The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     The Research Grants Council (RGC) will present its first public lecture this year under the theme "FinTech" on July 27 (Saturday) at the Hong Kong Science Museum.
 
     The RGC has invited the Dean of Business and Management of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Tam Kar-yan, and Professor of Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Chan Chun-kwong, to share their research findings and knowledge with the public. Details are as follows:
 
Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum
Language: Cantonese
Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     Hong Kong has a competitive edge in fintech and has developed its own ideas and strategy suited to the trajectory of its economy. Through research, we can gain a deep understanding of the interplay between technology and financial services, and build an intellectual foundation for a strategy on fintech for Hong Kong. Professor Tam, in his talk titled "Contributing to the Development of Hong Kong into a Global FinTech Hub", will illustrate how this strategy needs to take into consideration its impact on individual investors, financial institutions and regulators, as well as society in general.
 
     Fintech is defined as the application of technology to improve the level of financial services provided to customers. The technology includes blockchain, cloud computing, open API and virtual banking. Professor Chan will share his experience in his talk, "How will the FinTech Movement Change the World of Financial Services?"
 
     The public lectures of the RGC aim to arouse public interest in local research developments. Since 2009, the RGC has invited numerous leading scholars to speak at these lectures. For enquiries, please call 2524 3987 or visit the University Grants Committee webpage (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/lectures/lectures.html).

     â€‹A cross-boundary driver was convicted and sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment today (July 19) at the District Court for using a private car to smuggle gold, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming private car at Sha Tau Kok Control Point on October 26, 2016. Twenty-seven gold slabs weighing about 27 kilograms with an estimated market value of about $8 million were found concealed inside a compartment beneath the air filter at the front of vehicle. The 44-year-old male driver was then arrested.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs seized about 1.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $3.2 million and a duty potential of about $2.7 million at Man Kam To Control Point yesterday (July 18).

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck declared as carrying assorted goods at Man Kam To Control Point yesterday morning. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in 120 carton boxes mix-loaded with other goods on board the truck. 

     The 53-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. Investigation is ongoing. 

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for an 18-month licence of the advertising areas on portions of the external walls of the Star Ferry Car Park at No. 9 Edinburgh Place, Central.

     The advertising areas should be used for the purpose of installation, operation, management, maintenance and control of the Advertising Display Systems (as defined in the Form of Licence Agreement) for display of advertisements only.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (July 19) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk.  Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 31/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, during office hours (8.30am to 5.45pm from Mondays to Fridays). The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to inspect the site should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 2594 7697 on or before July 30 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, before noon on August 13 this year. Late tenders and tenders not deposited in the said tender box will not be accepted.
     

     Globally acclaimed artist Akram Khan will bring "XENOS" to Hong Kong in November, marking his final appearance as a solo dancer in a full-length piece. The two performances of "XENOS" form part of the celebration events to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC).
 
     "XENOS" brings to life the dreams of a colonial Indian soldier stuck in no-man's land. Khan and his stellar creative team unearth the experiences of colonial soldiers who became strangers in the First World War. The dance, which combines Indian folk dance with modern dance, reveals the beauty and horror of the human condition in its portrait of an Indian dancer whose body becomes an instrument of war.
 
     Akram Khan is one of the most celebrated and respected dance artists working today. A highlight of his career was the creation of a section of the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, which was received with unanimous acclaim. He was awarded an MBE for services to dance in 2005. He was also awarded "Best Modern Choreography" in the 2018 National Dance Awards and won "Outstanding Achievement in Dance" at the 2019 Laurence Olivier Awards for "XENOS".
 
     The Hong Kong premiere of Akram Khan's "XENOS" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will be held at 7.30pm on November 15 and 16 (Friday and Saturday) at the HKCC's Grand Theatre. Tickets priced at $200, $280, $350, $420 and $520 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_812.html.