Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
To tie in with the Hong Kong Reading for All Day on April 23, the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold the second Hong Kong Reading Week (HKRW) from April 19 to 27. Under the theme of “Zoom/LIBRARY”, the HKRW will have about 450 online and on-site events to cultivate good reading habits among members of the public to broaden their horizons.
The HKPL will participate in the reading promotion event 2025 Hong Kong Reading+, organised by the Hong Kong Publishing Federation (HKPF) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin from April 18 to 27. On April 19, the HKPL and HKPF will hold the launching ceremony of Hong Kong Reading Week 2025 and 2025 Hong Kong Reading+. The HKPL will introduce its electronic resources to the public and hold handicraft workshops at the event venue, where the HKPF will hold author sharing sessions, an exhibition, music performances, workshops and more.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight”, and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion”, for three consecutive days from April 14 to yesterday (April 16). A total of eight suspected illegal workers and two overstayers were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 17 target locations including commercial buildings, residential buildings and restaurants, and arrested two suspected illegal workers. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised two women, aged 41 and 43.
During operations “Champion”, enforcement officers raided 55 target locations in Central, Eastern and Western districts. Six suspected illegal workers and two overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men and two women, aged 29 to 55. The arrested overstayers comprised one man and one woman, aged 46 and 49.
An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.”
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman reminded all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Sai Yee Street/Flower Market Road Development Scheme Plan (DSP).
“The approved DSP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the implementation of the URA Sai Yee Street/Flower Market Road Development Scheme,” a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (April 17).
The development scheme area, covering about 29 315 square metres, is designated as “Other Specified Use” annotated “Mixed Use (1)” and “Other Specified Use” annotated “Mixed Use (2)”. By adopting the “linked-site” approach and the “Single Site, Multiple Use” model, the DSP intends to achieve a holistic replanning of land uses in the Sai Yee Street/Flower Market Road area through redevelopment of various existing Government, Institution or Community (G/IC) facilities with adjoining urban fabric for a comprehensive mixed-use development, with a combination of various types of compatible uses including residential, commercial (hotel/office/retail), G/IC, a sizeable public open space (i.e. Waterway Park), cultural, recreational and entertainment uses.
The approved URA Sai Yee Street/Flower Market Road DSP No. S/K3/URA5/2 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office and (iv) the Yau Tsim Mong District Office.
Copies of the approved DSP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the DSP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (April 17) that More Mushroom Feast, a brand under the Mainland’s More Mushroom Company, has officially opened its first branch outside Mainland China, in Hong Kong. The new restaurant is the company’s regional headquarters, aiming to promote its wild mushrooms and free range chicken stone pot cuisine to the world, connecting global diners with authentic Eastern mushroom cuisine.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “We are delighted to welcome More Mushroom Feast to Hong Kong, as it will use the city as its regional headquarters and be first branch outside Mainland China. Hong Kong’s status as a global culinary hub will not only facilitate More Mushroom Feast’s business growth, but also enhance its brand awareness, supported by our strategic location, robust infrastructure and diverse consumer base.”
Marketing Manager of More Mushroom Company Ms Star Zhou said, “As an international finance, trade and logistics centre that attracts a global high-net-worth clientele, Hong Kong aligns closely with our strategic goals and positioning, which is also why it serves as our regional headquarters. The unique cultural ecology of Hong Kong, where Eastern and Western cultures converge, also supports More Mushroom Company’s aim to internationalise regional traditional ingredients.”
She added, “More Mushroom Feast emphasises on ecology and nature, using its original dishes and innovative business models to enter into the Hong Kong market. The new restaurant is located at New Town Plaza, Sha Tin. The flagship restaurant features a stylish and youthful environment designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers. Its signature dish, wild mushrooms and chicken stone pot, uses natural wild mushrooms and authentic free range chicken, served in a motuo stone pot that emphasises the unique flavours of its ingredients and the natural essence of the products.”
