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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs and law enforcement agencies of the Chinese Mainland mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation yesterday (September 8) and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a high-powered speedboat in the northwest waters of Hong Kong. About 5 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $22 million and a duty potential of about $16.5 million, and a high-powered speedboat equipped with six outboard engines, were seized.

Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs co-operated with the law enforcement agencies of the Chinese Mainland, including the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and anti-smuggling departments of the Mainland Customs to conduct an anti-smuggling operation in the aforementioned waters yesterday. During the operation, in the waters off northwest of Chep Lap Kok, a suspicious speed boat was spotted heading towards Sha Chau with its navigation light off. Customs officers immediately took action to pursue and intercept the speedboat, but the speedboat accelerated and fled.

Later, Customs boarded the speedboat and stopped the vessel for investigation. The speedboat was discovered to be equipped with six powerful outboard engines, and the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes was seized onboard the vessel. Two mainland men, aged 30 and 36, suspected of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), were arrested.

Under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit or cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and two years’ imprisonment for motor spirit, or $2 million and seven years’ imprisonment for cigarette.

Members of the public may report any illicit fuel or 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

　　The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (September 9) met with a number of senior government officials attending the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. He welcomed their delegations and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, among others, attended the respective meetings.
 
　　Mr Lee met with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, at Government House. He said that he received a high-level of hospitality and meticulous arrangements during his earlier visit to Uzbekistan leading a business delegation. After the visit, both sides have continued to exchange visits, and at today’s meeting with Mr Aripov again, both sides, building on the government-to-government high-level contacts and ties already established, pressed ahead with the fruitful results achieved during the visit in a more comprehensive and concrete manner, and closely followed up on co-operation covering various areas including legal services, trade, investment, education, innovation and technology, transport and logistics, culture, and talent development. This includes the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s collaboration with the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Hong Kong in July to jointly promote collaborations including exhibitions and professional training; the visit of a Hong Kong cross-professional delegation to Uzbekistan last month to deepen legal co-operation between the two places. Both sides will continue the commencements of discussions on bilateral agreements in various areas. These efforts further promote in-depth exchanges, foster people-to-people connectivity, and consolidate the close “hub-to-hub” co-operation between the two sides.
 
　　Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as one of the most competitive economies in the world, enjoys the unique advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and will announce Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan this month to accelerate the development of new growth areas for the economy, proactively play the roles of “super connector” and “super value-adder,” and deepen international exchanges and co-operation. Uzbekistan, as the most populous country in Central Asia, possesses abundant resources and a young labour force. It is pursuing economic reforms and holds tremendous potential in areas such as infrastructure and digital transformation, making it an important trading partner of Hong Kong in Central Asia. Hong Kong can provide strong support to Uzbekistan in trade and professional services. Both sides will continue to work together to promote co-operation in various areas, further consolidate their advantages as gateways for trade and investment respectively in the Asia-Pacific and Central Asian regions, and jointly participate in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative to seize opportunities together and achieve mutual benefits.
 
　　Mr Lee then met with the Vice President of Uruguay, Ms Carolina Cosse. He said that Uruguay is a founding member of the Southern Common Market. With the official establishment of the Consulate-General of Uruguay in Hong Kong last year, bilateral economic trade and people-to-people exchanges have grown closer. Hong Kong will continue to serve as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, leveraging the dual advantage of enjoying both national and global opportunities, to assist enterprises from the Global South in exploring the Asian market and seizing the immense opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong has been actively expanding its international “circle of friends” and attaches great importance to strengthening economic and trade ties with different markets, including those in Latin America. Mr Lee said that there is immense potential for co-operation between Hong Kong and Uruguay, and expressed the hope that both sides would strengthen collaboration in trade and investment, finance and professional services, and share the fruits of development together.
 
