Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The Government introduced today (April 1) a logo for charitable fund-raising activities which must be used or shown at all government-approved charitable fund-raising activities for easy identification by the public. A QR code enabling the public to check information about the relevant charitable fund-raising activities will also be placed next to the logo.
      
     The logo must be used at charitable fund-raising activities approved by different government departments which include:
 
(1) For flag days and general charitable fund-raising activities approved by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) starting from April 1, 2019, the logo must be printed on Public Subscription Permits. For flag days, the logo must be affixed on flag-selling bags. For general charitable fund-raising activities, the logo must be printed on fund-raisers’ badges and tags affixed on the donation collection tools;

(2) For charitable lottery events with licence applications made and approved on or after April 1, 2019, by the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the logo must be printed on lottery licences and lottery tickets; and

(3) For applications of charitable organisations for temporary hawker licences received and approved on or after April 1, 2019, by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for fund-raising activities involving the sale of goods in public places, licensees are required to display the logo at the stalls during charitable fund-raising activities.
 
     Apart from calling the dedicated hotline (Tel: 3142 2678) and checking against the information of government-approved charitable fund-raising activities on the fund-raising activities page of GovHK, members of the public can also identify and ascertain whether a fund-raising activity has been approved by the Government by viewing the logo and the QR code.
 
     Following the recommendations made in the Report of the Law Reform Commission, Report No. 68 of the Director of Audit and Report No. 68 of the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislative Council on improving the monitoring of charitable fund-raising activities, apart from introducing the logo, the Government has implemented a series of administrative measures since August 1, 2018, including uploading all audited accounts submitted by organisations which obtained approval to hold charitable fund-raising activities from the SWD or charitable lottery events from the HAD to the fund-raising activities page of GovHK; setting up a dedicated hotline for handling enquiries or complaints in relation to charitable fund-raising activities held by organisations in public places; and issuing the Good Practice Guide on Charitable Fund-raising and providing a one-stop service for charitable fund-raising activities organised on government land in order to enhance the transparency of charitable fund-raising activities, safeguard the interests of donors and facilitate the conduct of fund-raising activities.
 
     For more information on the approved charitable fund-raising activities, please visit the fund-raising activities page of GovHK (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/welcome).

  

     â€‹The Education Bureau today (April 1) announced the appointment of members to the Advisory Committee on Gifted Education (ACGE).             The incumbent Chairman… read more

     TNT Express Worldwide (HK) Limited was intercepted illegally transhipping goods containing asbestos through Hong Kong to Sierra Leone from Malaysia. The company was convicted and fined a total of $4,000 at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (April 1) for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO). This is the first conviction since the amendment to the relevant ordinance came into effect.

     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that a notification was received from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department in September last year of an interception of goods suspected of containing asbestos materials at the Asia Airfreight Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport. After investigation, EPD staff confirmed that the goods, with nine rolls of rope lagging containing asbestos weighing about 45 kilograms, were being transhipped by an international shipping company, TNT Express Worldwide (HK) Limited, through Hong Kong to Sierra Leone from Malaysia. The EPD prosecuted the company, which was responsible for transhipping the goods, under the APCO after gathering evidence.

     The EPD spokesman reminded international shipping companies that the government has completely banned the import, transhipment, supply and use of all forms of asbestos so as to protect public health since the implementation of the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 in April 2014. Anyone that imports or tranships asbestos or asbestos-containing materials without an exemption commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund Secretariat:
 
     The Community Care Fund (CCF) will hold a public consultation session this Saturday (April 6) to gauge public views on the formulation of assistance programmes. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
 
     The consultation session will be held from 5pm to 6.30pm at the Hall, G/F, Tin Yiu Community Centre, Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai, New Territories (MTR Tin Shui Wai Station, Exit C).
 
