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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Wong Ho-yin, witnessed by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JD.com today (April 20) at the Customs Headquarters Building to establish a closer co-operative relationship. 

At the signing ceremony, Mr Chan said that JD.com has close ties with Hong Kong Customs. One of the Group’s subsidiaries in logistics has been accredited as a Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator, making it a trusted partner of Hong Kong Customs. This also shows JD.com’s commitment to safeguarding supply chain security. Through the signing of the MOU, both sides will establish a closer communication and collaboration mechanism, strengthen compliance promotion, and work together to prevent prohibited or controlled items from entering Hong Kong through online shopping channels, thereby providing more comprehensive protection for consumers.

     The Vice President and Chief Economist of JD.com, Dr Shen Jianguang, also remarked that JD.com adheres to its core philosophy of “achieving success the right way”. The Group firmly believes that only by operating legally, compliantly, and with integrity can it achieve sustainable and healthy development while creating value for society. Looking ahead, JD.com will strengthen its co-operation with Hong Kong Customs, actively co-ordinate with Customs’ regulatory efforts, and work together to maintain a sound import and export order.

Hong Kong Customs will continue to adopt innovative thinking in its development, strengthen co-operation with the industry, and steadfastly uphold the mission of safeguarding the gate of Hong Kong and facilitating legitimate trade.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on April 4 seized around 5 000 suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of around $1.4 million at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port.
 
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 64-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
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Initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would have been transhipped to overseas regions.
 
The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
 
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
 
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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 detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on April 13. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $20 million were seized.
 
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Strategies were thus formulated to crack down on the related activity.
 
Customs on that day selected a container that was scheduled to be shipped to Australia and declared as carrying laundry baskets for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including 810 000 cigarettes, electronic appliances, furniture, pet supplies and toys.
 
An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
 
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.
 
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
 
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will lead the research task force set up by the Working Group on Planning and Construction (WG) of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Korea tomorrow (April 21). The delegation will conduct site visits to local higher education infrastructure and exchange views with university experts and scholars on their successful experiences and development strategies to efficiently advance the construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
 
     Members of the delegation led by Mr Chan include the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, Ms Linda So, and other representatives of the WG.
 
     The delegation will visit Sejong, Daejeon, Seoul, and Incheon to inspect local higher education campuses and university towns, and exchange views with officials and representatives from higher education institutions on the operation and development of the campuses, as well as their industry-education collaboration. The delegation will also visit local research institutes to exchange views on issues such as nurturing top-tier scientific research talent.
 
     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on April 24. During his absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration. Dr Choi has commenced her visit to Korea today (April 20) to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand and will return to Hong Kong on April 24. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

　　The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Governor of Anhui Province, Mr Wang Qingxian, at Government House today (April 20) to exchange views on deepening co-operation between Anhui and Hong Kong. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, also attended the meeting.
 
　　Mr Lee welcomed Mr Wang and his delegation to Hong Kong for a conference promoting innovation co-operation between Anhui and Hong Kong. He said that this year marks the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan which emphasises promoting co-ordinated regional development, and consolidating and enhancing the roles of the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as driving forces. Anhui is an important engine for the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Delta Region, and Hong Kong is a core city and key driving engine of the GBA. The two places enjoy close cultural and business ties, and maintain close co-operation. He expressed confidence that the two places will continue to deepen co-operation, promote the Yangtze River Delta and the GBA as world-class city clusters, and jointly seize the new opportunities brought by the National 15th Five-Year Plan.
 
　　Mr Lee said that Hong Kong has long been Anhui’s largest source of external investment, and the two places enjoy close economic and trade ties. Hong Kong is ranked No. 1 in the world in economic freedom, and enjoys the unique advantage of having both national and international opportunities present simultaneously in the same city under the “one country, two systems” principle, playing its roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has established the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force). Through its cross-sector professional services platform, the GoGlobal Task Force serves Mainland enterprises in “going global” and attracts international capital to Hong Kong, firmly advancing high-quality economic development. He welcomed more Mainland enterprises, including those from Anhui, to make good use of Hong Kong’s highly internationalised market and high value-added professional services to enhance their business competitiveness, and to use Hong Kong as a springboard to expand into global markets for shared development.
 
　　Mr Lee said that Anhui has experienced rapid economic development, with active efforts to foster emerging industries such as the digital economy and AI. Hong Kong is actively advancing the preparation of its first five-year plan, and is making every effort to build an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent, thereby opening up a new chapter of high-quality development and better integrating into and serving the country’s overall development. Hong Kong will further expand co-operation with Anhui in cutting-edge I&T fields and promote the development of the I&T sectors in both places to jointly drive the development of new quality productive forces and contribute to building a technologically advanced nation. The two places will also advance deeper and broader co-operation in areas such as finance, economics and trade, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges to achieve complementary strengths and mutual benefits for win-win outcomes.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (April 22) at 11am and Thursday (April 23) at 9am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Appropriation Bill 2026 will resume and Members will speak on the Bill.

     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, all of which require written replies.

