The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, leading a delegation of about 20 persons comprising representatives from the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong and related sectors, arrived in Foshan yesterday afternoon (August 7), starting a visit to gain a better grasp of the opportunities brought about by the developments in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). They first attended a dinner and met with the Mayor of the Foshan Municipal Government, Mr Bai Tao, in the evening.

     This morning (August 8), Mr Lam and his delegation had a meeting with Foshan Federation of Industry and Commerce representatives to gain a better understanding of business developments there and the demand for cross-border legal services. They also exchanged views on how Hong Kong's comprehensive legal and dispute resolution services could facilitate the development of enterprises in the GBA. Mr Lam then attended a luncheon with the Federation and gave a keynote speech.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lam and his delegation visited the Keda Industrial Group Company Limited to learn more about its diverse global businesses, and how Hong Kong, as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, can further promote GBA development under the auspices of the Belt and Road Initiative by providing high-quality one-stop legal services to enterprises in the region.

     Mr Lam and his delegation concluded their visit and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

              

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs detected three illicit cigarette smuggling cases involving seaborne containers on July 11, July 17 and August 7 in Kwai Chung. A total of about 28.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $128 million and a duty potential of about $94 million were seized.

     Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs on July 11 and 17 selected and inspected two 40-foot seaborne containers, arriving from Singapore and re-exported to the Mainland and declared as carrying plastic particles and beddings, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a total of about 20.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the two containers.

     Upon follow-up investigation, Customs on August 7 inspected a 40-foot seaborne container, arriving in Hong Kong from Singapore and declared as carrying plastic pellets, at the same compound. About 8 million suspected illicit cigarettes were further seized.

     Investigations of the three cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and step up enforcement actions to combat smuggling of illicit cigarettes. 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.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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 Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, visited Beijing for two consecutive days from yesterday (August 7), together with the Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education, Ms Starry Lee, to call on the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Ministry of Education, and to visit the Museum of the Communist Party of China. They learnt about the country's experience of implementing the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China, which they will reference when devising and implementing strategies and work plans of patriotic education that suit the circumstances of Hong Kong. The aim is to build and foster mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for the country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the "one country, two systems" principle, and to enable the spirit of patriotism to take root in society and people's hearts.
      
     Yesterday, Mr Chan and other delegates met with Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Mr Hu Heping, who is in charge of the department's daily operations, to exchange views on taking forward patriotic education in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Mr Chan said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) established the Working Group on Patriotic Education in April this year, with four sub-groups set up to strengthen patriotic education on all fronts in Hong Kong. The four sub-groups focus efforts on school education; the local community; history, politics, economy and culture; and media publicity. The work directions concerned are in line with the spirit of the Patriotic Education Law, underlining the richness and breadth of the content of patriotic education. Mr Chan pointed out that the long history and profound cultural heritage of the country have laid a solid foundation for the work of patriotic education, and that the HKSAR Government will continue to deepen people's understanding of national developments and achievements in various aspects and strengthen their sense of national identity and national pride.
      
     Mr Chan and other delegates then visited the Museum of the Communist Party of China. Through performing the comprehensive functions of display, commemoration, publicity, education and research, the Museum fully showcases the endeavours of the Communist Party of China over the past century and the great spirit of struggle embodied therein. Also, the Museum showcases quite a lot of content related to Hong Kong, with details on the city's return to the motherland and display of various printed versions of the Basic Law. Mr Chan said that the delegation will share with members of the Working Group their experience at the Museum after returning to Hong Kong. Also taking into account the takeaways from the Working Group's visit to the patriotic education bases in Hong Kong, as well as the views from various sectors of society, the Working Group will explore how best to unite and give full play to the forces of the Government and the local community when taking forward patriotic education, in terms of both hardware and software, to further strengthen people's sense of identity with, belonging to, and pride towards the country and the nation.
      
