Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited relating to a fraudulent application (App), which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press releases is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the App concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) today (August 9) held the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 Send-off Ceremony for the Hong Kong Delegation. The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, offered his blessings to the teams that will be competing in Shanghai at the ceremony.
 
     The delegation, comprising eight finalist teams or individuals from various enterprises and universities in Hong Kong, will participate in the Final Judging to be held on August 15 in Shanghai, where they will compete with 12 finalist teams from Shanghai for the top four honours and the Grand Award of the competition.
 
     To fully unleash the multiplier effect of data elements, the National Data Bureau and other authorities launched the inaugural national “Data Element x” competition this year. Steered by the DPO and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 is the only divisional competition of the “Data Element x” competition with participants from two cities. Selected entries will be nominated to enter the national competition and compete for honours at the national finals in October.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Wong said that the inaugural Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge, organised by Shanghai and Hong Kong last year, had marked the beginning of data collaboration between the two cities and demonstrated the immense business opportunities and development potential between Shanghai and Hong Kong in data application. This year’s competition will further leverage the multiplier effect of data elements, and is poised to deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the two cities in digital technology, empowering the socio-economic and innovative developments in both cities. He also wished the eight Hong Kong finalists great success in the Final Judging by demonstrating their diverse and innovative data application solutions.
 
     During their visit to Shanghai, the Hong Kong delegation will also showcase their innovative solutions at the competition’s exhibition in Lingang and participate in roundtable discussions and business matching with the Mainland technology industry to explore business opportunities and unlock the value of data elements. They will also visit several locally renowned innovation and technology organisations to deepen their understanding of the ecosystem and latest developments of data application on the Mainland.
 
     The competition commenced in Hong Kong in April this year with the Final Judging to be held in Shanghai in August. Themed “Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities”, the competition gathers contestants from Shanghai and Hong Kong to incorporate available open data sets, with an aim to explore more innovative applications and promote the synergistic development of smart city and digital economy in both cities. Details of the competition are available on the thematic website (eng.hkshadata.org/).

    

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 8) seized two suspected smuggled gold slabs, weighing about 2 kilograms in total, with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday afternoon intercepted an outgoing seven-seater vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point for inspection. Upon X-ray examination, Customs officers spotted irregularities in the image of a portable charger and found two suspected smuggled gold slabs concealed inside the portable charger.

     Customs arrested a 40-year-old male driver. An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     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 upon conviction. 

     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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

  

     The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee) concluded victoriously on July 18. The Plenary Session adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attaches great importance to the Plenary Session and the Resolution. He hosted a seminar at the Chief Executive’s Office today (August 9) for Principal Officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, including the Secretaries of Departments and the Directors of Bureaux, to seriously study and gain an in-depth understanding of the spirit of the Plenary Session, with a view to leading various sectors of the HKSAR to comprehensively study and implement the spirit of the Plenary Session.

     The Plenary Session affirmed that the overall objectives of further deepening reform comprehensively are to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernise China’s system and capacity for governance. The Resolution raised over 300 major reform measures covering plans for reform in areas including political, economic, cultural, social, ecological conservation and national security.

     Mr Lee explained to the participants the importance of the Plenary Session and the key content of the Resolution, as well as their implications for Hong Kong’s future development. He said that the Plenary Session has studied the issues of further deepening reform of the country comprehensively to advance Chinese modernisation, which has profound impacts on Hong Kong as well as the whole world. He highlighted a number of key contents related to Hong Kong, including the need to harness the  institutional strengths of the “one country, two systems” principle, to reinforce and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, to support Hong Kong in building itself into an international hub for high-calibre talent, and to strengthen the work on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, so as to facilitate Hong Kong’s active role in the opening up of the country. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, shared their views at the seminar.

     Mr Lee said that in addition to leading the country towards Chinese modernisation and high-quality development, the Plenary Session is also crucial to the development, prosperity and stability of Hong Kong in the long run. Hong Kong has been playing an active role in the country’s reform and opening up. As a “super connector” and “super value-adder” connecting the Mainland with the world, Hong Kong endeavours to facilitate the country’s effort in going global while attracting foreign investment to the Mainland market. In the face of accelerating global changes of a kind not seen in a century, the HKSAR will be more proactive in its integration into the national development and utilising its unique advantages, to realise its own breakthroughs and to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to serve the country’s needs. He instructed officials of the HKSAR Government to have a thorough understanding of the spirit of the Plenary Session, and to implement and uphold the spirit in their daily work, in order to strive for promoting the high-quality development of the country and Hong Kong and the advancement of Chinese modernisation. The HKSAR Government will stay committed to implementing the spirit of the Plenary Session and strive to grasp the opportunities to consolidate and enhance its strengths in the course of development and advancing Hong Kong from stability to prosperity, in a bid to make greater contributions to the building of a great country in all respects and advancing toward national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation. 

  

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (August 9) that starting from August 24 (Saturday), improvement works on the air-conditioning system at the Hong Kong Licensing Office (HKLO) and the Public Vehicles Unit (PVU) on 3/F, United Centre, Admiralty, will be carried out in phases. The improvement works will enhance the office environment, and the offices will continue normal services during the course of works.

     During the works, the HKLO and the PVU will continue to provide counter services for the public to submit various licensing applications. The number of same-day queue tickets of the queue ticketing system for driving licensing-related counter services will also remain unchanged. In addition, members of the public can continue to submit their applications via the drop-in boxes at the entrance. The TD anticipates that the waiting time for counter services may be longer during this period. On-site staff will strengthen crowd management in view of the actual situation and the TD appeals to the public for patience and co-operation.

     The HKLO waiting hall and enquiry counters will be temporarily closed in phases. The number of tables and seats in the waiting hall will be reduced and temporary enquiry counters will be set up to assist members of the public in need. The first phase of the works is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025.

     The TD encourages the public to use online licensing services (www.td.gov.hk/en/electronic_services/index.html) as far as possible or submit their applications by post, so that they do not need to visit and queue in person at the Licensing Offices for the processing of their applications.

     For enquiries, please call the TD’s hotline at 2804 2600. read more