A man who went missing was located.
Tai Yu-ting, aged 40, entered Hong Kong through Lo Wu Control Point in the morning of March 18 and missing since then. Staff of the care home made a report to the Police on March 19.
The man was located on Parkes Street, Yau Ma Tei last night (March 24). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
A woman who went missing in Kwun Tong has been located.
Yu Sin-ying, aged 45, went missing after she left her residence on Lin Tak Road on March 21 morning. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.
The woman was located on Wang Chiu Road, Ngau Tau Kok this afternoon (March 25). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Ministry of Commerce of the Central People's Government jointly held the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Forum on Agreement on Trade in Goods today (March 25). The Forum aimed at introducing to the trade details of the initiatives set out in the Agreement on Trade in Goods signed under the framework of CEPA on December 14, 2018, as well as the latest developments of the relevant trade facilitation measures. The Agreement on Trade in Goods has been implemented since January 1, 2019.
The Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Miss Eliza Lee, and the Director-General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Sun Tong, attended and spoke at the Forum.
Over 200 people, including representatives from local and foreign trade bodies and Consulates General in Hong Kong, took part in the Forum. Representatives from central ministries and the HKSAR Government explained to participants the measures and implementation arrangements of the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Goods, and answered questions from the trade.
A representative of the Department of Duty Collection of the Mainland General Administration of Customs introduced the details of the full implementation of the zero tariff arrangement by the Mainland for imported goods of Hong Kong origin and rules of origin under the Agreement on Trade in Goods. Currently, all Hong Kong products can enjoy zero tariffs for export to the Mainland upon fulfilment of the CEPA rules of origin, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the Mainland market.
In addition, a representative of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Mainland General Administration of Customs introduced the major responsibilities of the General Administration of Customs following the institutional reform of government agencies, as well as customs procedures and trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical trade measures and the latest progress of trade facilitation measures under the Agreement on Trade in Goods. The measures will help expedite customs clearance and reduce trade costs, making it easier for Hong Kong products to access the Mainland market.
CEPA was signed in 2003. It is now a comprehensive and modern free trade agreement covering four major areas, namely trade in goods, trade in services, investments, and economic and technical co-operation. From 2004 to the end of February 2019, the value of Hong Kong products approved for export to the Mainland under the CEPA zero tariff arrangement exceeded $100 billion, and tariff savings amounted to about RMB6.95 billion.
​The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (March 25) urged the public to stop using a model of RSH extension unit with the model number RSH-WT002.
The EMSD recently found that the extension unit does not comply with relevant safety regulations, in particular the undersized flexible cord of the extension unit, thus posing risks of overheating and fire hazard to users.
The product supplier, Deal Direct 2U Limited, has pledged to arrange for recalling the product. The public can call the supplier's customer service hotline at 3596 9887 for arrangements.
The first inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise organised by the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU) set up by the Security Bureau was held today (March 25) at Lei Yue Mun Park. The exercise, codenamed "Powersky", simulated an operation against a terrorist cell which was plotting an attack in Hong Kong using homemade explosives.
　　The primary objectives of the exercise were to enhance the co-ordination amongst various departments on counter-terrorism intelligence and response, and to heighten counter-terrorism awareness of the public.
Speaking to the media before the exercise started, the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Sonny Au, said that the ICTU was set up in April last year, with members from six disciplined services, namely the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department and the Government Flying Service.
He said that the ICTU is dedicated to monitoring the global terrorism situation trends and counter-terrorism measures, enhancing co-ordination and analysis of counter-terrorism intelligence, reviewing and improving counter-terrorism strategies in Hong Kong, developing specialised counter-terrorism training and improving various emergency response plans, and providing advice related to counter-terrorism to the Secretary for Security. The ICTU provides an inter-departmental counter-terrorism platform on top of the existing counter-terrorism framework to enhance Hong Kong's overall counter-terrorism deployment through enhancing the co-ordination among departments, and achieving synergy in various aspects such as counter-terrorism intelligence, emergency response and training.
　　The "Powersky" exercise was an intelligence-led operation exercise, involving about 270 officers from the six member departments. The exercise had three phases. The first two phases, focusing on intelligence development of the case, had just completed. The intelligence developed by the ICTU led to the third phase, which was a field exercise. Upon collating and analysing the intelligence, the ICTU confirmed the terrorist cell's intention to plot a bomb attack and located the hideout of the terrorists. The ICTU co-ordinated various operational units to mount an operation to smash the terrorist plot against Hong Kong.
The scenarios of the exercise included officers of the Customs and Excise Department conducting an examination on a freight vehicle with a mobile X-ray vehicle scanning system and an explosive detector dog to detect precursor chemicals for making explosives; the Special Duties Unit raiding a terrorist cell with the aerial support of the Government Flying Service; the Counter Terrorism Response Unit neutralising terrorists; the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau diffusing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear leakage; the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau and the Immigration Department's Counter Terrorism Operations Section conducting scene investigation; and the Hazmat Team of the Fire Services Department carrying out decontamination procedures for infected persons.
A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "The 'Powersky' exercise concluded successfully. The Government will assess the outcome of the exercise with a view to enhancing law enforcement officers' counter-terrorism preparedness and responsiveness in handling counter-terrorism intelligence and incidents."