The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed strong disapproval of and discontent with the US’ imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff on Hong Kong products.
Starting May 2, the US will eliminate the duty-free de minimis treatment for and impose duty on covered goods from Hong Kong.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the US’ measures are bullying and unreasonable, and grossly inconsistent with the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, willfully undermining the multilateral trading system which is the cornerstone for international trade.
Once again, the Hong Kong SAR Government firmly requests the US to withdraw its so-called reciprocal tariff measures.
It said that it will continue to closely monitor and assess any unilateral measures of the US that are inconsistent with fair trade, and take actions to defend Hong Kong’s legitimate interests, including filing of a complaint in accordance with the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.
The statement noted that Hong Kong, being a free port, supports and upholds free trade all along, and has never imposed any tariffs on imported goods, including those from the US. The US’ imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff is illogical.
As a separate customs territory under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong has put in place an effective system for import and export, including the origin certification system, trade declaration and manifest requirements, and has taken robust enforcement actions on this basis.
The Hong Kong SAR Government said the US’ allegation about the imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff on Hong Kong products due to the risk of transshipment and evasion is ungrounded, fully showing that it is a bullying act for suppressing its competitors.
In 2023, the US was the third largest trading partner of Hong Kong, with the total merchandise trade value amounting to US$60.3 billion. During the past 10 years, the US has realised a trade surplus of US$271.5 billion with Hong Kong, the largest among its global trading partners.
The US’ measures are mere unilateral protectionism that harm the interests of all, the statement added.
As for the duty-free de minimis treatment for postal items dispatched from Hong Kong to the US, the US has been repeatedly changing its policies unilaterally.
Hongkong Post has requested the US postal administration to promptly clarify the matter and not cause inconvenience to the public.
From now until May 2, Hongkong Post will temporarily maintain postal services to the US but will not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the US authorities.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today held a seminar to enable participants to have a deeper understanding of the essence of the “two sessions” and its significance to Hong Kong.
The third session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the third session of the 14th National Committee (NPC) of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) were concluded successfully in March.
Hosted by Chief Executive John Lee, the seminar was attended by more than 320 participants including principal officials, Hong Kong SAR deputies to the NPC and members of the National Committee of the CPPCC as well as Executive Council and Legislative Council members.
Sharing his views at the event, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR Zheng Yanxiong said that Hong Kong has to grasp the spirit of the “two sessions” focusing on seven aspects.
They are: grasping deeply the spirit of the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the “two sessions”; significant achievements of the country on all fronts over the past year; bright prospects in national economic and social development; overall requirements and major tasks for economic and social development this year; key initiatives in the government work report; significance of amending the Law on Deputies; and key plans for Hong Kong as highlighted by the “two sessions”.
The government work report pointed out boosting innovation and the radiating effect of the Greater Bay Area, striving for solid progress in high-quality Belt & Road co-operation, and speeding up the process to join the Comprehensive & Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
These plans are closely related to Hong Kong and deserve a high degree of attention, in particular the emphasis on “deepening international exchanges and co-operation and better integration into the national development”, highlighting the importance for Hong Kong to capitalise on its advantages as an international city and integrate into the overall national development, Mr Cheng said.
It also highlights the dialectical relationship between Hong Kong’s connection to the Mainland and to the world, he added.
Expressing gratitude to Mr Zheng for his sharing that deepened the participants’ understanding of the spirit of the “two sessions”, the Chief Executive said the central government firmly supports Hong Kong’s development.
“The Hong Kong SAR Government will fully implement the spirit of the ‘two sessions’ to unite society to deepen reforms comprehensively, proactively identify, adapt to, and drive change, pursue economic development and improve people’s livelihood, fully leverage the institutional strengths of ‘one country, two systems’ and align with national development strategies, deepen international collaboration and capitalise on Hong Kong’s role to link with the Mainland and the world.
“Hong Kong will vigorously develop new quality productive forces, accelerate its development into an international innovation and technology centre, consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, actively build an international hub for high-calibre talent, and take forward the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone,” Mr Lee said.
“Apart from strengthening economic and trade ties with traditional markets, Hong Kong will deepen exchanges and co-operation with new markets such as the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Central Asia, contribute to the Belt & Road Initiative, and tell the good stories of China and Hong Kong,” he added.
The Chief Executive encouraged government officials and the community to work hard and stay united to contribute to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and the well-being of its people, and meet the challenges ahead with greater confidence and determination to build a better future.
Johnny Leung will succeed Yang Joe-tsi as Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force Commandant from April 7, the Government announced today.
Mr Leung, 57, is the Chief Operating Officer of a multinational engineering corporation.
He joined the Auxiliary Police Force as a constable in 1989 and was promoted to Chief Superintendent (Auxiliary) in 2017. He became deputy commandant in 2021.
Mr Yang has a wide range of operational and management experience. He was awarded the Long Service Medal for Auxiliary Police in 2004, the First Clasp in 2014, and a TIDERIDER medal in 2021.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
With the long weekend of Ching Ming Festival holiday approaching, Hong Kong Customs today (April 3) reminded members of the public and travellers not to bring “space oil drug” into or out of Hong Kong in order to avoid breaching the law and incurring criminal liabilities.
