Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, began his visit programme in Korea today (October 30). 
 
     This morning in Busan, Mr Lee received President Xi Jinping, who will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting and pay a state visit to Korea.
 
     In the afternoon, Mr Lee met and exchanged views in Busan with Hong Kong people and business representatives based in Korea to learn more about their daily lives and developments. Mr Lee encouraged them to leverage their strengths to tell the good stories of Hong Kong and contribute to the economic and trade co-operation, as well as people-to-people exchanges, between the two places.
 
     In the evening, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, will attend a dinner with Hong Kong, China’s representative to the APEC Business Advisory Council in Gyeongju to exchange views on various issues including the promotion of Hong Kong’s advantages and the enhancement of regional co-operation.
 
     Mr Lee will participate in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Informal Dialogue with Guests, the APEC Business Advisory Council Dialogue with APEC Economic Leaders, and the Gala Dinner hosted by the organiser for participating leaders tomorrow (October 31).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and four months’ imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 30) for importing alternative smoking products, as well as for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers respectively, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) and the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO). One of them was also fined $1,500.
 
Customs officers intercepted a 50-year-old and a 32-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on August 5 and October 29 respectively. About 11 200 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $33,600, were seized from the personal baggage of the 50-year-old incoming male passenger. Also, about 46 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $209,000 and a duty potential of about $153,000 in total, were seized from the 32-year-old male passenger’s personal baggage. The two persons were subsequently arrested.
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The 50-year-old male passenger was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by the court today for contravening the IEO, while the 32-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500 for contravening the DCO.
 
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
 
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.
 
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Five owners were convicted and fined $510,190 in total at the Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday (October 28) for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123). 
 
The first case involved three unauthorised structures with a total area of about 75 square metres on a flat roof and rooftop of a residential building on San Lok Street, Sheung Shui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), three removal orders were served on the two concerned owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failure to comply with the removal orders, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $317,710 in total, of which $222,710 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts.
 
The second case involved a three-storey unauthorised structure with an area of about 100 sq m at Sheung Wo Hang, Sha Tau Kok. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the UBWs and they were also carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on the two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failure to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $104,280 in total, of which $84,280 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts.
 
The third case involved unauthorised alterations at the basement of an industrial building at Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, including erection of a structure at the entrance of a staircase, replacement of fire-resisting concrete block walls by glazed walls of an inadequate fire rating and removal of fire-resisting concrete block walls and fire-resisting doors at cold-storage godowns. The alteration works affected the fire-resisting construction of the building and contravened the Building (Construction) Regulation. A removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failure to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $88,200 in total, of which $53,200 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts.
 
A spokesman for the BD said today (October 30), “UBWs, including unauthorised alterations affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building, may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”
 
Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Labour Advisory Board:
 
The Labour Advisory Board (LAB) fully supports the upcoming eighth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election to be held on December 7, 2025. This election will return 90 Members to the LegCo, infusing powerful momentum into Hong Kong’s advancement from stability to prosperity and driving sustained prosperity and growth.
 
The Commissioner for Labour and the Chairman of the LAB, Mr Sam Hui, said, “The LAB appeals to all organisations and enterprises in Hong Kong to actively support the Government’s call for implementing flexible arrangements to facilitate their employees’ fulfilment of their civic responsibility to vote. At the same time, we sincerely call on all employees to actively cast their votes on the election day. With the best talent elected, together we build an even better Hong Kong.”
 
     The LAB is a tripartite consultative body comprising representatives of employees and employers to advise the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 30) the following arrangements for lifesaving services at its 39 gazetted beaches during the period between November 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026:

Deep Water Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Silverstrand Beach, Golden Beach, Lido Beach and Casam Beach
————————————————————————————————————————————–
November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026
Lifesaving services available from 8am to 5pm daily

Stanley Main Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach 
————————————————————————————————————————
November 1 to 30, 2025, and March 1 to 31, 2026
Lifesaving services available from 8am to 5pm daily
(Lifesaving services suspended from December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026)

Lifesaving services at the remaining 28 LCSD beaches will be suspended from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. A detailed list can be found in the attachment. 

     The LCSD calls on members of the public to observe water safety while swimming. People should swim at the beaches only when lifesaving services are available. Please do not enter the water when the red flag is hoisted.

     Members of the public should stay away from the shoreline during inclement weather and should not conduct any water sports activities on beaches to avoid causing danger to themselves and rescue personnel. Any failure to comply with the temporary closure arrangement of beaches is an offence, and the offender would be liable to prosecution.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 30) that in view of notifications from the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Hungary, the United Kingdom (UK) and France respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The relevant areas are as follows:

Hungary
—-
(1) Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County

UK
—-
(2) West Suffolk District of Suffolk County

(3) Denbighshire County of Wales

France
—-
(4) Cher Department

(5) Haute-Marne Department

(6) Vendée Department

(7) Lot-et-Garonne Department

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Hungary for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 110 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary; about 770 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1.17 million poultry eggs from the UK; and about 830 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 50 000 poultry eggs from France in the first nine months of this year.

“The CFS has contacted the Hungarian, British and French authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 30) that 30 public swimming pools under its management (see Annex) will open for public use between November 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Heated water will be provided from November 16. The LCSD will continue to monitor changes in temperature. If the weather forecast predicts that the daily average air temperature will drop to 23 degrees Celcius or below for three consecutive days before November 16, heated water will be provided earlier.