More Mushroom Feast is recognised as a pioneering ecological concept brand in China, focusing on wild mushrooms and free range chicken. The brand offers an unprecedented experience for health-conscious customers with its innovative, natural, healthy, delicious and sustainable dishes and products. It has been well received by customers of all ages in various cities across Mainland China, including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Zhuhai and Zhengzhou with different cultural styles and characteristics.
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) advises coaching centres to strictly adhere to Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Guidelines for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024 CCPA issues notices to few coaching centres relating to IIT-JEE & NEET for misleading claims and unfair trade practices
Posted On: 17 APR 2025 12:46PM by PIB Delhi
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has advised coaching centres to strictly adhere to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Guidelines for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024.
The Authority clearly outlines that it is essential their representations are accurate, clear, and free from misleading claims or the concealment of important information from consumers. Additionally, coaching centres should avoid making assurances of guaranteed success. Coaching centres must clearly disclose key details in their advertisements, including the student’s name, rank, course type, and whether the course was paid. Disclaimers must be prominently displayed in the same font size as other important information to ensure consumers are not misled.
Following the recent declaration of results for examinations such as IIT-JEE and NEET, the CCPA observed that coaching centres are not adhering to theGuidelines for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024.
Considering the violation of the Act and the Guidelines, CCPA recently has issued Notices to few coaching institutes pertaining to following issues: –
Guaranteed placement/selection
Assurance of rank in JEE/NEET
Violation of consumer rights
Misleading advertisement and
Unfair trade practices including promised services not provided, admission cancelled but fee not refunded, deficiency in service, non/partial refund of fees.
Abovementioned claims and practices appear to be violating various provisions of the Act including Section- 2(28) and 2 (47) of Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector, 2024.
The Guidelines for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024, were issued on 13th November 2024. These guidelines prohibit coaching centres from making false or misleading claims/advertisements to promote their services and from engaging in deceptive or unfair practices. These guidelines represent a vital step toward preventing the exploitation of students and ensuring that they are not misled by false promises or compelled into unfair contracts. The guidelines are framed to enhance transparency and fairness in the sector, helping students and their families make informed decisions based on accurate and truthful information. These guidelines supplement existing regulations and further strengthen the regulatory framework governing advertisements in the coaching sector.
In a significant move to protect consumer rights and ensure transparency in the coaching sector, the CCPA has, over the past three years, taken action against misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, and violations of consumer rights by coaching centres.
In this regard, the CCPA has issued 49 notices and imposed a total penalty of ₹77.60 lakhs on 24 coaching centres and directed them to discontinue misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.
CCPA had earlier taken action against coaching centres offering services for competitive exams including UPSC CSE, IIT-JEE, NEET, RBI, NABARD, among others, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that no false or misleading advertisements are made in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (April 17) published the Investigation Report IVR-2025-03 on the investigation into a taxiing incident involving a Boeing 737-800BCF freighter (registration mark VP-BEN) operated by Siberia Airlines at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on October 14, 2021.
At 00.03am that day, the freighter touched down at the then North Runway of HKIA. While following the instruction of Air Traffic Control (ATC) to vacate the runway via Taxiway (TWY) A7, the freighter mistakenly taxied onto a paved area yet to be commissioned for operational use between TWYs A6 and A7 and stopped in front of marker boards in that unopened area. No person was injured in the incident, and there was no damage to the aircraft, runway or airport facilities.
The investigation identified that the flight crew members concerned had no prior knowledge of the presence of the paved and unopened area at HKIA and mistook the area for the assigned runway exit. The investigation team made two safety recommendations. While Siberia Airlines should assess the pilots’ pre-flight understanding of pertinent aeronautical information regarding flight safety and operations such as those stated in the Aeronautical Information Circular, the Airport Authority Hong Kong should conduct a holistic safety risk assessment during the planning and implementation phases of work projects in aircraft movement areas to ensure the continued effectiveness of risk mitigation measures taken in relation to aircraft operations.
The investigation was conducted by a team of professional investigators in strict adherence to international standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “The objective of the investigation was to identify the circumstances and causes of the incident with a view to preventing a recurrence,” an AAIA spokesperson said.
