The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (November 1) the launch of the Squatter Occupants Voluntary Registration Scheme, which is open for applications from eligible occupants of squatter structures until October 31, 2019.

     The Squatter Occupants Voluntary Registration Scheme is a one-off exercise that will last for one year to complement the Government initiative announced on May 10, 2018 to provide revised ex-gratia compensation and rehousing arrangements for domestic households in squatter structures affected by the Government's development clearance exercises. The revised arrangements include suitably extending the arrangements on non-means tested rehousing and ex-gratia compensation for domestic households in squatter structures to eligible domestic occupants residing in licenced non-domestic structures or in squatter structures recorded for non-domestic uses in the 1982 Squatter Control Survey (SCS).

     A spokesperson for the LandsD said that to be eligible under the Scheme, domestic occupants should have been residing in licenced non-domestic structures or in squatter structures recorded for non-domestic uses in the 1982 SCS on May 10, 2016 or earlier.

     The spokesperson added, "Domestic occupants residing in licenced non-domestic structures or in squatter structures recorded for non-domestic uses in the 1982 SCS are advised to apply for the Scheme as soon as possible. Only those occupants who have applied for the Scheme and satisfied its registration criteria will be considered eligible for the compensation and rehousing arrangements in Government's future development clearance exercises.

     "Occupants who have applied for the Scheme and satisfied its registration criteria must still adhere to the requirements governing surveyed squatter structures under the prevailing squatter control policy, such as the requirement that prohibits any extension, addition or unauthorised alteration with materials not in compliance with the SCS record. Notwithstanding this, a change to the use of the squatter structures for residential purposes by the occupants who have applied for the Scheme and satisfied its registration criteria will not constitute a breach leading to cancellation of survey records of their squatter structures or demolition of these squatter structures as enforcement actions."

     Guidance notes on the Scheme and application forms are obtainable at District Lands Offices, Clearance Offices and Squatter Control Offices of the LandsD, and at Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, or downloadable from the LandsD's website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/vrs/vrs.htm). For enquiry, please call 2231 3392 or email to vrs-cu@landsd.gov.hk.

     Correctional officers stopped a person in custody from assaulting another person in custody at Tong Fuk Correctional Institution today (Oct 31).

     At 5.45pm, a 34-year-old male person in custody suddenly attacked another 31-year-old male person in custody inside the exercise yard. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailant and called for reinforcements.

     The victim sustained arm injury during the incident. After examination and treatment by the medical officer of the institution hospital, he was transferred to a public hospital for further treatment.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The assailant was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, conducted the third day of her visit to Japan today (October 31). She visited innovation and technology (I&T) organisations and institutions in Tokyo to explore possibilities for collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan. She also attended a luncheon on women's leadership, the opening ceremony of an exhibition on Hong Kong architecture and a special concert celebrating the friendship between Japan and Hong Kong performed by alumni of the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) from Hong Kong and Japan.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, Mrs Lam had a breakfast meeting with the President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Mr Michinari Hamaguchi, and its key members. Also present were the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Sunny Chai and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr George Lam. Managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the JST promotes state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) projects and spearheads co-creation of innovation. It also formulates long-term R&D strategies and promotes the transformation of technological achievements and related education. Mrs Lam said at the meeting that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is determined to develop Hong Kong as an international I&T hub and has been advancing I&T development using an eight-pronged approach. She noted that she had proposed in her recent Policy Address the allocation of an additional $28 billion to support university research, encourage re-industrialisation and promote technological entrepreneurship. Mrs Lam said she encouraged technology enterprises, R&D institutions and academics from Japan to partner with their Hong Kong counterparts in research to make good use of the R&D grants and tax deduction for expenditure on R&D rolled out by the HKSAR Government.

     Later, Mrs Lam and the other officials visited the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) to meet with its President, Professor Kazuya Masu, to learn about the institute's development in technological research, as well as to view the supercomputer Tsubame 3.0. Tsubame 3.0, one of the largest supercomputers in Japan, has excellent computing power and energy efficiency. Tokyo Tech is one of the top four universities in Japan. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to learn that Tokyo Tech has established links with several universities in Hong Kong through a co-operation agreement and various collaborative research projects and student exchange programmes. She expressed the hope that Tokyo Tech would continue to collaborate with Hong Kong's universities to jointly enhance the level of scientific research.