     Four swimming pools will be temporarily closed for maintenance works at different parts of the period. Details are as follows:

Swimming pool	Period of temporary closure
Wan Chai Swimming Pool	December 1, 2025, to January 20, 2026
Victoria Park Swimming Pool	February 20 to April 21, 2026
Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool	February 24 to April 15, 2026
Kwun Tong Swimming Pool	January 2 to February 21, 2026

     For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleaning operations of the public swimming pools, please visit the following website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swimlocation.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (October 30) that a pilot licence for autonomous vehicles (AVs) has been issued to approve a cross-district AV trial on Airportcity Link connecting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port and SKYCITY at the airport, in accordance with section 4(1) of the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 374AA).

     The approved trial project involves seven public light buses operated by autonomous driving between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and SKYCITY. During the initial stage of the trial, a backup operator will be stationed in the vehicle at all times to take over control when necessary. The TD’s label for pilot AV shall be displayed on all pilot AVs for identification by other road users. Details of the pilot licence have been uploaded to the TD’s website on AV trials.

     A spokesman for the TD said that, as set out in the Policy Address 2025, three cross-district pilot projects will commence within this year, including the above Airportcity Link between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and the airport, and a project spanning Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts, encompassing the Kai Tak Development Area, also announced today. The Government aims to accelerate progress towards driverless and large-scale development and also aspires to achieve commercial operation, encouraging the industry to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to explore overseas markets, particularly those with right-hand drive systems. Driving and road safety remain the top priority, and the Government will draw on practical experience to refine technical standards, share research findings with the industry in a timely manner, and implement these initiatives in a prudent and orderly process.

     The TD welcomes interested organisations or enterprises to submit applications for a pilot licence. Upon receipt of an application, the TD will consider various factors, including the design operating range and functions of the autonomous system, relevant national or international standards/guidelines, and the road test situations, based on the Code of Practice for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles before approval. Among them, the TD has been accepting submissions of the Guobiao (GB) to substantiate that the vehicles or their components comply with the relevant technical requirements and vehicle construction standards. In addition, the operation experience and performance of AV in areas outside Hong Kong (including the Mainland), such as test reports in accordance with the GB, will be taken into consideration by the TD in evaluating the performance of the vehicle automation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF) Financial Leaders Programme (FLP) concluded its field trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 20 to 23 October. The trip was attended by 35 FLP participants, including all members of the 2025 cohort and 12 alumni.
 
The objectives of the trip are to deepen the participants’ understanding of Saudi Arabia’s financial market eco-system and
strategic priorities, foster knowledge exchange between Hong Kong’s future financial leaders and key market practitioners and regulators in Saudi Arabia, promote opportunities for deeper financial and business collaboration, and expand professional networks of the participants within the Kingdom.
 
The delegation engaged with senior officials and representatives from leading institutions, including the Saudi Central Bank, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Tadawul Group, Fintech Saudi, and the Middle East and North Africa Fintech Association. 
 
Through a series of meetings, in-depth discussions were held on topics of mutual interest, including Saudi Arabia’s economic development and transformation, fintech innovation, digitalisation, green and sustainable finance, and financial infrastructure development. The participants gained valuable insights into Saudi Vision 2030 and other initiatives driving the Kingdom’s economic transformation, the roles of key stakeholders in advancing strategic goals, and the potential for collaboration between the financial markets of Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. The participants also shared updates on the latest developments in Hong Kong as an international financial centre, particularly in the field of fintech, with their counterparts. The delegation also attended a luncheon with Chinese corporates operating in the Kingdom to learn about their experiences, opportunities, and challenges in the region.
 
“This trip not only broadened the FLP participants’ global perspectives but also reinforced the strategic roles of Hong Kong and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as key gateways between Asia and the Middle East,” said the Chief Executive Officer of the AoF, Mr Enoch Fung. “This journey has laid a strong foundation for future collaboration in fintech, green finance, and cross-border talent development.”

About the Hong Kong Academy of Finance

The AoF was set up with full collaboration amongst the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, the Insurance Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. It aims at facilitating financial talents’ development and fostering collaboration for applied researches.

About the Financial Leaders Programme

Launched in 2022, the FLP is a programme designed to inspire Hong Kong’s future financial leaders (currently at around two levels below the CEO position), equipping them with the strategic mindset to lead with a macro perspective, and expand their professional network. Participants are nominated by their CEOs. The 2026 intake will open for applications in November 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force continued to take enforcement action and laid charges against two local men, aged 32 and 34, who were arrested on October 28, jointly with one count of “conspiracy to incite riot” under the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245) today (October 30). The 32-year-old man was also charged with one count of “incitement to riot” under the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245).

The case will be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon.

During the same operation, the NSD searched a unit in the Kowloon region yesterday (October 29) afternoon. Three compound bows with twelve arrows and two katanas were seized. A 46-year-old local man was suspected of contravening the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228) for “possession of offensive weapon with intent” and he is being detained for further enquires. Offenders are liable upon conviction for the above offence to a maximum fine of $5,000 and two years of imprisonment.

Relevant operation is still ongoing. Police do not rule out the possibility of further arrests.