　　Mr Lee then met with Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Mr Saleumxay Kommasith. He said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner, and Hong Kong has always valued its close co-operative relationship with ASEAN member states, including Laos. He noted that during his visit to Laos in 2024, both sides reached multiple Memoranda of Understanding, promoting connectivity in areas such as investment promotion, trade and economic co-operation, and financial services. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has established a Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur to deepen economic and trade co-operation with ASEAN and neighbouring countries. Mr Lee welcomed enterprises from Laos and other ASEAN countries to make use of Hong Kong’s leading professional services and favourable business environment to explore opportunities, and jointly promote regional co-operation and economic prosperity. He also thanked Laos for its support for Hong Kong’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
 
　　Mr Lee then met with the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Mr Arman Shakkaliyev. He said that following his meeting with the Minister during his visit to Kazakhstan months earlier, today’s meeting followed up on the solid outcomes achieved during the visit, further advancing the “hub-to-hub” co-operation model. Kazakhstan is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia and serves as an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe. It is also the place where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed, offering vast room for co-operation between the two sides. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as the world’s fifth-largest merchandise trading entity, will leverage its role in “bringing in and going global”. Kazakhstani enterprises can make good use of Hong Kong’s status as an international trade centre to expand business opportunities. With the launch of direct flights from Hong Kong to Almaty in the first quarter of next year, and the expansion of the Economic and Trade Office network to cover Central Asia, bilateral exchanges and economic and trade co-operation will be further deepened, continuously strengthening co-operation across various sectors and jointly seizing the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative.
 
　　Mr Lee then met with the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed. He said that as the global economic gravity continues to shift eastwards, Hong Kong will continue to firmly support free trade and multilateralism, and continue to expand its global trade network, including providing safe, free and diverse investment opportunities with no capital control for investors from the Middle East. Qatar is one of Hong Kong’s important trading partners in the Middle East. He recalled that during his visit to Qatar last year, both sides signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, laying a solid foundation for bilateral co-operation. Hong Kong, as an international financial centre ranking No. 1 globally in economic freedom, is actively developing green finance and fintech, and can provide financing and professional services support for the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its economic diversification efforts, promoting broader and deeper co-operation between the two sides in finance, investment, trade, and innovation and technology.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the thematic breakout session “Hong Kong: Super Connector · World-class Springboard – Professional Services Empowering Global Expansion” at the 11th Belt and Road Summit today (September 9):

Mr Umiraliyev (First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Umiraliyev Zhandos Zhanibekovich), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this thematic breakout session of the 11th Belt and Road Summit. Our theme this afternoon concerns the important role of professional services in assisting business enterprises to go global in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

     The BRI serves as the world’s broadest and largest international platform for high-quality development. Co-operation agreements under the BRI invariably involve parties coming from different countries. For any enterprise which intends to expand its operations to another country, the primary challenge is that it will have little knowledge, if any at all, of the social, legal, economic and political environment of that country. This is where reliable and high-quality professional services become indispensable.

     Professional services include services provided by different professionals such as lawyers, accountants, financial analysts and management consultants. They are people who have special knowledge and experience in particular areas, and in most cases, are qualified to provide their services under the law of the jurisdiction in question. Of course, the professional services required would differ depending on many variables, such as which country is involved in the co-operation, what is the nature of the subject matter of the co-operation, etc. But no matter what, I would venture to suggest that Hong Kong is where you could find and obtain whatever professional services are necessary. 

     Under the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China published in March this year, it is specifically mentioned that the Central Authorities support Hong Kong to deepen its participation in the BRI and use its strength in professional services to assist enterprises to go global. Accordingly, a proposal along this line was set out expressly in the public consultation document of The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the period of 2026 to 2030. I am confident that the First Five-Year Plan to be announced by the Chief Executive next week on September 16 will adopt such a proposal.

     The question is why professional services are described and recognised as a strength of Hong Kong. The short answer is that, under the principle of “one country, two systems”, and pursuant to our Basic Law, Hong Kong maintains and develops unique legal, financial and other systems which are highly international in nature, including that they are run by professionals who have extensive knowledge and rich experience in international transactions.

