Month: June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (June 9) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 39-year-old female passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point yesterday (June 8) and seized 23,200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $95,000 and a duty potential of about $77,000 from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, arrived in Munich to start the final day of his visit to Germany on June 8 (Munich time), concluding the six-day visit to Europe.

     In the afternoon, Mr Sun attended a pitch event co-organised by the Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) and a local youth entrepreneurship organisation, where he officiated at the prize presentation ceremony.

     In delivering his remarks, Mr Sun praised the candidates for their business proposals ingeniously integrating with Hong Kong’s strengths and targeting the Asian markets. He highlighted that technology as well as talent are key engines driving the economy and society towards high-quality development. As Asia’s world city, Hong Kong is proactively attracting international high-calibre talent to tie in with the development under the strategic positioning of the “eight centres”, so as to inject new impetus into its high-quality development.

     Last November, the HKTE visited Germany and established a partnership network with a student association from the Technische Universität München and a local youth entrepreneurship organisation. Thereafter, the HKTE collaborated with the organisation to launch the pitch event targeting students from eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme and young entrepreneurs, inviting talent in Germany with entrepreneurial ambitions and intentions to develop in Asia.

     Nearly 580 proposals for the pitch event were received across various fields, including artificial intelligence, deep tech, climate and sustainability, as well as health and biotechnology. After two rounds of shortlisting, 25 candidates competed in the finals. The judging panel of the finals included representatives from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and start-up organisations, as well as an innovation and technology (I&T) expert and an angel investor from Hong Kong. Twelve winners were selected and will be arranged to tour Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in September to explore the region’s I&T ecosystem, industry support and entrepreneurial opportunities.

     The HKTE delegation’s visit to Europe also encompasses Switzerland and France. In Switzerland, the delegation exchanged with representatives from three of the world’s top 100 universities, namely the Université de Genève, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and EHL Hospitality Business School, and invited two representatives from the hospitality sector in Hong Kong to share insights on the city’s tourism development and opportunities. In France, the HKTE co-hosts an event with the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) to proactively recruit talent in the finance and commerce sectors to pursue development in Hong Kong.

     During his stay in Germany, Mr Sun also had lunch with the Junior Chamber International Germany and a group of foreign students in Germany. He learned about their lives, introduced the latest development in Hong Kong, and invited them to consider pursuing their development in the city.

     Mr Sun will return to Hong Kong in the evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following are the remarks made by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (June 7):

Reporter: Mr Hui, can you talk about the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance because you mentioned that this can attract the enterprises and also investment? So how effective is this since the Ordinance came into effect?

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: Since the enactment of the relevant company re-domiciliation regime legislation on May 23, we have got very positive response from the market, inquiring about how they can do that and at the same time the detailed procedures.

     So far, in terms of inquiries, we have got about 150 of them and in terms of downloads of the relevant information from our website regarding this new regime, the number is close to 10 000. So I think all these are something very positive in terms of how we have been drawing more companies to re-domicile to Hong Kong.

Reporter: What should the Government do to even attract them to use more of other services in Hong Kong?

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: I think it is natural and also logical. If they decide to re-domicile to Hong Kong, there will be demand for relevant professional services. By that, it could be about accounting, could be about legal, and also other supporting financial and professional services. So once that decision is made, I am sure that the relevant professional sectors in Hong Kong will be able to benefit from that.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Women Empowerment Fund is open for the first round of applications this year starting from today (June 9) until July 8. The Fund subsidises projects that support women in balancing their career and family commitments, raise awareness of women’s physical and mental health, and unlock their potential.

Set up in June 2023, the Fund aims to empower women, regardless of their age, occupation or background, to realise their full potential in their respective roles, thereby promoting women’s development in Hong Kong.
 
The Fund is divided into general and thematic projects. The funding cap of each one-year and two-year general project is $400,000 and $800,000 respectively.

This year’s thematic projects include the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Exchange Programme and the Programme on Women’s Participation in Community Services. The exchange programme will enable women to broaden their horizons, deepen their understanding of national affairs, and interact with local residents, thereby promoting women’s development. Each exchange project shall be completed within one year, and the funding cap is $120,000. In addition, the community services programme aims to encourage women to make use of their own strengths to plan and launch community service projects, thereby promoting care and inclusion. Each community services project shall be completed within one year, and the funding cap is $400,000.

The Fund accepts two rounds of applications each year. The Guide to Application and the application form have been uploaded to the Fund’s website (www.wef.gov.hk). Interested eligible women’s groups and non-governmental organisations may submit an electronic or paper application.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 2025 Election Committee (EC) provisional register and the omissions list were released today.

Relevant voters may check their registration status and particulars, including whether they have been entered into the omissions list, through “iAM Smart” or the Voter Registration website.

The provisional register and the omissions list containing entries of individuals are only displayed in a statutory manner and made available for inspection by specified individuals.

Citizens may lodge a claim or an objection in person with the Registration & Electoral Office (REO) no later than June 16.

The REO will publish the EC final register after the EC Subsector By-elections are held in September.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the “Music and Laughs” Concert, one of the highlights of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025. Curated by award-winning veteran producer Edward Chan, the concert will feature five popular singers or artists and accomplished musicians, delivering a delightful performance. With comedy and music as the main themes, the concert weaves together elements of drama, dance, and unique stage design, offering an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and joy.
 
     Edward Chan, who has arranged and produced songs for numerous renowned pop artists, will curate tailor-made performances for Jason Chan, Jay Fung, Cath Wong, Dee@ERROR, and FatBoy@ERROR, showcasing their distinct characteristics and strengths through diverse collaborations and presentation formats. Accompanied by the Symphonic Pops Orchestra under the baton of Fung Ka-hing and a live band of rising young musicians, the concert promises a surprising and whimsical musical spark.
 
     “Music and Laughs” Concert will be staged at 8pm on July 19 and 20 at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $388, $688, $888 and $1,088 will be available from tomorrow (June 10) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). Only Internet, mobile app and telephone (3166 1288) bookings are available on the first ticket sale day, while outlet and self-service ticketing kiosk bookings will be available from the second ticket sale day. A maximum of 10 tickets can be purchased per transaction per person on the first ticket sale day, and a maximum of 40 tickets can be purchased per transaction per person from the second ticket sale day.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 3755 3359 or visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en/programmes/music-laughs-concert.
 
     This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed “More Than Joy”. Humour has been a trendsetter in Hong Kong’s pop culture scene. The Festival features a diverse range of formats including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, and library and outreach activities. Offering insight into the multifaceted development of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”, the Festival brings audiences not only joy and laughter but also an opportunity to appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region