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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hongkong Post announced today (October 8) that selected philatelic products issued by China Post, Macao Post and Telecommunications, and the postal administrations of Australia, the Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, New Zealand and the United Kingdom will be available for sale from October 15 (Thursday).

China Post has released stamps on the theme of “The Investitures of the Gods (II)”. This second set focuses on pivotal chapters in the campaign against King Zhou of Shang, showcasing the grand epic scale and rich ensemble cast of the Investitures of the Gods universe through classic tales of duels among celestial beings, clashes between armies, and shifting allegiances. The entire stamp set is crafted with Chinese traditional gongbi painting and heavy colours, inheriting the precise and refined artistic tradition of Song dynasty paintings. It employs multilayered colour applications with comprehensive texturing and dyeing techniques, and features a rigorous composition and elegant colour scheme. The design preserves the aesthetics of classical painting while incorporating modern visual expression, recreating in miniature the fantastical splendour and heroic spirit of the Investitures of the Gods universe.

Macao Post and Telecommunications has released stamps on the theme of the “Macao 2026 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition – A Journey through Day and Night II”. This stamp issue focuses on six time periods of the Chinese timekeeping system, namely Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai, capturing the enchanting scenery of Macao’s islands – from the brilliance of high noon to the stillness of the night – in miniature artworks. The stamp palette transitions from dazzling daylight to the mellow tones of nightfall, as the narrative of light and shadow shifts from radiant intensity to serene calm.

In addition, Isle of Man Post released stamps on the theme of “Manx Heritage Transport: Buses & Horse Trams”. The presentation pack features all six Manx Heritage Transport stamps with detailed notes on the history of bus and horse tram services on the Isle of Man.

The selected philatelic products will be available for sale at the Hongkong Post online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) starting from 9am on October 15, while stocks last. These products will also be available at the PostShop of the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office on the same day. Details of each product, the prices and sales quotas are set out in the Appendix. For further information, members of the public may visit the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) or call the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline at 2785 5711.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A tenant of a public rental housing (PRH) unit was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (October 7) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).

During an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Fung Wah Estate, Chai Wan, on September 10, Customs officers intercepted a 56-year-old local man, and seized from his belongings and the PRH unit a total of 16 900 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $76,000 and a duty potential of about $56,000. The male PRH unit tenant was also arrested immediately. 

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

If a PRH unit is found to be involved in offences related to illicit cigarettes, Customs will notify the Housing Department after the court concludes the case so that follow-up action can be taken in accordance with the terms of the tenancy agreement or the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement in Public Housing Estates, which may include allotment of points or termination of tenancy.

Customs will continue the multipronged enforcement strategy to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, 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.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080, 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 National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested a 38-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman in Kowloon on October 6. They were suspected of contravening the offence of “doing with a seditious intention an act that had a seditious intention” under Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

The two arrested persons, including a male licensed insurance broker, were suspected of operating pages on various social media platforms and publishing seditious posts that incite hatred against the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The arrested man also profited by selling insurance products. Prior to the operation, Police obtained court search warrants to search the residences of the arrested persons and seize relevant exhibits. The two arrested persons will be released on bail for further investigation. 

The acts concerned are suspected of contravening the offence of “doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention”, which is a serious offence. On first conviction, offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years. 

Police will continue to ensure that laws are observed and strictly enforced to bring offenders to account, so as to prevent, suppress, and punish any acts or activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Four owners were fined $116,160 in total yesterday (October 7) upon conviction at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The first case involved an unauthorised structure with area of about 15 square metres on the flat roof of a composite building on Yan Oi Street, Wong Tai Sin. As the unauthorised building works (UBW) was carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD, and were fined $53,250 in total yesterday, of which $38,160 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the court on May 6.

The second case involved an unauthorised structure with area of about 32 sq m on the flat roof of a residential building on Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po. As the UBW was carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $62,910 in total, of which $47,820 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued upon conviction at the court yesterday.

A spokesman for the BD said today (October 8), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo (Tokyo ETO), in collaboration with Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), held a networking luncheon for innovation and technology (I&T) companies in Seoul, Korea, today (October 8) through the Economic and Trade Express platform to promote Hong Kong’s strategic development in innovation technology and provide a platform for Korean companies to share their experiences of establishing and developing their businesses in Hong Kong.