     Let me use legal and dispute resolution services as an example. The BRI projects inevitably generate transboundary legal issues. Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China, and the world’s only bilingual common law jurisdiction operating in both Chinese and English, underpinned by a strong rule of law tradition. It is recognised as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. This is attributable to a number of factors.

     First, Hong Kong law remains one of the best options as the governing law for international transactions. Hong Kong ranks first in business legislation and in tax policy in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 by the International Institute for Management Development. This is largely because our business law is user-friendly, familiar to the international business community, and consistent with prevailing international standards and practice.

     Second, Hong Kong’s legal system is not only well connected to the legal systems of other jurisdictions but also to that of the Chinese Mainland. In particular, we have so far concluded 10 mutual legal assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters with the Chinese Mainland covering recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments as well as arbitral awards, and the grant of arbitration-related interim measures. These arrangements only exist between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland because Hong Kong is a part of China. This is an unparalleled advantage that cannot be found anywhere else.

     Turning to dispute resolution, we have an independent judiciary enjoying the power of final adjudication. Not only are there eminent judges from other common law jurisdictions serving as non-permanent judges of our Court of Final Appeal, foreign judges, including both retired and serving, from other common law jurisdictions are invited to sit as deputy judges at our Court of First Instance in civil and commercial matters. The Judiciary has also announced that it will establish an International Commercial Court, and foreign judges will also be invited to sit on it. All these matters enhance the confidence of people both inside and outside Hong Kong in our judiciary, and ensure that our common law jurisprudence, in particular, in the area of international trade and commerce, will be developed with the assistance of judges from other jurisdictions and made consistent with the latest international development.

     Moving on to arbitration, our arbitration ecosystem is equally world-renowned. In the 2025 International Arbitration Survey conducted by Queen Mary University of London, Hong Kong is the second most preferred arbitral seat in the world, and the most preferred arbitral seat in the Asia-Pacific region. It is noteworthy that, 84.3 per cent of all arbitrations and 92.9 per cent of all administered arbitrations submitted to the HKIAC (Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre) in 2025 were international in nature, that means at least one party was not from Hong Kong. 45.4 per cent of all arbitrations submitted to the HKIAC in 2025 involved no Hong Kong parties. 58.2 per cent involved no Mainland Chinese parties and 13.7 per cent involved no Asian parties at all. Parties from 61 jurisdictions participated in the arbitrations submitted to the HKIAC in that year.

     Mediation is becoming an important means to resolve international disputes. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) is the world’s first intergovernmental legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. It provides mediation services with respect to, among other things, commercial or investment disputes between a state and a national of another state, and also disputes arising out of or relating to international commercial relationships between private parties. So far, 46 countries have signed, and 16 of them have ratified, the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed, and many of them are participants of the BRI. Its headquarters are established here, and it has started operation since October last year. While mediation is confidential in nature, the IOMed has announced that it has already successfully assisted in resolving a maritime dispute between a Chinese entity and a Singapore entity. 

     You may wonder whether, and if so, why and how Hong Kong’s legal services are still relevant and useful if the governing law of the co-operation agreement is not Hong Kong law, or the place involved in the co-operation is not Hong Kong. My answer is that Hong Kong lawyers do not simply provide legal services confined to Hong Kong law. Among barristers and solicitors in Hong Kong, many of them are not only qualified to practise in Hong Kong but also in other major common law jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. As at September 2, Hong Kong law firms have 265 overseas offices around the world and 78 representative offices in the Chinese Mainland. There are 44 registered associations of Hong Kong and foreign law firms, 93 foreign law firms and 1 784 foreign registered lawyers. It is no exaggeration to say that you can find in Hong Kong lawyers practising almost anywhere in the world, as well as those who have excellent connections with lawyers in whatever jurisdiction you are concerned about.

     The internationalised, high quality and reputable legal services provided by Hong Kong’s legal professionals can and will undoubtedly assist in safeguarding the interests of enterprises involved in the BRI to go global effectively and efficiently. This is why we position ourselves not only as a “super connector” between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world but also as a “super value-adder”.  