The AAIA, an independent investigation authority formed under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and with reference to the ICAO standards.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is inviting a new round of applications under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Activity and Research Sponsorship Scheme (Sponsorship Scheme).
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law to members of the public through various channels. The Sponsorship Scheme aims to encourage different groups or organisations to promote the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law to the public and to conduct relevant research, with a view to enhancing public understanding of and support for the three laws and the “one country, two systems” principle.
To further enhance the synergy of promoting Constitution education at the community level and raise citizens’ awareness of the Constitution, in this round of applications, proposed promotional activities related to Constitution Day and to be held within two weeks before or after December 4, 2025, will be given higher priority.
To make research proposals under this funding scheme more focused, in this round of applications, proposals related to the following theme will be given higher priority: the success stories of implementing the “one country, two systems” principle in the HKSAR over the past 27 years, covering various aspects such as innovation and technology development, talent cultivation, shipping, trade and financial centre development, enhancement of new quality productive forces, integration into the national development, and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (please elaborate with specific examples and circumstances), as well as the major principles and theoretical system refined through the practical implementation of “one country, two systems”.
Starting from this year, the Sponsorship Scheme will accept applications once a year. To allow more time for interested organisations to prepare their proposals, the deadline for this round of applications is June 16, 2025. Application information can be downloaded from the Basic Law website (www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/committee/sponsorship.html).
For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Sponsorship Scheme at 2810 2106.
“SPECIAL HANDLOOM EXPO”- Celebrating Hand woven Products of India National Handloom Development Corporation launches “SPECIAL HANDLOOM EXPO” at NOIDA
The event brings together handloom weavers from across 13 states
#MyHandloomMyPride, #MyProductMyPride
Posted On: 17 APR 2025 11:49AM by PIB Delhi
National Handloom Development Corporation under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, launched “SPECIAL HANDLOOM EXPO” at their Corporate Office in NOIDA.
The event brings together handloom weavers from across 13 states and aims at renewed focus on the age-old tradition of Handloom weaving and provides an added platform for weavers to sell their products directly to customers.
The highlights of the event include; 25 stalls of Handloom products showcasing exquisite varieties of Sarees, Dress Material, stoles, dupattas etc.
“Special Handloom Expo, My Handloom My Pride” exhibition will remain open till 24th April 2025, from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
At the 2025 Touch Taiwan exhibition,the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT),Ministry of Economic Affairs(MOEA), organized the Innovative Technology Pavilion, collaborating with leading companies including AUO, Innolux,Darwin, SynPower, LegendLaser, and Everlight. The pavilion presented 27 R&D outcomes across four major themes: panel-level packaging, automotive displays and smart applications, advanced display materials, and low-carbon and green manufacturing.
In response to the growing demand for advanced chiplet and AI chip packaging, the exhibition features the world’s first Total Solution for High Aspect Ratio Panel-Level Packaging. This breakthrough overcomes traditional fabrication limitations by increasing the aspect ratio of 12-inch vias from 10 to 15, boosting interconnect density by over 50%. By adopting a fully wet deposition process, it reduces costs by half compared to traditional dry coating methods. This innovation is poised for application in high-speed, high-frequency communication and computing chips, further enhancing Taiwan’s competitiveness in the global packaging industry.
DoIT Director General Chao-Chung Kuo noted that recent global tariff challenges have posed significant pressure on industries, highlighting the importance of resilient supply chains and robust innovation ecosystems. “Taiwan must build technology that can stand firm and expand globally,” said Kuo. Over the past four years, more than 120 innovative display technologies have been developed through technology development programs, driving over NT$13 billion in private investment and demonstrating the tangible impact of tech-driven economic growth.
Kuo stressed that industrial upgrading does not rely on a single technology but on the strength of the entire ecosystem. To this end, the MOEA aims to use Touch Taiwan 2025 as a platform to deepen partnerships with local and international companies. The event features 11 technical forums and one-on-one matchmaking sessions with nearly 80 enterprises home and abroad. These efforts aim to transform R&D into practical applications, catalyzing Taiwan’s transition in the smart display sector and illuminating its global influence.