     Speaking at the luncheon, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Ms Gillian Lam, said that given Hong Kong’s unique position under the “one country, two systems” principle, the city offers an ideal platform for Korean companies to develop and scale their I&T businesses, as well as to access the Chinese Mainland and global markets. 

     Ms Lam said that advancing I&T is one of Hong Kong’s highest strategic priorities for future growth, as set out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan). In the I&T sector, Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan sets out a clear strategic roadmap to accelerate Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre, including the development of three major I&T parks and five key research and development institutions. 

     She added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is also committing substantial resources to advancing this ambition, including a HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, which will support the commercialisation and industrialisation of technological achievements. Together with contributions from the market, the fund is expected to leverage at least HK$40 billion.

     Participants who joined the three-day mission to Hong Kong in late August and early September also shared their experiences of visiting Hong Kong’s flagship I&T hubs and strategic infrastructure during the luncheon. Tokyo ETO encouraged participants who have yet to visit Hong Kong to experience first-hand Hong Kong’s development as an international I&T and business hub. 

     Tokyo ETO will continue to work closely with regional partners, including InvestHK and the HKTDC, to foster I&T partnerships and deepen ties between Korea and Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A total of 92 regular size dry goods stalls and 46 large size dry goods stalls were all successfully let on the second-day auction for stalls at the 2027 Victoria Park Chinese New Year Fair today (October 8).

Around 750 people attended the auction at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, from 9am to about 6pm today, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said.

The average bid price for the regular size dry goods stalls was $23,175, with the successful bids ranging from $18,000 to $64,000. The highest bid, $64,000, was about 7.5 times the opening price of $8,540.

The average bid price for the large size dry goods stalls was $29,870, with the successful bids ranging from $22,000 to $50,000. The highest bid, $50,000, was about 3.9 times the opening price of $12,810.

The auction for the remaining 78 regular size dry goods stalls at the 2027 Victoria Park Chinese New Year Fair will be held at 9am tomorrow (October 9) at the same venue.

The spokesman reminded the successful bidders to comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (October 8) that a new phase of special operations will be launched. In the coming four months, priority will be given to high-risk locations where dog attacks on passers-by and congregations of stray dogs have occurred, to strengthen the capturing of unattended dogs. Depending on the situation, the AFCD will continue the operations to safeguard public safety.

A spokesman for the AFCD said, “In a high-density urban environment, unowned and uncontrolled dogs may pose risks to public safety. Once dogs are allowed to roam unattended in public places, they may cause harm to members of the public or other animals. Dogs that have not been vaccinated against rabies also pose a threat to public health and animal health. To this end, the AFCD adopts a risk-based strategy and will prioritise conducting special operations to capture unattended dogs at high-risk locations. The AFCD will also work closely with the Police to conduct joint special enforcement operations when necessary, requiring dog keepers to fulfil their responsibilities properly to safeguard community safety.”

The spokesman added that after capturing the dogs, the AFCD will check whether the dogs have been microchipped and hold a valid dog licence, and will contact the keepers based on the registration information and verify lost-and-found records. If there is sufficient evidence, the keepers will be prosecuted. If the keepers cannot be traced, staff and veterinary officers at the Animal Management Centres of the AFCD will patiently observe the dogs. Those that are confirmed to be in good health and of a gentle temperament will be transferred to the AFCD’s partner animal welfare organisations for sterilisation and arrangement for adoption by the public. The spokesman emphasised that the AFCD will not release dogs without keepers back into the community to avoid posing public safety risks.

Under the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), all dogs over five months old must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and licensed. Dogs must thereafter be re-vaccinated and have their licences renewed at intervals of not more than three years. In addition, dogs in a public place must be held on a leash or otherwise kept under effective control. Dogs must not be left unattended in public places, nor abandoned. Offenders are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 for each offence, and a keeper who abandons a dog is liable to imprisonment for six months.

Members of the public who wish to learn more about the proper control of dogs and the responsibilities of keepers may visit the AFCD website (www.pets.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region