     Those who would like to attend the consultation session may call the CCF Secretariat at 2835 2279 during office hours (from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays) or complete the online registration form at the CCF’s website (www.communitycarefund.hk/en/form.asp) for seat reservation. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy Graduation Ceremony today (April 1):
 
Dr Lawrence Li (Deputy Council Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)), Professor Xi Guang (Vice President of Xi’an Jiaotong University), Mr Su Qingmin (Director of the Management Centre of Educational Affairs of the State Grid of China Technology College), Mr Wan Chi-tin (Managing Director of the Hongkong Electric Company Limited), Mr Liu Zhiming (Deputy Inspector of the Department of Educational Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), consuls general, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to be invited, now for the second time, to officiate at the graduation ceremony of the Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme. First, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to all graduates, particularly those from the Belt and Road regions.
 
     Indeed, I am most impressed by the positive response that the programme has received. The return of this quadripartite flagship programme this year is most timely as the sprawling network of the Belt and Road Initiative spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa has expanded rapidly over recent years. So far, more than 120 countries have indicated support for the Initiative. 
 
     Led by the Silk Road International School of Engineering and jointly developed by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, State Grid Corporation of China and Hongkong Electric Company, the Programme is well positioned to reinforce further our ties with emerging economies along the Belt and Road corridors and help our professionals tap the immense opportunities offered by the Initiative.
 
     Embedded with “five areas of connectivity”, namely policy co-ordination, financial integration, unimpeded trade, facilities connectivity and people-to-people bonds, the Belt and Road Initiative provides new impetus not only to the global economy, but also sustainable development. I believe that as part of PolyU’s Belt and Road Strategic Platform, this Programme echoes well with one of the key focuses of the Initiative on the establishment of energy partnerships. Hong Kong has a unique role to play in this vision. The strengths of Hong Kong’s energy sector in system operation, manpower development and project financing are most pertinent.
 
     In respect of system operation, Hong Kong’s electricity supply is safe, reliable and affordable, which is essential for powering economic growth. Hongkong Electric Company, a partner of this programme, has upheld successfully a reliability rating of over 99.999 per cent since 1997, reaching 99.9999 per cent in 2017, which is almost unparalleled in other parts of the world. I understand that you have visited their facilities and I am sure that you find their rigorous system and talent pool most impressive. Hong Kong stands ready to showcase our power companies’ expertise and operational experience to other Belt and Road countries that have plans to develop and modernise their electricity systems.
 
     As regards manpower development, PolyU is renowned for nurturing a pool of talented technicians and engineers in Hong Kong for over 80 years. It is the first publicly funded, post-secondary technical institution in Hong Kong that offers courses in mechanical engineering and building construction. Over the years, graduates of PolyU and other higher education institutions in Hong Kong have dedicated their career to ensuring that our electricity systems meet the highest international standards. They are the unsung heroes behind Hong Kong’s success story. Given our institutions’ significant contribution to professional education, applied research and community partnership, they are well positioned to be the pioneers in launching training programmes for professionals from Belt and Road countries, and I do encourage them to do so.
 
     Regarding project financing, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals have been actively participating in numerous energy projects in regions along the Belt and Road. Our companies have not only invested in traditional electricity generation systems in India and Southeast Asia, but also in renewable energy and smart grids. As Asia’s leading financial centre, Hong Kong is well placed to play on the strength of our financial infrastructure and comprehensive capital-raising channels to help meet the financing needs of Belt and Road investments and projects. I am certain that many energy infrastructure projects in the region will continue to benefit from our companies’ investment. In fact, a company listed in Hong Kong has formed a partnership to establish a fund with an initial capital of US$160 million to invest in the energy sector in Asia and markets along the Belt and Road corridors.
 
     No less important, Hong Kong stands ready to be the professional services platform for Belt and Road projects. We have a deep pool of world-class talents in various areas who are experienced in leading and implementing international and large-scale projects. Their strengths cover not only the electricity and engineering industries, but also architecture, surveying, accounting, law and consulting, and more.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, the Belt and Road Initiative provides a golden opportunity for Hong Kong to capitalise on our distinct advantages as the key link of and the prime platform for the Belt and Road. In particular, for power and energy projects, Hong Kong has a lot to offer in terms of system operation, capacity building and project financing. I look forward to seeing graduates from this Programme participate in developments along the Belt and Road and foster our links upon returning to your countries.
 
     On this encouraging note, I would like to extend again my warmest congratulations to the graduates today. I also wish the programme continuous success in the years to come. Thank you. read more