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Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The Customs & Excise Department handled a total of 31,242 cases in 2024, up 63% on the figure for 2023.

Commissioner of Customs & Excise Chan Tsz-tat announced the figures today during a press conference reviewing the department’s work last year.

Among the cases handled by the department, a majority of 68% were in relation to illicit cigarettes. This was followed by cases involving dangerous drugs and cases involving intellectual property rights infringements.

Mr Chan highlighted that the number of cases involving illicit cigarettes in 2024 was up by 80% on 2023, reaching 21,284. The number of cigarettes seized stood at 614 million, 6% fewer than in 2023.

He explained that the increase in the number of cases involving illicit cigarettes stemmed from a huge surge in cases involving inbound individuals exceeding their duty-free allowances.

Mr Chan also outlined that the department handled 1,363 drug cases in 2024, which was about the same as in 2023. About 6.3 tonnes of drugs were seized, a 33% drop year-on-year.

He iterated that etomidate, the main ingredient in the so-called “space oil drug”, has been added to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, adding that the department’s anti-narcotics efforts will be stepped up.

Meanwhile, a total of 233 smuggling cases, comprising a seizure value of $4.34 billion, were handled last year, representing an increase of 5% in the number of cases and 37% in the seizure value as against the figures for 2023.

As regards intellectual property rights infringements, Customs detected 783 cases last year, an annual increase of 11%, with the value of infringing items seized rising 7% to around $309 million.

Mr Chan also outlined the department’s work on clearance and trade facilitation, stressing that it is collaborating with the Shenzhen Municipal Government on a boundary control point redevelopment project in Huanggang.

He said the department will continue to expand its global network under the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement, adding that it has launched a Cross-boundary Express Cargo Clearance Facilitation Arrangement to cope with the rapid development of the global electronic commerce industry.

As regards human resources, Mr Chan said that Mainland Hong Kong students are among the department’s target groups for recruitment. He mentioned that recruitment seminars on the Mainland held in March last year received more than 290 on-the-spot applications.

In 2023, 82 customs inspectors and 355 customs officers were recruited, and the department will continue recruiting to fill vacancies this year.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

With effect from today, the Government opened a section of road within the frontier closed area near Lin Ma Hang Village in Sha Tau Kok by exempting it from the requirement that passengers travelling on it by green minibus must apply for a closed area permit.

The move is intended to make it easier for members of the public visit to Lin Ma Hang Village and Robin’s Nest Country Park, the Security Bureau explained. It outlined that residents and tourists can go to Robin’s Nest Country Park and areas nearby for sightseeing purposes and to experience Hong Kong’s rich heritage and geological features.

From now on, people can take green minibus No. 59K from Sheung Shui MTR Station to reach Lin Ma Hang Village via the newly exempted section of road within the frontier closed area. 

On alighting, they can visit the MacIntosh Forts and Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine by taking the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail. They can also head in the direction of Sha Tau Kok via the Robin’s Nest Country Trail in order to enjoy the scenery around Yan Chau Tong and Shenzhen Wutong Mountain.

The bureau emphasised that the exemption is only applicable to people travelling by green minibus, and does not apply to private vehicles, taxis or other vehicles without a valid closed road permit, or to individuals using other means of travel such as walking or cycling.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

Following the conclusion of a “Collection & Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials” pilot scheme yesterday, the collection of waste plastics has been taken over by GREEN@COMMUNITY operators. Door-to-door collection of waste plastics at housing estates by such operators has also been extended across Hong Kong.

After conducting site inspections across various districts yesterday and today, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that plastic recycling by residents, and collections at housing estates, are well in order, with GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling stations also operating smoothly.

The department said it did not receive any complaints from housing estates regarding the collection of waste plastics. Moreover, there were no cases of waste plastics not being collected or left unattended.

The EPD explained that GREEN@COMMUNITY operators may now pass collected plastics to up to 10 EPD-approved recyclers for processing. This is up from three designated recyclers under the pilot scheme. Moreover, the department aims to gradually qualify more downstream recyclers, thereby opening up market competition in order to reduce the cost of collection and recycling.

Meanwhile, GREEN@COMMUNITY operators will continue to liaise with housing estates to ensure more flexible collection services for plastics and other recyclables, with a view to enhancing cost effectiveness.

The EPD said it will strengthen collaboration with GREEN@COMMUNITY operators, downstream recyclers and housing estates, aiming to ensure that recycling work goes on as usual.

More spot-checks will be carried out to make sure that all collected waste plastics are properly processed, it added.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The inaugural Countryside Harvest Festival commenced at Kuk Po in Sha Tau Kok today.

 

Located in northeastern New Territories, Kuk Po is a Hakka village with over 300 years of history, and is known for its picturesque scenery and rich biodiversity. The full title of the event is ‘Countryside Harvest Festival: Kuk Po “Sound, Sight, Taste Fusion” Tour‘.

 

Showcasing local and international artists, the festival features art installations, photography exhibitions and musical performances, as well as the “Good Day” market, and a variety of rural experiences.

 

Speaking at today’s opening ceremony, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan said the event uses music, art and traditional cuisine to connect natural ecology, historic buildings and rural culture. He expressed hope that the event will develop as a new in-depth eco-tourism experience, enhance public awareness of nature conservation, foster urban-rural symbiosis, invigorate the local economy, and contribute towards building a sustainable future.

 

The festival runs this weekend and next weekend, from noon to 7pm. Admission is free.

