The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, together with the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government held today (February 21) the Symposium on the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to introduce the contents of the Outline Development Plan and explore the development opportunities of the Greater Bay Area. Around eight hundred guests, representing relevant central ministries and various sectors of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao attended the symposium.
 
     At the symposium, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Deputy Chairman of the Office of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Lin Nianxiu; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on, delivered speeches respectively; while the Director General of the Department of Regional Economy of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Mr Guo Lanfeng, gave a briefing on the Outline Development Plan for the Greater Bay Area.
 
     In her speech, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that since the NDRC and the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, as witnessed by President Xi Jinping, signed on July 1, 2017 the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Greater Bay Area, the HKSAR Government has kept in close contact with relevant central ministries and the governments of Guangdong and Macao to draw up and introduce policies and measures for the development of the Greater Bay Area.
 
     She said that the Outline Development Plan is the best manifestation of the close cooperation amongst the three governments and their positive interaction with the central ministries. In the process of drawing up the Outline Development Plan, the HKSAR Government put great efforts into reflecting the views our bureaux and departments obtained from consulting relevant sectors and stakeholders. Mrs Lam thanked the Central Government for according much importance, and indeed accepting those views of Hong Kong.
 
     In setting out the opportunities for Hong Kong in taking part in the development of the Greater Bay Area, Mrs Lam said that under the "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong enjoys unique dual advantages. Hong Kong is a highly open and international city, with a business environment that is open and facilitating, and professional services that are of excellent quality. Our strengths can complement the advantages of the nine Mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area such as the size of their market, an all-rounded industry system and their relative strength in technology. In fact, taking forward the coordinated development of the Greater Bay Area is conducive to further enhancing Hong Kong's status as international financial, transportation and trade centres, as well as an aviation hub.
 
     Mrs Lam pointed out that "One Country, Two Systems" is not only Hong Kong's advantage in the Greater Bay Area, but it is also the key foundation for the internationalisation of the Greater Bay Area. The development of the Greater Bay Area will enrich the practice of "One country, Two systems" and is conducive to maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
 
     Mrs Lam also outlined the future work focuses of the HKSAR Government, namely: 
 

1. consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as international financial, transportation and trade centres as well as an international aviation hub;
2. developing an international innovation and technology hub;
3. expanding the scope of development for sectors in which Hong Kong's strengths lie;
4. strengthening infrastructural connectivity;
5. fostering youth innovation and entrepreneurship; and
6. fully utilising Hong Kong's international connections and networks to promote the Greater Bay Area overseas and attract capital and talents to the Greater Bay Area.

 
     Mrs Lam said that the HKSAR Government would spare no effort and do everything we can to take forward the development of the Greater Bay Area and under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, explore new development directions, expand fresh development space and give new development impetus for Hong Kong through our participation in the development of the Greater Bay Area.
 
     After the Symposium, Mrs Lam hosted a luncheon at Government House for visiting representatives from central ministries, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. At the luncheon, Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude for the support and assistance tendered by central ministries and the governments of Guangdong and Macao. They also exchanged views on matters relating to taking forward the development of the Greater Bay Area.
 
     In accordance with the guiding directions set out in the Outline Development Plan, the HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close contact with members of the Legislative Council, industries, business associations, professional bodies and relevant stakeholders, and listen to their views on how to effectively take forward the development of the Greater Bay Area. The Government will continue to discuss with relevant central ministries, and the governments of Guangdong and Macao to strive for policy innovation and breakthrough necessary for industries to expand their development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.
 
     For the contents of the Outline Development Plan and the latest information about the development of the Greater Bay Area, please visit the dedicated website at bayarea.gov.hk and our new WeChat official account by searching Wechat ID "hkcmab".

                

     Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 7.9 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of $3.2 million at Hong Kong International Airport on February 17 and yesterday (February 20).

     Customs officers inspected an air parcel from Thailand on February 17 and found about 75 grams of suspected ketamine concealed inside a handbag in the parcel.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a man suspected to be in connection with the case in Sham Tseng.

     The arrested man, aged 15, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 22).

     Also, a male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Thailand yesterday. During Customs clearance, 13 plastic bottles containing suspected liquid ketamine weighed about 7.9 kilograms in total were found inside his baggage.The 31-year-old man was then arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

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

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 21) said that a notification was received from the Food Safety Centre, Macau that a batch of bottled salted egg paste imported from Hong Kong was found to contain excessive Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen. The CFS is following up on the incident.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Salted Egg Paste
Brand: English name not available
Place of origin: China
Distributor: Un Chi Enterprise Development Company
Net weight: 180 g per bottle
Best-before date: October 25, 2019

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "A notification was received from the Food Safety Centre, Macau, that a sample collected from the abovementioned salted egg paste imported from Hong Kong was detected with Staphylococcus aureus at a level of 150 000 organisms per gram, exceeding the standard of Macau. Under Hong Kong's Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Staphylococcus aureus and other coagulase-positive staphylococci at a level of more than 10 000 organisms per gram, it is also considered unsatisfactory. The CFS therefore immediately contacted the local distributor concerned for follow-up. According to the information provided by the distributor, the affected batch of product was available for sale in Hong Kong and had been sold out."

     The distributor concerned has initiated a recall according to CFS' instructions. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 2650 3802 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the distribution of the product concerned.

     According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     "Staphylococcus aureus can produce enterotoxins that cause food poisoning. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, often accompanied by diarrhoea. The CFS advises the public not to consume the affected batch of product if they have bought it. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it," he added.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 21) that Yuen Long Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     Mainland law firm Commerce and Finance Law Offices (Tongshang) had its office opening cocktail reception today (February 21) to announce the launch of its Hong Kong office and its association with a local law firm, Eric Chow & Co, as part of its global expansion blueprint.

     The strategic alliance will better position Tongshang with a solid on-the-ground presence in the face of increasing demand for cross-border legal services, in particular fundraising activities involving Mainland companies in the local stock market and major stock markets around the world, according to the Managing Partner of the Hong Kong office, Mr Eric Chow.

     Mr Chow said, "We have seen an increasing demand from our clients on cross-border legal services and with the establishment of our Hong Kong office, Tongshang will be able to provide a one-stop shop of Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong legal services to our clients. The Hong Kong office provides comprehensive legal services to its clients in the areas of corporate and commercial work, merger and acquisition, banking and financing."

     In recent years, Tongshang has participated in many restructuring and capital market projects for landmark state-owned and private enterprises. "Hong Kong is an important listing and fundraising venue for companies around the world. Throughout the years, Tongshang has been very active in the equity capital markets transactions, in particular in Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) transactions. Last year alone, Tongshang completed 30 Hong Kong IPO listings as an adviser to People's Republic of China laws," Managing Partner of Commerce and Finance, Beijing, Mr Wu Gang, said.

     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong office and said, "We are happy to see that another major Mainland law firm has set up its presence in Hong Kong, which shows the unrivalled role of Hong Kong as a legal hub in the region. We wish the company every success and hope it will make good use of the city's advantages to expand its business locally and regionally."

About Tongshang

     Founded in 1992, Tongshang was one of the first private practice law firms established in the Mainland. Headquartered in Beijing, the firm also has offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen and now Hong Kong. The firm has grown to become one of the leading and internationally recognised full-service People's Republic of China law firms with over 400 lawyers and legal professionals. For more information, please visit www.tongshang.com.

About Invest Hong Kong

     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.