     The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: 
 
     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (April 20) that, following the digitalisation of medical certificates (commonly known as sick leave certificates) and attendance certificates, maternity/sick leave certificates and maternity leave certificates issued by the HA will also adopt a digital signature with an electronic version starting from April 24 this year. These digital certificates will replace the traditional, manually signed paper certificates.
 
     Same as the manually signed traditional certificate, the digital signature on the electronic maternity/sick leave certificate issued by a doctor, and the maternity leave certificate issued by a midwife, holds the same legal effect. The digitally signed certificates will include name of patient, proof of pregnancy, the expected date of confinement and recommended sick leave, etc.
 
     All electronic certificates, including medical certificates, maternity/sick leave certificates, maternity leave certificates, and attendance certificates, display an encrypted QR code that allows verification of the electronic certificate (see Annex 1). They are automatically stored in the “Records” feature of the HA’s mobile application HA Go (see Annex 2 and Annex 3). The electronic certificates could be used for sick leave application or proof of consultation. Patients can print out the certificates where necessary. For the patient issued with an attendance certificate, the electronic version will also be stored in HA Go.
 
     The spokesperson for the HA said that the digitalisation of medical certificates issued by the HA for sick leave, maternity leave, and attendance marks an important milestone in the development of smart hospitals. In addition to streamlining the process of telehealth services and enhancing patient satisfaction, the digitalisation of certificates also reduces the risk of losing paper certificates, facilitates patient access, and improves the overall patient experience. While printed copies of electronic certificates will still be available for patients at this stage, the HA encourages patients to opt for electronic certificates in the future.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) announced today (April 20) the third batch of 24 projects recommended by the Steering Committee of the Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme for funding support (see Annex). The total Government funding commitment amounts to over $1 billion.
 
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, expressed his gratitude to the Steering Committee for vetting the new round of applications and the recommendations made. He said, “The third batch of projects recommended for funding support covers a wide range of innovation and technology (I&T) areas, including health and medical sciences, new materials and new energy, AI and robotics, computer science/information technology, electrical and electronic engineering, and advanced manufacturing, etc. It is a clear testament to Hong Kong’s research and development (R&D) capabilities and vibrant I&T ecosystem. The Government will continue to proactively promote the commercialisation of local R&D outcomes through the RAISe+ Scheme, with the aim to fostering effective collaboration among the Government, industry, academia and research sectors, injecting new momentum into local I&T development, and expediting the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, thereby contributing to high-level technological self-reliance of our country.”

The ITC is following up with the universities concerned on the projects recommended for funding support for their smooth implementation, in order to nurture more I&T projects and start-ups with potential through the Scheme, thereby further driving Hong Kong’s high-quality development.
 
With a funding allocation of $10 billion, the RAISe+ Scheme was launched in 2023 to fund, on a matching basis, research teams from the University Grants Committee-funded universities with good potential to become successful start-ups. Each approved project may receive funding support that ranges from $10 million to $100 million. Assessment criteria of the Scheme include the I&T component of the project, the commercial viability of project outcomes, the technical and management capability of the team, relevance of the project with Government policies or in the overall interest of the community, as well as the financial considerations of the project. In the first two rounds of applications, 49 projects were supported by the Scheme with the total Government funding commitment amounting to over $2 billion.
 
Details of the Scheme are available on its dedicated website (www.itf.gov.hk/en/raiseplus). For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Scheme (Tel: 3543 5904; email: raiseplus@itc.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​To promote the National Security Education Day, the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) held an open day at its headquarters in Ho Man Tin today (April 19). The event aimed to enable members of the public to learn about the work of the AMS in safeguarding national security, to enhance public awareness of national security, and to further deepen their understanding of the daily operations and services provided by the AMS.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said that safeguarding national security is the common responsibility of all. National security is not confined to single area; it is closely linked to finance, public health, and everyday community life. Among the 20 major fields of national security, biosecurity is closely related to the work of the AMS. The AMS provides various services to the public, including non-emergency ambulance transfer services, first aid coverage during large-scale public events, as well as duty at country parks and cycling tracks. The AMS spares no effort in safeguarding the safety and health of the general public. He would like to express his heartfelt gratitude to the members of the AMS for their unwavering dedication and commitment to protecting the public.

The Commissioner of the AMS, Dr Ronald Lam, said that this year marks the beginning of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and the theme of this year’s National Security Education Day is “Proactively Align with the 15th Five-Year Plan  Follow a Holistic Approach to Development and Security”. The AMS has been strengthening members’ and cadet corps’ understanding of national security through various channels. In the past year, the AMS organised the “Together, We Set a New Record” event, setting a Guinness World Record for “Most pairs of people applying arm slings simultaneously”, to promote the importance of first aid knowledge to the public. He expressed gratitude to all sectors for their support to the AMS, and added that the AMS will spare no effort in safeguarding national security and contribute to building a healthy and safe Hong Kong.

The open day featured a variety of engaging activities, including national security-themed game booths, first aid demonstrations, band foot drills, medical and health seminars, health screenings, as well as displays of ambulances and first aid bicycles. Through these activities, members of the public could gain a deeper understanding of the daily work of the AMS, access more health information, learn about developments in the healthcare sector, and at the same time enhance their awareness of national security.