     That said, we appreciate that there is no room for complacency. Hong Kong has been making continuous efforts to assist enterprises involved in the BRI, in particular those from the Chinese Mainland, to go global. For example, the Department of Justice launched the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform to promote Hong Kong’s legal services in collaboration with other professional services to support enterprises to go global. We have published the Panel List of Hong Kong Legal Services Providers Supporting “Go Global”, a directory with more than 70 legal services providers across 12 categories, and the second series of the collection of more than 160 case studies detailing how Hong Kong professionals help enterprises succeed overseas. On the other hand, the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, launched in November 2024, has already provided capacity building programmes for more than 2 000 participants, most of whom are legal professionals coming from different jurisdictions, in relation to different areas of international legal law and practice.

     Further, less than two weeks ago, I led a group of cross-professional delegates from our legal, dispute resolution, financial and accounting sectors, together with the Commissioner for Belt and Road, to Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The trip was very constructive in introducing our professional services, and fostering relationships with the legal and business communities in those places. I am most delighted that I made some new and good friends during the visit. One of them is Mr Umiraliyev, the First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who is with us today and has kindly agreed to deliver a keynote speech very soon on Kazakhstan’s latest investor-protection framework.  

     In the panel discussion of today’s thematic breakout session, you will hear from two complementary vantage points, the service provider and the user. Our distinguished speakers will first share insights from the service provider perspective, outlining the latest trends in outbound investments along the Belt and Road, the legal challenges faced by enterprises, and Hong Kong’s one-stop professional services from deal-making to dispute resolution. The discussion will then pivot to the user and collaboration perspective, exploring Hong Kong’s connectivity along the Belt and Road, the essence of collaborative success and lessons from BRI-related arbitration.

     The Belt and Road is a belt to prosperity and a road to happiness. Hong Kong is fully committed to walking together with, and assisting and supporting, all participants of the BRI on the journey. On this note, I wish you all a very fruitful and constructive afternoon. Thank you.  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) Mr Abror Mirzo Olimov, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Belt and Road Summit 2026 today (September 9) to foster closer gold market co-operation between the two sides.

The MOU signifies a fruitful outcome of the successful visit to Central Asia in June this year by a high-level Hong Kong delegation led by the Chief Executive, further deepening government-to-government ties between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.  

Uzbekistan is one of the world’s most gold-rich countries by production, geological endowment and official holdings. The MOU provides a structured framework for Hong Kong and Uzbekistan to explore how Hong Kong’s international financial platform and precious metals market infrastructure can complement Uzbekistan’s strengths as a major gold-producing and reserve-holding jurisdiction. The two sides will work closely on key areas of mutual interest, including exchanging information, knowledge and experience on the gold and precious metals market and operating related financial market infrastructure; services provided by the gold central clearing and settlement system of the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited (HKPMCC); and opportunities and conditions for the CBU’s potential participation in precious metals operations in Hong Kong through the HKPMCC. 

Mr Hui said, “The National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline explicitly supports Hong Kong in building a comprehensive commodity trading ecosystem. Today’s MOU with the CBU is a concrete step forward towards realising the important strategy of our nation and Hong Kong by deepening the ties with one of our key partners under the Belt and Road Initiative. As I have shared with my counterparts during the meetings with the CBU in May and June earlier this year, Hong Kong’s internationalised and trusted financial market and Uzbekistan’s rich gold endowment and its drive to attract international capital investment are a perfect pairing. I look forward to working closely with the CBU to exchange experience, study market infrastructure including the HKPMCC, and explore practical pathways for future co-operation that can benefit both sides and the wider region.”

     Mr Abror Mirzo Olimov, said, “This MOU marks an important step forward in the growing financial partnership between financial authorities of Uzbekistan and Hong Kong. As one of the world’s leading gold-producing nations, Uzbekistan places great importance on diversifying and strengthening the infrastructure that supports our precious metals sector. We look forward to working close with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and Hong Kong’s financial institutions to pursue co-operation that supports the long-term diversification and resilience of our gold market.”