 

Complimentary scheduled ferry services are operating each day of the festival to transport visitors between Sha Tau Kok and Kuk Po.

 

The art exhibitions run from today until February 16.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department today launched the Biodiversity Geographic Information System (BGIS) to provide a one-stop platform for the public to gain a better understanding of Hong Kong’s diverse species.

The BGIS is the second development phase of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub, an initiative under the Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan to facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing.

The BGIS contains more than a million occurrence records of local species compiled by the department, its partner organisations, and scientific research and citizen science projects at present.

It is also linked to other databases in the information hub, which include the species database and multimedia database featuring information and photos of various species.

The new BGIS features a “search by area” function which the public can search not only by species name but also find local species based on geographical location.

Since the launch of the information hub in 2022, new data and information have been updated and added continuously, with over 10,000 visits recorded each month.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The Labour & Welfare Bureau and the Labour Department today issued a paper to the Legislative Council’s Manpower Panel, proposing amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance in relation to safeguarding national security.

The proposed amendments would strengthen the statutory powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions in supervising and regulating trade unions, and seek to improve the trade union regulatory regime.

The Government said this would allow it to better fulfil its duty of safeguarding national security under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO).

It added that the amendments address the current situation with regard to local trade unions, complement the NSL and the SNSO, while protecting employees’ rights and their freedom to form and join trade unions pursuant to the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, and relevant international conventions.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said: “Apart from enhancing the mechanism for safeguarding national security, the proposed amendments will improve the trade union regulatory regime and promote the healthy development of trade unions, while giving due regard to the freedom and right of Hong Kong residents to form and join trade unions.

“I look forward to LegCo’s support for the proposed amendments.”

Members of the Labour Advisory Board expressed support for the major proposed amendments when the Labour Department consulted the board at a meeting on January 22.

The Government will consult the Manpower Panel on February 24 and plans to introduce an amendment bill to LegCo in April.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The third round of the Basic Law & National Security Law Test in the 2024-25 school year is scheduled for April 12, the Education Bureau (EDB) announced today.

 

Applications can be made from Friday until March 6.

 

The target participants for this round of the test are bachelor’s degree holders, or students who will attain a bachelor’s degree in 2025 or 2026, who plan to join or change to another secondary school, primary school or kindergarten to take up a teaching post.

 

Limited places for the test will be available on a first come, first served basis.

 

Those who have obtained a pass result in a test organised by the EDB, the Civil Service Bureau or a recruiting department grade, will not be accepted to sit for it again.

 

The fourth and fifth sittings of the test will be held in June and July. Relevant arrangements will be announced in due course.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The Trade & Industry Department will enhance the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading & Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) and the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF), and the new measures will apply to applications received from 0.00am, March 14.

The department said the new measures aim to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a more focused and sustainable manner.

The 2024 Policy Address and the 2025-26 Budget have allocated a combined total of $2.5 billion to the funding schemes supporting SMEs to help them cope with the various uncertainties in the global economy.

Under the new measures, each applicant enterprise will be able to submit one “Easy BUD” application every three months, instead of every six months at present, along with the expansion of the funding scope to cover the establishment of an online sales platform.

Furthermore, to assist enterprises in restructuring their business operations in the face of rising trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, professional fees associated with the establishment of new business entities in eligible markets will be listed in the BUD Fund’s scope of funding.

To focus its limited resources to equip enterprises for upgrading and transformation, the Government will consolidate the EMF into the BUD Fund upon expiry of the former’s special measures on June 30, 2026. Enterprises may then undertake promotional activities in the context of upgrading and transformation to attain synergy.

At the same time, to ensure the two funding schemes’ financial sustainability, the Government will adjust the funding ceiling and matching ratio, and rationalise other parameters of the two funds, such that they will be utilised in the most productive manner.

All the new measures will apply to funding requests received from 0.00am, March 14.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau today visited a large-scale Hong Kong enterprise in Dongguan and met the city’s deputy mayor.

Mr Yau began a two-day visit to Guangdong yesterday, and travelled to Dongguan from Guangzhou earlier today.

On arriving in Dongguan, he toured the premises of a Hong Kong firm specialising in handbags and leather goods to learn about its operations, and about new developments in e-commerce on the Mainland.

He was also shown around the firm’s e-commerce live streaming centre, the largest of its kind in Dongguan, and briefed on the use of live streaming in e-commerce marketing. 

Stressing the enormous potential of e-commerce in promoting trade, Mr Yau said Hong Kong enterprises can learn from their Mainland counterparts to gain a foothold in the Mainland e-commerce market and grasp the unlimited opportunities it presents.

Mr Yau held a lunch meeting with Deputy Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal People’s Government Liu Guangbin, who spoke to him about the city’s latest trade and economic developments, before concluding his visit.

He will return to Hong Kong this evening.

Source: MOFA response to false claims by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson regarding Taiwan and its president

Official Website for APEC 2025 KOREA Launched on February 20

1. The official website for APEC 2025 KOREA was launched on February 20, 2025, ahead of the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1), which will take place in Gyeongju from February 24 to March 9. 2. The website (www.apec2025.kr) features an introduction to APEC as well as the theme and priorities of APEC 2025 KOREA, relevant notices, and information on its host cities including Gyeongju, Jeju, Incheon and Busan. It will serve as a key platform for sharing information on SOMs and sectoral ministerial meeti…