     Today (August 8), Mr Chan and other delegates met with the Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs and Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, Mr Yang Dan, to exchange views on taking forward patriotic education at schools in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Mr Chan said that, as an integral part of the school curriculum, national education and national security education in Hong Kong have incorporated patriotic education's elements and spirit. The Education Bureau will continue to adopt a multipronged and co-ordinated approach to supporting schools in carrying out patriotic education and dovetailing it with the content of the Patriotic Education Law. The work concerned includes strengthening teacher training, enhancing students' national affairs education, and organising joint school national education activities, Chinese culture immersion activities and Mainland study tours. The aim is to enable the younger generation to gain a deeper understanding of global trends and delve into the history and culture of the country and national affairs, and strengthen their affection for and sense of belonging to the country.
      
     Mr Chan and other delegates then visited the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing to learn about the work of its staff. They also chatted with Hong Kong students who are based in Beijing and currently interning at the Office. They said they were pleased to learn that the students have developed a strong affection for the motherland and have been enjoying studying and living in Beijing. Mr Chan encouraged them to continue actively equipping themselves and make contributions to the high-quality developments of the country and Hong Kong in the future.
      
     Mr Chan concluded his visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong today.

              

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Ministry of Finance will issue Renminbi Sovereign Bonds through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Sovereign Bonds to be issued by the Ministry of Finance. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.

     Hong Kong Customs today (August 8) urged members of the public to stop using three types of whitening cream products containing excessive mercury. 

     Customs earlier received a referral from a relevant department regarding a mercury poisoning case after a patient used a type of whitening cream product. The test result revealed that the level of mercury in the product concerned was 23 000 parts per million. Later, Customs discovered that the levels of mercury in two other types of whitening cream products of the same brand reached 24 000 ppm. According to the relevant hygienic standard for cosmetics, the mercury content of the three types of whitening creams exceeded the maximum permitted limit by 23 000 times, 24 000 times and 24 000 times respectively, suspected to be in contravention of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO). 

     Moreover, Customs also found that the three products concerned only bore warnings or cautions in English, without any Chinese warnings or cautions, suspected to be in contravention of the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (CGSR), a subsidiary legislation of the CGSO.

     Customs immediately conducted an enforcement operation and deployed officers to a retailer concerned in Central to carry out an investigation. A total of 352 boxes of the three types of whitening creams were seized from the retailer. A 40-year-old man-in-charge and a 45-year-old saleswoman were arrested, and they have been released on bail pending further investigation. 

     The investigation is ongoing, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     A prohibition notice was served on the retailer connected with the case, prohibiting the continued sale of the three whitening cream products. 

     Apart from searching the retailer connected with the case, Customs officers also conducted spot checks and inspections in various districts, and sales of the three products concerned have not been found so far.

     According to medical advice, chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, concentration difficulty, impaired hearing and vision, and change in the taste function. In severe cases, renal failure may occur.
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     Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following tips when purchasing and using beauty products:
     • Do not buy or use beauty products of unknown composition or from doubtful sources;
     • Stop using the beauty products and seek medical attention immediately if feeling unwell after use; and
     • Purchase beauty products at reputable retail shops.

     Customs reminds employers that they should get their foreign domestic helpers' attention to stop using the three products concerned immediately if they found that the helpers had purchased the products.

     Customs also reminds traders to comply with the statutory requirements of the CGSO to protect the safety of consumers. Under the CGSO, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. Under the CGSR, where consumer goods or their packages are marked with warnings or cautions with respect to their safe keeping, use, consumption or disposal, such warnings or cautions shall be in both English and Chinese languages. Moreover, the warning or caution phrases must be legibly and conspicuously shown on the goods, any package of the goods, a label securely affixed to the package or a document enclosed in the package. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on the first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.

     Customs has been consistently combating the sale of products that fall short of the CGSO. Law enforcement action will be taken immediately if any violation of the CGSO is detected.

     Members of the public with information relating to unsafe or law-breaking consumer goods may make a report via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or by filling in an online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).