Hong Kong Customs conducted a joint operation with the customs administrations of the European Union (EU) member states from June 3 to 16 to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities destined for the EU member states. A total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $670,000 were seized.

     Hong Kong Customs has been working closely with the customs administrations in the EU to exchange intelligence and formulate enforcement strategies for combating cross-border counterfeiting activities under the EU-Hong Kong Action Plan.  

     Hong Kong Customs carried out targeted enforcement action during the period with the customs administrations of 10 EU member states, namely Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, to step up inspection against suspicious goods destined for the EU member states.

     During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones and accessories, watches, clothing, leather goods and footwear, and effectively curbed cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

  

     Ninety-five convictions were recorded in May 2019 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).
 
     Eleven of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, six were under the Noise Control Ordinance, four were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, 13 were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, 60 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance, and one was under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
 
    The heaviest fine in May was $60,000, assessed against a company which discharged waste/polluting matter into a water control zone.

     The Development Bureau announced today (June 18) the re-appointment of Mr Wai Chi-sing as Director of the Board of the Urban Renewal Fund (URF) on an ad personam basis for another term of three years with effect from June 15, 2019.

     The URF, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on August 15, 2011, was set up pursuant to section 6(2)(s) of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance to act as the trustee and settlor of the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund, with an endowment of $500 million from the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), provides an independent funding source to support the operation of the social service teams that render assistance to the affected owners and tenants of the urban redevelopment projects implemented by the URA. The Trust Fund also supports planning and related studies by District Urban Renewal Forum as well as initiatives related to heritage preservation and district revitalisation proposed by non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in the overall context of urban renewal. Pursuant to the Articles of Association of the URF, the directors of the Board of the URF shall be nominated by the Secretary for Development and appointed by the URF. The establishment of the Trust Fund was one of the major initiatives under the Urban Renewal Strategy promulgated by the Government in February 2011.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 18) the preliminary figures of chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by economic activity for the first quarter of 2019.

     GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by net output or value added, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.

     According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 0.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the 1.2% increase in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, net output in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 1.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the 2.4% increase in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector dropped by 0.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 2.0% in the fourth quarter of 2018. This was mainly attributable to the setback in net output of the import and export trade sector amid the weaker performance of the global economy and various external headwinds during the quarter.

     Net output in the financing and insurance sector increased by 3.0% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the 3.5% rise in the fourth quarter of 2018. Stock trading activities stayed active during the quarter, rendering support to the continued growth of net output in this sector.

     Net output in the accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) and food services sector rose by 2.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, following the growth of 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 2.2% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the 3.4% growth in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the information and communications sector recorded an increase of 4.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, after the growth of 4.9% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the real estate, professional and business services sector rose by 1.4% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the public administration, social and personal services sector increased by 3.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     As for sectors other than the services sectors, net output in the local manufacturing sector rose by 1.4% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector dropped by 0.5% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 from a year earlier, after the decrease of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

     Net output in the construction sector decreased by 2.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2019 from a year earlier, after the decrease of 4.4% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Further information

     The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2019 are shown in Table 1. For enquiries about statistics on GDP by economic activity, please call the National Income Branch (2) of the C&SD at telephone number 3903 7005.

     Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the first quarter of 2019 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly. More detailed figures can also be found at the Hong Kong Statistics section of the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk).

     A company and two persons involved in three cases of illegal waste disposal in Eastern District, Southern District and Tuen Mun were convicted and fined a total of $17,000 at Eastern Magistrates' Courts and Fanling Magistrates' Courts yesterday (June 17) and today (June 18) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).

     From November last year to February this year, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) successfully traced offenders in the three cases of illegal disposal of commercial and industrial (C&I) waste, as well as construction waste, in public places on Yuet Yuen Street in North Point, Yip Hing Street in Wong Chuk Hang and San Shek Wan Road in Tuen Mun, based on intelligence gathered through photos from members of the public and surveillance camera systems installed by the EPD, including drivers of goods vehicles and workers. The waste disposed of included construction waste and waste pallets. After gathering evidence, the EPD prosecuted the persons and the employer involved under the WDO.

     A spokesman for the EPD reminded all members of the renovation, construction and transportation sectors, including persons-in-charge of construction sites, workers and drivers as well as owners of goods vehicles, that they must properly deliver construction waste and C&I waste to government waste management facilities in accordance with the law. It is unlawful to dispose of waste in public places or on the roadside. Under the WDO, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. A maximum fine of $500,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions. According to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, it is an offense to dispose of waste on the streets or in public places from vehicles, including goods vehicles, private cars and motorcycles. The registered owners concerned may be prosecuted. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     The spokesman urged members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of waste. They can record videos or take photos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111.