MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, commenced her two-day visit to Beijing today (August 18) and called on the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi, and Deputy Secretaries for Transport and Logistics Ms Joan Hung and Miss Amy Chan, along with the Acting Director-General of Civil Aviation, Miss Clara Wong, also joined the visit. Upon their arrival in Beijing in the afternoon, they met with the Minister of Transport, Mr Liu Wei, to discuss various topics on sea, land and air transportation and logistics. Ms Chan and her delegation also had a meeting with Deputy Administrator of the CAAC Ms Liang Nan to give an update on Hong Kong’s latest developments in aviation. The Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mrs Vivian Cheung, also joined the meeting.

Ms Chan said, “Shipping and aviation are both Hong Kong’s ‘golden reputation’. I am grateful for the co-ordination of relevant ministries, which has enabled Hong Kong to better leverage its advantage of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world. In terms of shipping and logistics, we are close to the vast hinterland of our country and are also easily accessible to international markets. We will continue to adopt an intermodal transport approach to consolidate and boost our cargo volumes, thereby better utilising and further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international shipping centre. As for aviation, we engage in differential development with Mainland hub airports to achieve complementary advantages. Hong Kong is also honoured to be the first city outside the Mainland to be served by our country’s home-developed aircraft C919. We look forward to further facilitating the expansion of C919 from Hong Kong to overseas markets and will continue to proactively offer support in areas such as aircraft maintenance, talent training, aircraft leasing and sales to promote the entry of home-developed aircraft into the international market.”

Ms Chan and her delegation also toured a local smart transport systems enterprise to learn how technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics can bring efficiency to traffic management. The company was also among the fourth batch of strategic enterprises attracted to Hong Kong this year.

Ms Chan and her delegation will continue their visit to Beijing tomorrow (August 19).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In response to media enquiries about rumors circulating on the Internet that a local university has been granted approval to establish the third medical school, the Health Bureau clarified today (August 18) that the information is completely groundless.

     The Task Group on New Medical School received proposals for the establishment of the third medical school this March from three universities, namely Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Between May and June, the Task Group held two meetings with the three universities to have in-depth discussions on their proposals. At the last meeting on July 31, the Task Group carried out an overall assessment of the proposals, and initiated the next phase of follow-up work to conduct a thorough study of the funding arrangements and financial sustainability of the proposals. A final recommendation on the establishment of the new medical school is expected to be provided to the Government later this year. 

     The Task Group has all along been making public announcements on the latest progress through press releases, and will continue to take forward the evaluation exercise at full speed in a rigorous, impartial and professional manner.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation yesterday (August 17) and arrested six foreign domestic helpers. The six Filipino foreign domestic helpers, aged from 34 to 60, were suspected of breaching their conditions of stay by practising dentistry without registration.
 
The ImmD received a report earlier on that a number of foreign domestic helpers breached their conditions of stay by providing unlicensed dental services. After an in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, ImmD investigators identified the suspects concerned and conducted an enforcement action yesterday. Upon the enforcement action, ImmD investigators arrested six foreign domestic helper suspects and seized exhibits, including dental equipment and tools for teeth scaling, orthodontic treatments and denture making inside a residential apartment in Sham Shui Po. The investigation is still underway and the ImmD will not rule out the possibility that more persons will be arrested. The ImmD had referred to the relevant department for a follow-up investigation into the suspected violation of the Dentists Registration Ordinance by the foreign domestic workers.
 
“The helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer specified in the contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person,” an ImmD spokesman said.
 
The spokesman also said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him/her shall be guilty of an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman David Lok tonight conducted a briefing for candidates of the 2025 Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) By-elections on the electoral arrangements, and key points to note in running their election campaigns.

The ECSS By-elections will be held on September 7, when six contested subsectors involving 28 candidates will contest for 21 seats.

At the briefing, Mr Lok highlighted the by-election arrangements and points to note, such as the no canvassing zone and no staying zone at each polling station, central counting, announcement of election results, digitalisation of election forms, election expenses and donations, and election advertisements.

Additionally, a representative from the Independent Commission Against Corruption briefed the candidates about the Elections (Corrupt & Illegal Conduct) Ordinance to enhance their understanding of the acts that may constitute corrupt or illegal conducts.

Furthermore, a Hongkong Post representative gave the candidates a brief overview of the arrangements for free postage service for election mail.

The video of the candidate briefing will be uploaded to the election website and RTHK’s YouTube channel.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government Logistics Department (GLD) stated today that it has terminated the contract with its supplier of bottled drinking water, Xin Din Xin Trade Co (XDX), for certain government offices in accordance with contract terms.

XDX was awarded a contract by the GLD in June to supply bottled drinking water to government offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands starting from late June.

Based on the information it received on the supplier’s business operation earlier, as well as Police’s enforcement actions yesterday, the GLD said it reasonably believed that XDX would not be capable of performing the contract.

Therefore, in accordance with contract terms, the GLD decided today to immediately terminate the relevant contract as well as three other contracts for supply of chemicals which were affiliated with XDX’s owners.

Before the new contract takes effect, the GLD has arranged for AS Watson Group (HK) to supply bottled drinking water temporarily to government offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands starting from this week.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing said during the ninth meeting of the Task Force on District Governance today that all departments achieved phased results on various district issues.

While chairing the meeting, Mr Cheuk said that in accordance with the overall strategies set by the Steering Committee  on District Governance, all departments have intensified their efforts to address various district issues, fully carried out improvement measures, achieved phased results and effectively responded to the needs of the public.