To step up the control of the “space oil drug”, the Government has listed etomidate, the main ingredient of the “space oil drug” and its three analogues (metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate) as dangerous drugs.
A spokesman for Hong Kong Customs said, “With the long weekend of the Ching Ming Festival holiday approaching, we will take more stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary trafficking of the ‘space oil drug’ and other narcotics activities. Hong Kong Customs will not tolerate drug trafficking criminals and will bring them to justice.”
Drug trafficking is a serious offence. Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million. The maximum penalty upon conviction for possession of dangerous drugs is imprisonment for seven years and a fine of $1 million.
With a view to enhancing enforcement efficiency, Customs has incorporated etomidate and its analogues into the databases of raman spectrometers and ion scanners to increase frontline personnel’s capability in detecting the “space oil drug”. Customs will continue to work closely with Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies to stringently combat cross-boundary drug trafficking activities.
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) and online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today highlighted the new energy and resolve in the lives of devotees with worship of Maa Durga in Navratri. He also shared a bhajan by Smt. Anuradha Paudwal.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKMA 2025 Pay Review The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (April 3) the results of the 2025 annual pay review. The review was undertaken by the Governance Sub-Committee (GSC) of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee (EFAC). The GSC’s recommendations have been approved by the Financial Secretary through EFAC.
The Fixed Pay of the HKMA staff will be frozen for the coming year from April 2025. Variable Pay equivalent to 19.93 per cent of Total Pay will be paid to staff on the basis of their performance in 2024. Variable Pay is a one-off payment to staff who have attained or exceeded the required level of performance.Issued at HKT 19:00
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, moves the statutory resolution in the Lok Sabha seeking approval of imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur The House expresses its respect, sympathy, and deep sorrow for those who lost their lives in the violence in Manipur
Ethnic violence in Manipur started due to a reservation-related dispute between two communities, triggered by a decision of the Manipur High Court
No violence since past four months in Manipur
The government is providing all necessary facilities, including food, medicines, and medical services, in the relief camps
Online arrangements for technical education and medical education have been made
Classes have been set up inside the camps for primary education, where arrangements for their learning have been made
Home Minister says there should not be any violence and ethnic violence should not be linked to any political party
Manipur has long experienced unrest, but the opposition is portraying it as if this is the first instance of violence in Manipur
During the previous government’s tenure, three major ethnic violences in Manipur after 1993 lasted for 10 years, 3 years and six months, but no one, including the Home Minister, from the government visited the region
Between 2012 and 2017, despite no ethnic violence, Manipur was shut down for an average of 212 days per year
Before the High Court order, there was not a single day of shutdown and blockade in Manipur during our rule and there was no violence
On the very day the High Court’s order was issued, security forces’ companies were dispatched to the region via Air Force planes
Home Minister appeals to all members, urging them not to politicize the issue, as the government is making every possible effort to restore peace in Manipur
After the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, discussions were held with both communities, and separate meetings with all organizations from both communities took place
Ministry of Home Affairs will soon convene a joint meeting
Government is working to restore peace in Manipur as soon as possible, rehabilitate those affected, and heal the wounds
Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:21PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah, moved a statutory resolution in the Lok Sabha for the approval of the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur. The resolution was thereafter adopted by the lower house. The House also expressed its respect, sympathy, and deep sorrow for those who lost their lives in the violence in Manipur.
Introducing the resolution, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, said that ethnic violence between two communities in Manipur had started due to a decision by the Manipur High Court regarding a reservation-related dispute. He mentioned that these are neither riots nor terrorism, but ethnic violence between two communities as a result of the interpretation of the High Court’s decision. Shri Shah further said that there has been no violence in Manipur for nearly four months, from December to March, and provisions for food, medicines, and medical facilities have been ensured in the camps. He said that online arrangements for technical and medical education have been made and for primary education, classes have been set up inside the camps, where arrangements for their studies have been made.
Shri Amit Shah said that there should not be any violence and ethnic violence should not be linked to any political party. He mentioned that the opposition tried to portray a picture that ethnic violence occurred during our governance. He informed the House that between 1993 and 1998, there was a Naga-Kuki conflict in Manipur for five years, which resulted in 750 deaths, and sporadic incidents continued for a decade. Shri Shah emphasized that while we believe such incidents should never happen under our rule, an unfortunate decision led to the violence, which was immediately brought under control. He said that of the 260 deaths in the violence, 80 per cent occurred in the first month, while the remaining deaths occurred in the following months. He also mentioned that in the 1997-98 Kuki-Paite conflict, more than 50 villages were destroyed, 40,000 people were displaced, 352 people were killed, hundreds were injured, and 5,000 homes were burned. He further added that during the six-month-long Meitei-Pangal conflict took place in 1993 in which over 100 deaths occurred.
Union Home Minister said that the opposition is trying to portray a picture as if this is the first violence in Manipur and our governance has failed. He mentioned that three major instances of violence—spanning 10 years, 3 years, and 6 months—had occurred during the rule of the previous government. He added that after these incidents of violence, no one from the then government, including the Home Minister, visited the region.
