Category: MIL-OSI

Appointments to Advisory Committee on Cruise Industry announced​
     The membership of the ACCI with effect from January 1, 2026, is as follows:————-
Commissioner for Tourism————
Mr Anthony Lau Chun-hon (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, ex-officio member)
Mr Tommy Tam Kwong-shun (Chairman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, ex-officio member)
Mr Benjamin Bouldin*
Ms Gee Chan
Mr Roger Chen Ranfeng*
Mr Dickson Chin Lap-kong
Ms Eunice Lee Sau-yan
Ms Leong Mei-cheng
Mr Jerry Leong Wai-loon *
Mr Ricky Li Wai-keung *
Mr Jason Shum Jiu-sang
Mr Tim Sypko*
Dr Frederick Yip Yeung-faiIssued at HKT 12:00

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Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes       
     Customs officers intercepted an 83-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on December 23, and seized 400 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1,600 and a duty potential of about $1,300 from the inner pockets of a vest worn by him. He 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, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven 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.hkIssued at HKT 15:45

HKMA announces total quota allocated for RMB Business Facility and list of participating banks from Phase 2 onwards 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (December 29) the expanded list of 40 participating banks (see Annex) starting from Phase 2 of the RMB Business Facility (RBF), with the total quota allocated to participating banks increased to RMB100 billion, from RMB50 billion in the previous phase.  
      
     As announced by the HKMA on September 26 (please refer to the Circular      
     Starting from Phase 2, which commenced on December 1, the 40 participating banks can apply for RMB funds from the HKMA within their assigned quota under the RBF, to provide RMB financing to local and overseas corporates in support of the real economy.
      
     The specific quota assigned to each of the 40 participating banks is based on the bank’s existing scale of relevant business, expected pipeline, as well as the geographical reach of its overseas intragroup banking entities, all of which reflect its potential in enhancing Hong Kong’s capacity in channelling offshore RMB funds to the global market. When determining the quota allocation, facility usage of the 24 banks that participated in the previous RMB Trade Financing Liquidity Facility and Phase 1 of the RBF has also been taken into account. 
      
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “With the support from the People’s Bank of China, the HKMA will continue to closely monitor the progress of the RBF, and will consider adding more participating banks as appropriate, subject to actual facility usage and market demand, with a view to further promoting the use of RMB in the real economy and fostering the growth of offshore RMB business in Hong Kong.”
      
     Terms and operation details of the RBF can be found in the aforementioned Circular.
Issued at HKT 12:00

Government launches industry consultation on proposed legislative amendments to facilitate digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents 
     International trade involves presentment or submission of various trade documents, including “Business-to-Government” (B2G) documents (such as import and export declarations, cargo manifests and various licences or permits) and B2B documents (such as bills of lading and bills of exchange). While the trade may already submit most of the B2G trade documents through the Government Electronic Trading Services and the Trade Single Window, transactions involving certain B2B trade documents still rely largely on paper-based means due to legal requirements and industry practice. As technology advances, the digitalisation of these documents has emerged as a new trend.
 
     As announced in the 2025-26 Budget and the 2025 Policy Address, the Government will make reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) advocated by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and consider legislative amendments to facilitate digitalisation of trade documents. Upon careful consideration by relevant authorities, the consultation paper outlines and seeks industry opinions on the proposed framework to amend the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553) (ETO) and relevant legislation for implementing MLETR provisions, covering various key aspects including the scope of application, assessment of reliability and operational requirements.
 
     The legislative amendments will provide the legal basis for the use of electronic transferable records, which are the electronic version of transferable documents or instruments. Suitable MLETR provisions will be codified into the ETO as far as practicable, with a view to aligning with international standards and promote cross-border interoperability.
 
     A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said, “The Government endeavours to maintain a business-friendly environment to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in international trade. Digitalisation of B2B trade documents may reduce processing time and costs, enhance transparency and integrity, and facilitate international trade. We hope that the legislative proposal would empower the industry to develop technical solutions that suit their actual needs, thereby further enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international financial, maritime and trade centre.”
 
     The consultation paper is available on the CEDB website (www.cedb.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:30

Civil Aid Service holds Passing-out Parade for 91st Recruits 
     Speaking at the parade, Mr Chan said that as an excellent auxiliary emergency service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the CAS has always adhered to the spirit of “Serving the Community with Passion, Courage and Commitment”. In September this year, when Super Typhoon Ragasa approached Hong Kong, the CAS quickly mobilised over 500 members to assist in emergency rescue operations during the heavy rain and strong winds, as well as the community recovery work after the typhoon. Last month, a major fire occurred in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, causing significant casualties. The whole city was in mourning. The CAS immediately activated the command centre and to date has deployed over 2 200 personnel to support the evacuation and resettlement of the affected residents, distribution of supplies, and other tasks, standing firm on the front line of disaster relief.
 
     He said that at the 15th National Games held last month and the 2025 Legislative Council General Election held earlier this month, the CAS, with efficient and professional services, assisted in crowd management at various sports venues and polling stations across the territory, ensuring the events were conducted safely and in an orderly manner.
 
     In terms of youth development, Mr Chan said that the CAS and the Customs and Excise Department share the same goal. Since the establishment of the Cadet Corps in 1968, the CAS has been encouraging young people to develop their potential and establish positive values through various activities. This coincides with Hong Kong Customs’ “Customs YES” programme, which aims to cultivate a new generation with a sense of national identity, social responsibility, and an international perspective, supporting young people to integrate into the country’s overall development.
 
     During the ceremony, Mr Chan presented awards to outstanding recruits. The graduates staged demonstrations of vegetation firefighting and rescue techniques.
 
     A total of 29 officer trainees and 83 recruits participated in the passing-out parade. All graduates are from diverse backgrounds. The CAS Recruit Training Certificate Programme has been recognised under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework as meeting the accreditation standards at Level 3 by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. Graduates will be awarded the Certificate in Auxiliary Forces Basic Training (Civil Defence). The graduates will apply their acquired knowledge and skills to serve society.
   
     Recruitment of CAS Grade IV Officers and Grade I Members is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/adult_recruitment.htmlIssued at HKT 17:00