He added that the task force will continue to co-ordinate departments in closely monitoring the implementation of these measures, evaluating their effectiveness, and making adjustments and enhancements as needed to create a high-quality living environment for the public.

The steering committee has formulated strategies for 12 district issues, including various measures to strengthen community support, with the aim of uniting community efforts and comprehensively enhancing the public’s sense of fulfilment and well-being.

At the meeting, the task force followed up on the implementation progress and outcomes of relevant initiatives.

They include: The Labour & Welfare Bureau is exploring an integration of databases by the Housing Department and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) to identify the high-risk hidden elderly, and the SWD has taken the lead in deploying care teams to visit or reach out to such elderly households in Kwun Tong and Sha Tin and referring them to additional support services as necessary since July.

In addition, further to the second phase of the environmental hygiene legislative amendments, which came into effect yesterday, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will issue a Notice of Elimination of Vermin to a person responsible for the management of premises at suitable buildings with the maximum penalties for non-compliance increased to $25,000 plus a daily fine of $450.

As of last month, the FEHD has issued 4,300 Statutory Nuisance Notices to property owners or occupants across the city for the environmental nuisance caused by air conditioner water dripping, with the vast majority of cases already rectified.

Furthermore, all departments will continue to advance 11 thematic planting projects scheduled for implementation within this year.

The task force also reviewed at the meeting the arrangements for displaying publicity materials to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Apart from thanking all departments for their dedicated efforts in advancing such work and achieving positive outcomes, Mr Cheuk urged them to continue actively following up on various livelihood-related issues, and addressing the concerns and difficulties of the public through concrete actions to build a better community together.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki visited Shenzhen this morning to meet Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government Qin Weizhong with a view to better addressing the increasing demand for cross-boundary travel.
 
The number of passenger trips between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has recorded new highs over and over again in the past weekends.
 
The total cross-boundary passenger traffic on August 10 reached 1.34 million, surpassing all previous records.
 
The Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai boundary control point (BCP), in particular, is a popular choice among Mainland tour groups. During peak hours, some Mainland tour groups had to wait for a longer time on the Shenzhen side before crossing the boundary into Hong Kong.
 
With the implementation of multipronged measures, the waiting time for both outbound and inbound travellers at the Hong Kong BCP is less than 15 minutes.
 
Mr Chan shared that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been proactively preparing for peak weekend passenger traffic, including operating additional counters and e-Channels, as well as setting up temporary counters at BCPs.
 
Through flexible manpower deployment, all clearance counters and kiosks at busy BCPs are operated to ease passenger and vehicular flows, ensuring smooth and orderly immigration clearance.
 
At the meeting, both sides agreed that the government departments of the two places at BCPs will strengthen communication and co-operation further, and plan ahead in response to the latest trends.
 
Both sides will also reinforce the existing joint notification mechanism to improve communication, information sharing and dissemination, with the aim of enhancing the clearance capacity of BCPs.
 
Given the popularity of the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai BCP among Mainland tour groups, and the concentrated arrival of these groups at weekends, both sides will actively explore ways to strengthen strategic communication and collaboration and further share operational experience with the goal of enhancing the experience of Mainland tour groups crossing the boundary into Hong Kong.
 
Noting that the number of cross-boundary passenger trips between Hong Kong and Shenzhen continues to hit record highs, Mr Chan said that not only does this fully reflect the mutual engagement between the people of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, but it also continuously injects momentum into the economic development of both places.
 
He thanked the Shenzhen Municipal Government for its ongoing and strong support for BCP operations. He also thanked relevant departments of the two places at BCPs for their long-term and close co-operation in managing every peak travel period together.
 
Also attending the meeting were Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Director of Immigration Benson Kwok and Commissioner of Customs & Excise Chan Tsz-tat.
 
Mr Chan and the delegation returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.   

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today adjusted the outbound travel alert for Israel and Iran to red in view of the latest developments there.

It advised Hong Kong residents to adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel to Israel and Iran.

In view of the situation in Israel, Hong Kong residents should avoid all travel to Gaza and nearby areas, as well as areas along the border with Syria and Lebanon. 

As for Iran, Hong Kong residents should also avoid all travel to areas near the Isfahan, Qom, Markazi and Bushehr provinces.

The Security Bureau will continue to closely monitor the situation in Israel and Iran and issue updates through the media, the bureau’s mobile app and its outbound travel alert webpage.

Hong Kong residents in Israel and Iran who need assistance can call the Immigration Department’s 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the department’s mobile app.

They can also send a message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit an online assistance request form.

Alternatively, they may contact the local Chinese Embassy by calling the Embassy in Israel at (972) 35459520 or the Embassy in Iran at (98) 9122176035.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme will be further extended this month to Jiangmen, Huizhou and Zhaoqing in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), achieving full coverage of the nine Mainland cities in the GBA.

Making the announcement today, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government added that two new service points under the scheme will also open in Shenzhen later this month.

Together with the two existing service points operated by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, a total of 21 service points in the bay area will be allowed to use Elderly Health Care Vouchers (EHCVs), benefitting more than 1.78 million eligible Hong Kong seniors.

Of the newly added medical institutions, Jiangmen Central Hospital and Huizhou Central People’s Hospital will launch service under the scheme on August 21, while The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing will launch service on August 28.

The two new service points in Shenzhen, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, will launch service on August 28.

The Hong Kong SAR Government expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province and the health authorities of the relevant cities for their strong support and assistance with the pilot scheme.

With the five aforementioned medical institutions starting to provide services this month, the goal announced in The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address to extend the pilot scheme to nine Mainland cities in the GBA will be fully achieved.