Shri Amit Shah noted that BJP came to power in 2017, and in the previous five years, Manipur was shut down for an average of 212 days per year, despite the fact that no ethnic violence occurred during that time. He mentioned that there were over 1,000 encounters, which had to be taken cognizance of by the Supreme Court. Shri Shah said that before the High Court order, there was not a single day of shutdown and blockade in Manipur and there was no violence, in the six years of BJP rule since 2017. He said that in a specific situation, when both communities interpreted a High Court decision as being against them, violence erupted within just two days.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that the opposition has also accused the government of ignoring the violence in Manipur. He informed the House that on the very day the High Court’s order was issued, security forces’ companies were dispatched to the region via Air Force planes. He emphasized that everyone shares the same concern on this matter. The Home Minister appealed to all members, urging them not to politicize the issue, as the government is making every possible effort to restore peace in Manipur. He added that for every life lost in this violence, the House should hold respect, empathy, and sorrow in its heart.
Shri Amit Shah stated that after the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, discussions were held with both communities, and separate meetings with all organizations from both communities have taken place. He mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs will soon convene a joint meeting. He emphasized that while the government is working to find a path to end the violence, the top priority is to establish peace. Shri Shah also noted that there have been no deaths in Manipur for the past four months, with only two people injured, and the situation is largely under control. However, he said that the situation would not be considered satisfactory until the displaced people are no longer living in camps. He further mentioned that discussions are ongoing regarding a rehabilitation package for the displaced people.
Union Home Minister stated that our Chief Minister resigned, and then the Governor held discussions with 37 BJP members, 6 from NPP, 5 from NPF, 1 from JD(U), and 5 from Congress. He mentioned that when most of the members stated that they were not in a position to form the government, the Cabinet recommended the imposition of President’s Rule, which was accepted by the President. Shri Shah further stated that the government wants peace to be restored in Manipur as soon as possible, along with rehabilitation efforts and healing the wounds of the affected people.
Instructions in this regard were issued vide D/o Personnel & Training’s O.M. No. 19/116/2024-Pers.Pol. (Pay)(pt) dated 14.10.2024 in pursuance of the Interim Order dated06.09.2024 passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in M.A. Dy. No. 2400/2024, and after dueconsultation with D/o Legal Affairs and D/o Expenditure.
It has been provided in para 6 of D/o Personnel & Training’s O.M. No.19/116/2024-Pers. Pol. (Pay)(pt) dated 14.10.2024 that the judgment dated 11.04.2023 will be given effect to incase of third parties from the date of the judgment, that is, the pension by taking into account one increment will be payable on and after 01.05.2023. Enhanced pension for the period prior to 30.04.2023 will not be paid. In case any retired employee has filed any application or writ petition and a beneficial order has been passed, the enhanced pension by including one increment will be payable from the month in which the application for intervention/ impleadment was filed.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
In terms of Section 2(h)(d) of the RTI Act, 2005, any authority or body or institution of selfgovernment established or constituted by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government including any (i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed; (ii) non – Government organisation substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government is considered as public authority.
It is the obligation and responsibility of each and every Public Authority established under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005 to implement the provisions of the RTI Act. They are also under obligation to undertake the suo motu/proactive disclosure as mandated under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act and comply with the guidelines issued by the Government from time to
time.
In this regard, the Government issued exhaustive guidelines on implementation of suo motu disclosure under section 4 of RTI Act, 2005 vide OM No.1/6/2011-IR dated 15.04.2013 which were reiterated on 07.11.2019.
Para 4.5 of the aforesaid guidelines provide that the Central Information Commission should examine the third-party audit reports for each Ministry/Public Authority and offer advice/recommendations to the concerned Ministries/ Public Authorities.
Further, as per Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, if it appears to the Central Information Commission (CIC) that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act does not conform with the provisions or spirit of this Act, it may give to the authority a recommendation specifying the steps which ought in its opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity. The CIC being the apex adjudicatory body set up under Section 12(1) of the RTI Act, functions autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other Authority under the RTI Act.
Furthermore, the CIC in terms of Sections 18-20 of the RTI Act, have sufficient powers to enquire into complaints and to adjudicate appeals, including complaints regarding any public authority claiming itself to not be a public authority.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS) has reduced the backlog and 1,94,611 grievances have been resolved during the last two years (from 01.03.2023 to 28.02.2025). For the redressal of grievances of family pensioners and super-senior pensioners, specific categorization of such grievances, including the delay in starting of family pension and additional pension, has been done for better monitoring. Further, regular reminders are issued and monthly Inter-Ministerial Review Meetings (IMRMs) are conducted for such cases. Also, under 100 days Action plan, a month long Special Campaign, for redressal of family pension grievances, was launched in July, 2024, which achieved 94% redressal. The Department has issued instructions including detailed instructions dated 16.10.2024 from time to time with emphasis on ultimate and conclusive redressal of the grievances within 21 days from earlier 30 days. Quality of redressal is monitored through feedback centre and Appeals are filed in the cases graded as ‘Poor’.
These initiatives have helped in improving the redressal time and quality of redressal.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.