     Mrs Lam then attended a luncheon organised by the Economist Corporate Network with women's leadership as the theme, at which she discussed with over 100 senior executives topics including women in leadership, female empowerment and assistance for women in career development. She introduced to the participants situation of women in Hong Kong in such areas as education, employment and appointment to public offices, and a series of initiatives in support of women and family-friendly measures by the HKSAR Government in order to give women equal opportunities for development and room to give full play to their talents.

     In the afternoon, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mrs Lam officiated at the opening ceremony of the "More than High-rise: Exploring Hong Kong through Architecture" exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects in Tokyo. Speaking at the ceremony, she said that Hong Kong is not only celebrated for its skyscrapers, but also for historic built heritage such as the Blue House in Wan Chai and the PMQ in Central, with the former winning the Award of Excellence at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. In addition, contemporary iconic buildings including Hong Kong International Airport, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the Xiqu Centre and M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District also enrich Hong Kong's skyline and cityscape, she added.

     In the evening, Mrs Lam attended the "Asian Youth Orchestra Alumni Special Concert – Celebrating Friendship between Japan and Hong Kong" performed by more than 20 alumni of the AYO from Hong Kong and Japan. Based in Hong Kong, the AYO attracts many bright young musicians from all over Asia to Hong Kong for training every year and takes them to different parts of the world for performances and cultural exchange. The AYO has played a significant role in promoting arts and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan. The orchestra's first public concert in 1990 was held in Kumamoto, Japan. Since then, Japan has been one of the AYO's touring destinations almost every year. The AYO was awarded Japan's Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists in 2010 in recognition of its contribution to the development of young artistic talents. It was also awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2015 for Culture and Community for promoting friendship and understanding through the common language of music.

     Mrs Lam had dinner with the AYO musicians and will continue her visit to Japan tomorrow (November 1).

                          

      Hong Kong is ranked fourth globally on the ease of doing business, moving up one place from being fifth last year, according to the World Bank's Doing Business 2019 Report (Report) released today (October 31).
 
      "In the past ten years, Hong Kong has maintained its position among the world's top ranking economies in the Report, re-affirming our favourable business environment for overseas companies to set up their regional headquarters and offices, and for all businesses to flourish," a government spokesman said.
 
      "The score of Hong Kong has improved from 83.44 last year to 84.22 this year, reflecting continuous enhancements in our business facilitation measures.  The World Bank commends Hong Kong for the successful implementation of reform measures to improve the ease of doing business," he added.
 
     The Report compares the ease of doing business in 190 economies across 10 indicators.  Among the 10 indicators, Hong Kong performs well in a number of them, including "paying taxes" (ranked first), "dealing with construction permits" (ranked first), "getting electricity" (ranked third) and "starting a business" (ranked fifth).
 
      The Government will study the Report carefully and continue to work closely with the business sector and other stakeholders to reform the existing regulatory regimes, enhance regulatory efficiency and reduce business compliance costs, so as to further improve the business environment in Hong Kong.

     More endangered species will be put on the control list under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap 586) when the amendments to schedule 1 come into force tomorrow (November 1), a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (October 31).
 
     Newly listed species include pygmy chameleons, silky shark, thresher sharks, clarion angelfish and Dalbergia species. Some of the currently regulated species will be transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I. The details are in the Annex.
 
     "The amendments will bring Hong Kong in line with the revisions to the list of controlled species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora," the spokesman said.
 
     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, except with exemptions or otherwise specified, the import, export, re-export, introduction from the sea and possession of the controlled species, including their parts and derivatives, are subject to licensing controls. Relevant import and export controls will be implemented on the species concerned when the new control list comes into force.
 
     The AFCD has notified the traders concerned about the legislative amendments through circular letters, and briefed the relevant stakeholders about the new controls through seminars.
 
     Under the new controls, a Licence to Possess must be obtained within the three-month grace period for the possession for commercial purposes of Appendix I specimens or Appendix II live specimens of wild origin. The grace period will end on January 31, 2019.
 
     The spokesman also reminded the public that the penalties for violating the Ordinance have been increased since May 1 this year. Any person found guilty of importing, exporting, re-exporting or possessing any endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years. The specimens will also be forfeited upon conviction.
 
     For the licensing requirements for the species listed on different appendices, please visit the website www.cites.hk. For enquiries, please call 1823.