Mr Hui also joined today the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, to co-host a roundtable meeting with the Hong Kong financial sector and companies. At the meeting, participants engaged in fruitful discussions on deepening practical co-operation and exploring concrete investment opportunities in Uzbekistan, with a focus on expanding Hong Kong enterprises’ international footprint and establishing long-term strategic partnerships.

     The FSTB will host a bilateral meeting with the CBU tomorrow (September 10) to discuss in detail the visions outlined in the MOU. The FSTB will also continue to work with other Belt and Road partners, industry and regulators to advance Hong Kong’s development as an international gold and commodities hub.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Beijing. He met with officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), and visited facilities of the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid), the Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs and a food enterprise in Beijing yesterday (September 8) and today (September 9).
 
Yesterday morning, Mr Tse met with Vice Minister of the MEE Mr Li Gao and had in-depth exchanges on the work of the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) in environmental protection, including projects related to carbon neutrality and green transformation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as the work progress of building a pilot zone for a Beautiful China in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), “Beautiful Bays”, “Zero Waste Bay Area” and Green Belt and Road.
 
Mr Tse said that the HKSAR will further promote green living and green and low-carbon transition, strengthen ecological and environmental protection, build a green and livable city, as well as advance new energy, green technology and innovative applications. The HKSAR will also capitalise on its unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and actively integrate into the country’s overall development.
 
He added that the HKSAR Government will, as always, under the guidance and leadership of the MEE, work with other GBA cities to continuously promote policy innovation and technical exchanges, play well the roles of “super connector” and “super value-adder” connecting the Mainland and international markets, and contribute to building a Beautiful China and a Beautiful Hong Kong, in order to achieve national green transition and high-quality economic development.
 
Afterwards, Mr Tse visited the State Grid Simulation Center, the State Grid Center of Metrology and the State Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Grid-Integration of the State Grid, and was briefed by the State Grid representatives on key technologies on power grids, electricity meters and research outcomes of renewable energy grid integration.
       
This morning, Mr Tse visited a food enterprise in Beijing to learn about its standardised production, quality traceability system and experience in product exports.
 
In the afternoon today, Mr Tse met with Vice Minister of the GACC Mr Zhang Baofeng. Both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on the Registration and Administration of Manufacturers of Food Import and Export (the MOU). Under the MOU, the GACC and the EEB will co-operate on the batch registration of manufacturers for food exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland and food supplied to Hong Kong from the Mainland. They will also strengthen exchanges on safety supervision policies and regulations for manufacturers of food imports and exports, and provide timely updates regarding laws and regulations, regulatory procedures, technical standards, and hygiene requirements concerning the management of overseas manufacturers of food imports and exports, thereby safeguarding food safety in both Hong Kong and the Mainland.
 
Mr Tse then visited the Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs to be briefed on the Center’s testing work and technology regarding food safety and discuss scope for future co-operation. He also met with representatives of a state-owned enterprise with its core business in modern agriculture and agri-food trade.

Mr Tse will attend the Asia-Pacific Forum on Energy Sustainable Development and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministerial Meeting tomorrow (September 10) and on September 11.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today (September 9) led a delegation comprising the heads of the six disciplined services, namely the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing; the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung; and the Controller of the Government Flying Service, Captain Eddie Liu, to attend the 2026 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) in Jiangsu.

The conference seeks to advance public security governance together and bring stability to a turbulent world. Participants from law enforcement agencies and international organisations as well as experts, scholars and corporate representatives from the relevant fields from around the world engaged in in-depth discussion and exchanges on major current global public security issues. The conference also featured eight sub-forums and organised site visits, focusing on areas such as international drug control, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, to explore room for cross-regional collaboration.

Mr Tang and other officials also attended the Third Public Security Tech Expo to learn more about the latest developments in and technological trends of advanced police equipment. With the theme “Technology Empowers Win-Win Cooperation” this year, the exhibition aimed to modernise public security capabilities through innovative technology, and advance global public security governance by facilitating information exchanges and technology sharing through the display of high-end police technical equipment.

