â€‹The first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting was held in Hong Kong yesterday (July 29) and today (July 30). The meeting was hosted by the Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence and Investigation) of Hong Kong Customs, Ms Ida Ng. The Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Ms Liu Hong, and the Assistant Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Ms Chau Kin-oi, led a delegation respectively to attend the meeting.

     During the meeting, the three customs administrations exchanged views and shared their experiences on the enforcement and strategy for protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and had an in-depth discussion on co-operation for IPR enforcement. They agreed to enhance collaboration for cross-boundary intellectual property cases based on the existing co-operation practices between Guangdong and Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao as well as Hong Kong and Macao so as to make enforcement against IPR infringement more efficient in the three places.

     In addition, the delegations visited a logistic centre of an express company in Tsing Yi to learn about the regulatory and enforcement work carried out by Hong Kong Customs over express parcels as well as the close partnership between Hong Kong Customs and the logistic industry.

     Hong Kong Customs has made, and will continue to make, every effort to protect the interests of IPR owners and combat infringing activities.

    

     Win Sense (China) Limited operating a recycling site in Lin Ma Hang, North District and a person-in-charge of a recycling site in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long were convicted and fined a total of $21,500 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 30) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation as a result of illegally storing chemical waste at their recycling sites.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has all along been striving to combat the illegal collection, storage and handling of regulated chemical waste at open recycling sites in the New Territories, and taking stringent law enforcement actions against non-compliant operations of recycling sites. During blitz operations at the end of last year and January this year, the EPD discovered that waste lead-acid batteries (LABs) and waste LCD monitors, which were classified as chemical waste, were illegally stored at the open recycling sites in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long and Lin Ma Hang, North District. Some of the chemical waste was stored outdoors without order. A number of waste LABs and around 900 waste LCD monitors with an estimated export market value of $140,000 were seized in the blitz operations. The EPD initiated prosecutions against the operating company and the person-in-charge of the recycling sites involved under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation after gathering evidence. Lately, EPD enforcement officers inspected the above-mentioned recycling sites and noticed that chemical waste was properly stored there. The EPD believes that a series of law enforcement actions taken by the department has strengthened the deterrent effect.

     The spokesman stressed that waste LCD monitors and waste LABs are hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste. Chemical waste is hazardous by nature and, if not properly handled and transported, will pollute the environment as well as pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. Offenders contravening the above regulation may be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment on first conviction, and a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment on a second or subsequent conviction.

     For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD's website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 30) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza in the State of Veracruz in Mexico, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
 
     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Mexico for import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. In the first six months of this year, no poultry meat from Mexico was imported into Hong Kong according to the Census and Statistics Department.
 
     "The CFS has contacted the Mexican authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

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

     The Legislative Council Commission will hold a closed special meeting at 9am tomorrow (July 31).

     The Flag Presentation Ceremony of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Delegation to the 2nd National Youth Games (NYG) was held at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre today (July 30). More than 600 Hong Kong athletes will take part in the 2nd NYG in Taiyuan, Shanxi.
 
​     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, officiated at the ceremony and presented the HKSAR flag to the President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the HKSAR Delegation, Mr Timothy Fok.
 
​     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lau said that the HKSAR Government has been allocating a lot of resources to nurture new talents and support athletes to participate in major sports events throughout the years. Local young athletes are able to accumulate their experience and further enhance their skills through the competitions. With their perseverance and outstanding skills, Hong Kong athletes lived up to our expectations and attained remarkable achievements in recent major sports events.
 
​     The 2nd NYG will be held between August 8 and 18. The HKSAR delegation comprises more than 800 members, of which 620 athletes will participate in final competitions in 27 sports, namely archery, cycling, fencing, triathlon, equestrian, canoeing, weightlifting, judo, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, handball, football, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, tennis, golf, skateboarding, sport climbing, baseball/softball, karatedo, wushu, dragon boating, dancesport, skating and ice hockey.
 
​     T​he NYG is a national mega sports event held every four years to provide a platform of exchange and competition for young athletes, as well as identify and nurture talents to become successors in the sports sector.
 
​     Also attending the flag presentation ceremony today were the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Honorary Adviser of the Delegation, Mrs Cherry Tse; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Delegation, Ms Michelle Li; and the Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Delegation, Mr Tony Yue.