme (2020)’ to offer free printed books to all primary and secondary students in the public sector (including special schools) and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools, with an aim to encourage leisure reading anytime and anywhere during the summer holiday, and nurture students’ good reading habits. The Scheme has the full support from the Hong Kong Publishing Federation.”
 
     The EDB hopes that schools can make effective use of the printed books offered by the EDB in the Gift Book Pilot Scheme (2020) to set the objectives and directions for reading activities in the next school year, such as arranging sharing sessions to encourage students to exchange their views on the books. Schools may also organise class-based/level-based book crossing activities to help students develop a sense of gratitude and learn to cherish what they have, thereby nurturing their positive values.
 
     The EDB will offer a one-off grant to all public sector (including special schools) and DSS schools in accordance with the number of Primary One – Primary Six/Secondary One – Secondary Five students of each school. The total expenditure involved will be about $60 million. Schools are required to select appropriate printed books from the EDB’s designated book lists for their students. Each student will be given one book so that they can enjoy reading during the summer vacation.
 
     The printed books cover four themes, namely Chinese history and culture, healthy living, moral education and STEM education. Relevant information has been uploaded to the EDB’s Summer Reading Programme webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/SummerReadingProgramme). 
 
     In addition, to support schools’ promotion of extensive reading, schools can participate in the free use of Hong Kong Education City’s eRead Scheme from July 16 to December 31. The eRead Scheme is a school-based e-book subscription service for primary and secondary schools. It provides a wide range of quality Chinese and English e-books in various categories and levels. Teachers and students of the participating schools have unlimited access to 100 books during the service period. The reading platform will record the reading data of each student for teachers to better understand students’ reading habits so as to devise appropriate strategies for promoting reading.  read more