In addition, Mr Tang met with the Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, Mr Luong Tam Quang. Mr Tang said that exchanges of experiences and information in relation to counter-terrorism, combating cross-jurisdictional crime, developing police co-operation and immigration matters between the two places have been enhanced since the signing of memoranda of understanding on co-operation on the aforesaid matters in recent years, strengthening law enforcement efficiency. Both sides discussed the deepening of collaboration in different areas, including combating cross-jurisdictional crimes and illegal immigration, police co-operation, emergency management, the flow of talent, and training and exchanges, to enhance collaborative development and law enforcement capabilities of the two places. Mr Chow, Mr Kwok and Mr Yeung also attended the meeting.

Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (September 10).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs mounted special enforcement operations in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok on September 3 and yesterday (September 8) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods, and seized about 3 100 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $1 million.

Customs earlier conducted patrols at popular visitors’ spots and discovered some traders selling suspected counterfeit goods in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok. After investigations, Customs officers took enforcement actions during the abovementioned dates and raided nine fixed-pitch hawker stalls on Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei and eight fixed-pitch hawker stalls on Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok. A batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, clothes, and toys, was seized.

During the operations, Customs arrested one man and six women, aged between 34 and 65. An investigation is ongoing.

With the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of counterfeit goods activities in order to safeguard local consumers’ and visitors’ rights at full strength.

Customs appeals to local consumers and visitors to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Customs also reminds traders not to sell counterfeit goods and to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark 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

     The 11th Belt and Road Summit, which opened today (September 9) and runs for two days, brings together over 6 000 participants, including over 100 government and business speakers, as well as over 100 delegations. More than 60 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) will be witnessed during the Summit, exploring opportunities of co-operation for mutually beneficial development. A number of senior government officials from different Belt and Road countries also gathered at the Summit, reflecting a shared aspiration to enhancing co-operation.
 
     Hosted by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since 2016, the Summit is a premier business and investment platform for Hong Kong’s participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Under the theme “Advancing High-quality Development • Embarking on a New Journey”, the 11th Summit aims to foster high-quality, sustainable and innovative development.
 
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivered remarks at the opening session. The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Mr Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, the Vice President of Uruguay, Ms Carolina Cosse, and Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, gave special addresses. Vice Minister of Commerce Mr Yan Dong, and Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council Mr Li Zhen also delivered speeches.
 
     Mr Lee said the BRI is a shared blueprint for the future, rooted in a rich history of cross-cultural collaboration. Hong Kong, as a place where East meets West, is where capital, talent, businesses and opportunities converge.
 
     “In addition to strengthening our relations with traditional partners, Hong Kong continues to expand our network of friends along the Belt and Road,” Mr Lee said. “I have led high-level business delegations to explore opportunities in 13 Belt and Road countries across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Middle East and Central Asia, focusing on specific areas to explore new markets. These missions delivered over 250 MOUs and other agreements, from policy co-ordination and trade and investment, to expanded connectivity and support for companies. They underline Hong Kong’s long-standing focus on opening new markets, forming new partnerships and advancing regional co-operation.” Mr Lee said.
 
     Mr Lee said the achievements from his visits demonstrate the value of a hub-to-hub co-operation model, where Hong Kong can serve as Belt and Road economies’ gateway to the Chinese Mainland and global markets and the economies can connect Hong Kong with relevant regions. This inter-connected network of hubs will amplify regional strengths through enhanced connectivity and unleash fresh opportunities.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, delivered welcoming remarks at the keynote luncheon, where the Secretary-General of the ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim-hourn was the keynote speaker. Mr Chan said ASEAN had consistently outpaced the global economy and was becoming an increasingly important partner in technological advancement and industrial upgrading. Two-way trade between China and ASEAN surpassed US$1 trillion last year, reflecting the reshaping of industrial chains across the region.
 
