Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po at 2.51pm today (November 26). The fire was upgraded to No. 3 alarm at 3.02pm, and to No. 4 alarm at 3.34pm.

As at 5pm, seven persons felt unwell and were sent to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment respectively, among which, four persons were certified dead, two persons are in critical condition and one person is in stable condition.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Due to the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, the Tai Po District Office (TPDO) today (November 26) has opened temporary shelters at Kwong Fuk Community Hall (Kwong Fuk Estate, Tai Po) and Tung Cheong Street Community Hall (1/F, Tai Po Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building, 25 Tung Cheong Street, Tai Po) for residents in need. CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School is also open to accommodate residents evacuated.

In addition, the TPDO has set up a help desk at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for assistance and public enquiries. The help desk hotline is 2658 4040.

The TPDO will closely monitor the situation, open additional temporary shelters if needed, and liaise with other government departments to provide residents with appropriate assistance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs will set up a booth at the JMA Hong Kong International Jewelry Show (JMA), to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), from tomorrow (November 27) for four consecutive days to publicise the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime and will provide on-site counter services to assist non-Hong Kong dealers in submitting cash transaction reports during their participation in the exhibition.

According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), unless exempted, any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs and fulfil his/her anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing statutory obligations as appropriate. All dealers in precious metals and stones must successfully obtain relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

For non-Hong Kong dealers fulfilling the prescribed conditions (including those who come to Hong Kong to participate in exhibitions), although they are exempt from registration, they are required to submit to Hong Kong Customs a cash transaction report for any cash transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 carried out in Hong Kong within one day after the transaction, or before the dealer or the person acting on behalf of the dealer leaves Hong Kong, whichever is earlier.

Non-Hong Kong dealers can make an online submission of a cash transaction report via the Regime’s webpage at www.drs.customs.gov.hk by accessing the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System. Details of the submission procedures are set out at www.drs.customs.gov.hk/information/43_nonHongKongDealers.

Non-Hong Kong dealers can also download the related form at www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsform/CED418_Form%208_Cash%20transaction%20report.pdf and then submit the report in person at Hong Kong Customs’ booth at the JMA.

The Hong Kong Customs’ booth (Booth 1CON01) is located at HKCEC Hall 1 Concourse and will be open from 10am to 6.30pm on November 27, from 10am to 7pm on November 28 and 29, and from 10am to 6.30pm on November 30.

Dealers can visit the website (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html) for more information about the Regime.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Due to the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, the Tai Po District Office (TPDO) today (November 26) has opened the following additional temporary shelters for people in need:

Name	Address
Tai Po Community Centre	Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Fu Shin Community Hall	12 On Po Road, Tai Po
“Good House” (The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention)	168 Shuen Wan Chan Uk, Tai Po

The TPDO has opened temporary shelters at Kwong Fuk Community Hall (Kwong Fuk Estate, Tai Po) and Tung Cheong Street Community Hall (1/F, Tai Po Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building, 25 Tung Cheong Street, Tai Po) earlier today for residents in need. CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School is also open to accommodate residents evacuated.

In addition, apart from the interdepartmental help desk at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital set up by the TPDO earlier today (hotline:2658 4040), the Sha Tin District Office has set up an interdepartmental help desk at Prince of Wales Hospital (hotline: 3505 1555) for assistance and public enquiries.

The District Offices will closely monitor the situation, open additional temporary shelters as needed, and liaise with other government departments to provide residents with appropriate assistance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, together with the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, met the media today (November 26) on the distribution of thank you cards to voters during the 2025 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election. Following are Mr Chan’s remarks at the media session:

Reporter: Good morning. A few questions. First one, why did the Government come up with such incentives? And secondly, what do you make of private business sectors coming up with discounts and promotions on polling day? Thank you.

Chief Secretary for Administration: Thank you very much. First of all, I would like to say thank you to the many private companies and the private sector for providing some facilitation and special offers to those who vote in the LegCo election. I think encouraging more people to vote is very important, and it is also very important for the future of Hong Kong. We encourage the private sector to provide, as far as they can, facilitation and special offers to encourage (voting in) the LegCo election; it is very, very important for Hong Kong’s future. I really encourage that. Thank you. 

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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 25) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 25 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $5.1 million.

     A 31-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong in transit from Bangkok, Thailand, to London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

     The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and he will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (November 27).

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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 – 4

Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation on November 24 to combat infringing activities involving circumventing game consoles. Eight game consoles suspected to be connected with the case, 13 sets of suspected infringing game consoles, 29 memory cards containing suspected infringing games, a desktop computer with an external hard disk used for dealing with infringing games and a batch of computer equipment were seized. The total estimated market value was about $150,000.

     Customs earlier received information alleging that someone offered paid services to circumvent game consoles and sold suspected infringing electronic games through a social media platform page. After a thorough investigation and with the assistance of the copyright owner, Customs officers took enforcement action on November 24. An industrial unit in Kwun Tong and a retail shop in Tsuen Wan were raided, and the batch of game consoles connected with the case and the suspected infringing game consoles were seized. Customs officers from the Computer Forensic Laboratory were also summoned to the scene to support the operation. Through an on-site digital examination, more than 5 000 suspected infringing game files were found from the computer connected with an external storage media, which was used to process infringing games.

During the operation, two men, aged 42 and 38, were arrested. 
 
     An investigation is ongoing, and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs noted that the copyright owner had applied an effective technological measure in his game consoles to prevent any unauthorised games being played on any devices, and the arrested persons are suspected of using circumvention technology to enable the infringing games to run on the game consoles.

     Customs reminds traders not to take part in circumvention activities since selling a circumvention device or providing a circumvention service is a serious crime. Also, members of the public should respect intellectual property rights and not buy any circumvention devices. Unknown websites connected with circumvention devices might contain computer viruses or malware which can pose a risk to users.

     Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who possesses an infringing copy of a copyright work with a view to selling it commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years. Any person who, for the purpose of a circumvention business, or in the course of a circumvention business, sells or lets for hire a relevant device, or provides relevant services in order to allow circumventing an effective technological measure which has been applied in relation to a copyright work, is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for four years.

Members of the public may report any suspected infringement 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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced today (November 26) that, to express gratitude for the public’s support in the Legislative Council General Election and for casting their valuable votes on polling day, a thoughtfully designed thank-you card will be produced and presented to voters after they have cast their votes on polling day.
 
     The theme of the thank-you card is “Together We Create a Better Future”, symbolising the collective effort of various sectors of society and the general public to jointly forge a better future for Hong Kong. The cover of the card features a futuristic design, with the election mascots, the Ballot Box Family (namely “Blue Ballot”, “Red Ballot” and “Grandpa Ballot”), expressing their thanks to citizens. The card was designed by a team at the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) and produced by the Information Services Department and the Government Logistics Department.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “The Government has in recent years bolstered its efforts to promote artificial intelligence (AI) as a core industry for Hong Kong’s development, implementing a series of measures to foster a thriving AI ecosystem. HKGAI, funded by InnoHK, a major innovation and technology initiative of the Government, specialises in the research and development of generative AI technology, with the goal of building Hong Kong’s self-developed AI foundation models and ecosystem. The use of generative AI by HKGAI for this design resonates perfectly with the election’s theme of ‘creating the future together.'”
 
     On December 6, the day before the election, the Government will host an Election Fun Day with a series of activities across Hong Kong to welcome the election. These include:
 

• The “Let’s Vote, Together We Create the Future Gala” will be held at Wonderland of the West Kowloon Cultural District that evening, featuring performances by artists, magician and dancers;
   
• The Government will organise carnivals in various locations, such as a civic education carnival at Tai Po Waterfront Park, as well as land and water experience activities along the Wan Chai and North Point waterfronts, etc;
   
• The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold “Fun in Sports & LegCo Election” carnival activities at six venues, i.e. Southorn Playground in Wan Chai, Kowloon Park, Kowloon Walled City Park, Hong Kong Velodrome Park, Fanling Playground, and Pak Tai Temple Playground in Cheung Chau;
   
• Various policy bureaux and departments will organise exhibitions and interactive experience activities. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will hold a roving interactive exhibition at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill; while the Environment and Ecology Bureau, in collaboration with Kowloon Motor Bus, will display vintage buses and electric buses at the Yue Lun Street Depot in Lai Chi Kok; and
   
• Eight disciplinary forces under the Security Bureau will host activities or open their facilities to the public. The Police Force will hold an event at the Urban Council Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui; while open days will be held at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O; the Customs Headquarters Building in North Point; the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum in Stanley; the Civil Aid Service Headquarters in Yau Ma Tei; the Auxiliary Medical Service Headquarters in Ho Man Tin; the Tsing Yi Fire Station; and the Government Flying Service helipads in Sai Kung, Tai Mei Tuk and Tai Mo Shan.

     To further enhance the ambience of the election to be held on December 7 and public awareness of the election, as well as to remind voters to fulfil their civic responsibility and strengthen their civic consciousness, various government departments have arranged for various facilities to be open to all citizens for free on December 6 and 7 or to provide souvenirs or special offers, including:
 

• Free admission to the Hong Kong Wetland Park under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, as well as public swimming pools, and the fee-charging exhibitions of the Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Museum of Art under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on these two days;

 

• The Environmental Protection Department will offer double GREEN$ Points to the public who recycle at its community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY;

 

• The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will hold activities to promote the election and hand out souvenirs to citizens at certain public markets;

 

• At designated shopping centres, markets and Domain in Yau Tong under the Hong Kong Housing Authority, members of the public will enjoy extra free parking offers upon consumption of a certain amount; and

 

• The 14 projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme will provide different offers, including free guided tours and consumption discount. Additionally, citizens can enrol for the free guided tours, organised by the declared monument King Yin Lei on Saturdays and Sundays, starting from December 6 onwards.

 
     Members of the public can learn about various activities of the Election Fun Day by clicking here, and know more details regarding free admission to government facilities and special offers arranged by government departments by accessing the link here. The Government is also pleased to note that quite a number of private enterprises, merchants and restaurants are taking the initiative to provide various offers on polling day. Members of the public are advised to watch out for information concerned.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 35th International Railway Safety Council Annual Conference commenced in Hong Kong today.

Jointly organised by the National Railway Administration (NRA), the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), the conference is co-hosted by the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong for the first time, showcasing the close collaboration between the two places in railway safety and regulation, as well as their influence on the global railway professional field.

Chief Executive John Lee, NRA Deputy Administrator Wang Qiming and MTRC Chairman Rex Auyeung officiated at the opening ceremony. Also in attendance was Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan.

With the theme “Advancing Railway Safety through Innovations & Collaborations”, the conference features four days of plenary sessions and two days of technical visits. It provides a platform for railway safety regulators, operators and stakeholders from around the world to discuss global railway safety issues, and to have exchanges on the latest developments and innovative technology applications of railways.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lee said that railways serve as a powerful engine driving connectivity, resilience and progress.

He expressed confidence that by prioritising safety, embracing innovation and deepening collaboration, the industry will enhance lives and connect countries and communities around the world.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government considers that the introduction of Chinese Mainland railway standards can help Hong Kong make better use of Chinese Mainland resources in order to effectively reduce costs and shorten construction periods, while maintaining safety and service levels. The Highways Department expects to complete formulating the new Hong Kong Railway Standards in the coming weeks.