     ASEAN’s demographic, market and technology dividends offer growth opportunities through its young population, expanding middle class, trade agreements and artificial intelligence (AI). Turning these advantages into sustained growth requires patient capital, open, well-regulated testing grounds and a strong talent base. Hong Kong can connect global investors with innovative companies, drawing on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s frontier research, advanced manufacturing and substantial consumer market. The Northern Metropolis will facilitate the flow of technology, talent and capital, strengthening connections between research, commercial application and production to foster shared prosperity across the region.
 
     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, gave welcome remarks at a thematic breakout session titled “Hong Kong: Super Connector‧World-class Springboard – Professional Services Empowering Global Expansion”. He highlighted that the National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in leveraging its strength in professional services to assist enterprises to go global. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, and pursuant to the Basic Law, Hong Kong has unique legal, financial and other systems which are highly international in nature. Hong Kong serves not only as a “super connector” between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world but also a “super value-adder”.
 
     He said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China, and the world’s only bilingual common law jurisdiction using both Chinese and English. Hong Kong’s business law is consistent with prevailing international standards and practice, remaining one of the best options as the governing law for international transactions. Hong Kong have concluded mutual legal assistance arrangements with the Mainland in civil and commercial matters. The arbitration ecosystem in Hong Kong is equally world-renowned, and they city is the second most preferred arbitral seat in the world, and the most preferred arbitral seat in Asia Pacific. Together with the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation, which is dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation, established in Hong Kong, all these reinforce the city’s status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

     The internationalised, high quality and reputable legal and dispute resolution services provided by Hong Kong’s legal professionals can undoubtedly assist in safeguarding the interests of enterprises involved in the BRI to go global effectively and efficiently, Mr Lam added.

     The First Deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, Mr Umiraliyev Zhandos Zhanibekovich, also spoke at the session, highlighting the importance and cross-regional nature of professional services.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, chaired the policy dialogue on “Building Resilient Trade and Investment Frameworks in a Diverse Global Landscape” at which he discussed with other participating ministers on how to address pressing economic challenges. He highlighted that Hong Kong is steadfast to promote trade for the benefit of all, through upholding a rules-based multilateral trading system, implementing transparent and non-discriminatory regulations, and facilitating customs and digital interoperability. Mr Yau will give opening remarks in a thematic breakout session titled “Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global: Driving Mutual Growth Across Belt and Road Economies” tomorrow.

     The Summit witnessed seven MOUs between the HKSAR Government and their overseas counterparts to promote bilateral co-operation and exchanges, covering the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Belt and Road Office, Invest Hong Kong and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, with Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Thailand, Türkiye, Zimbabwe, and Uzbekistan. The Summit also witnessed around 55 other MOUs in various areas. The total value of these MOUs, together with new projects and deals finalised before and during the Summit, is over US$3.1 billion.

     The Summit brough together business leaders to discuss how to foster co-operation for a more prosperous and connected future, covering a wide range of areas including trade and commerce, legal services, green technology, logistics, AI and new quality productive forces. The Summit will open with a special address session by the Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mediation, Professor Teresa Cheng on the second day. Debuting this year is a Think Tank Dialogue to promote exchanges with experts and scholars. Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will give keynote speech in a thematic session on aligning Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy with the BRI.

A roundtable session with the theme of “Innovative and Health Silk Road: Collaborating for a Better Future” was held today to share Hong Kong’s experience of promoting AI adoption and public health, thereby fostering development for a more prosperous future through knowledge exchange. And, there are two Belt and Road signature projects sessions featuring development projects in Kazakhstan and Türkiye respectively to facilitate deal matching.
 
     This year’s Summit assembles local universities to showcase their research and development outcomes and talent advantages, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international education hub. To encourage youth to learn more about the latest Belt and Road developments and opportunities, over 300 Belt and Road Scholarship recipients, local university students, Youth Link members and Youth Development Commission Youth Ambassadors were invited to attend the year’s Summit. A session on dialogue with youth business leaders will also be held tomorrow to share their experience of entrepreneurship and spotlight Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international hub for high-calibre talent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region