The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (October 30) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned writer and veteran newsman Professor Louis Cha.

     "A learned man and an acclaimed writer of martial arts novels, Professor Cha's works inherited the tradition of Chinese classics with the integration of history and culture, and are very popular among Chinese in various parts of the world. His works had been widely adapted into television serials and films, contributing significantly to the promotion of Chinese culture.

     "Professor Cha is also highly regarded in the newspaper industry with decades of experience in it. He founded Ming Pao in his early years and also wrote editorials with constructive comments for society, earning the respect of the sector.

     "Professor Cha served in various public duties, including member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Drafting Committee, the Hong Kong convenor of the sub-group on the political system and member of the Executive Committee of the Basic Law Consultative Committee. Professor Cha was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2000 for his outstanding achievements in Chinese literature and journalism and contributions in public service.

     I was grieved to learn of Professor Cha's passing. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Mrs Lam said. 

     Hong Kong Customs seized a batch of suspected smuggled goods, including 391 game discs, 100 boxes of accessories, 30 pairs of shoes, 10 bottles of red wine and about 1.3kg of bird nest with an estimated market value of about $540,000 at Man Kam To Control Point today (October 30).

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing private car at Man Kam To Control Point this afternoon and found the batch of suspected smuggled goods on board the vehicle. The 30-year-old male driver and the 42-year-old male passenger were arrested.
          
     Investigation is ongoing.

     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.

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

  

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (October 30) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Professor Louis Cha and extended his deepest condolences to Professor Cha's family.

     Mr Lau said, "The masterpieces written by Professor Cha laid the cornerstone of the development of martial arts (Wuxia) novels in Hong Kong. The permanent exhibition of Jin Yong Gallery in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum showcases Professor Cha’s contribution to Hong Kong culture since its establishment. Professor Cha's work and its chivalrous spirit manifested will always be recognised and remain for generations. He will be remembered fondly."
 

     A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (October 30) reminded residents of public rental housing (PRH) estates and PRH applicants to truthfully declare their income and assets.

     Recently, a PRH resident did not declare his joint ownership of a residential property and its related rental income, and understated his monthly employment income on a 2017 Income and Asset Declaration Form. The resident was prosecuted by the HD for making a false statement knowingly and neglecting to furnish information specified in the Income and Asset Declaration Form, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) and Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance respectively.

     In another case, a PRH applicant declared on two separate declaration forms in 2015 that he had no land and related net asset value. Subsequent investigation, however, revealed that he had been the joint tenant of land located in the New Territories since 2012 and its net asset value was approximately $870,000. Eventually, the applicant was prosecuted for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Housing Ordinance.

     Both defendants were previously convicted by the presiding magistrate at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts, who considered that a fine as punishment would not reflect the gravity of the offence. After considering their probation reports by the Court, the defendants were sentenced to 100 hours and 80 hours of Community Service Order respectively.

     The spokesman said that households living in PRH should complete their income and asset declaration forms accurately, as doing so provides the foundation for the assessment of rent and their eligibilities for continuing residence. Before making the declarations, households should read the content and completion guidelines of the income and asset declaration form carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified. Otherwise, they may be prosecuted for making false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months), or being prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information as specified in a declaration form, contrary to Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for three months). Notwithstanding the above, the HD will take action to recover the undercharged rent incurred due to the inaccurate information or even recover their PRH units. In addition, the spokesman also reminded all PRH applicants that if they are convicted by the court for making a false statement knowingly during the PRH application, contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Housing Ordinance, the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months, while the PRH application will also be cancelled.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Japan today (October 30). She toured a number of innovation and technology (I&T) institutions and facilities, including Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City in Chiba Prefecture and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Ibaraki Prefecture as well as the University of Tsukuba, and met with the Mayor of Tsukuba City.
 
     In the morning, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; 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, Mrs Lam visited Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City to learn about its developments in innovation, health services and smart city initiatives. Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City, a public-private partnership project commenced in 2001 and involving a developer, employs advanced technology to create a liveable neighbourhood which is environmentally friendly, favourable to development of new industries and suitable for people of all ages. The city is the first in Japan to produce and distribute electricity with a smart grid to increase the use of solar energy and reduce power consumption.
 
     Mrs Lam and the other officials then visited the AIST in Ibaraki Prefecture and were briefed by its President, Dr Ryoji Chubachi, on the operation and research achievements of the AIST. Founded in 2001, the AIST is one of the largest public research organisations in Japan and about 2 000 researchers work at research bases across the country. They conduct studies in I&T and scientific research in various fields and help with transformation of technological achievements so as to strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese industries and create new industries. Mrs Lam pointed out that there are exchanges between the universities in Hong Kong and the AIST and welcomed the AIST to collaborate with more universities and scientific research institutions in Hong Kong to promote mutual development in I&T.
 
     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam and the other officials had lunch with the Mayor of Tsukuba City, Dr Tatsuo Igarashi, to learn about the city's successful experience in promoting I&T and measures by the city government in attracting scientific research institutions and talents. Known as the "Science City of Japan", Tsukuba City has over 300 science and technology entities. She said that Hong Kong is striving to advance I&T development and expressed the hope of strengthening collaboration with Tsukuba at the government level to provide more opportunities for joint development for enterprises in the two cities.
 
     Mrs Lam and the other officials then visited the University of Tsukuba. Founded in 1973, the University of Tsukuba holds academic strengths in fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and physical education, and has had three Nobel laureates and about 70 athletes who have participated in the Olympic Games. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to know that the university has international exchange arrangements with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has also collaborated with it on publications. During the visit, while she was receiving a briefing by the school on its research on artificial intelligence and cybernics, she said that the Hong Kong Science Park will establish in Hong Kong two world-class research clusters on healthcare technologies and on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies to attract top local, Mainland and overseas universities, research and development institutions and scientific technology enterprises to establish a presence. She encouraged the University of Tsukuba to join the clusters and take part in scientific research projects in Hong Kong, and also welcomed its students to come to Hong Kong for exchanges.
 
     Mrs Lam called on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Cheng Yonghua, and attended a dinner hosted by him in the evening. She thanked the embassy for its continuous support for the work of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo), and the assistance it offers to a large number of Hong Kong people visiting Japan when in need.
 
     At night, Mrs Lam met with around 200 Hong Kong people living, working and studying in Japan to learn about their everyday lives and updated them on Hong Kong's latest developments, including the recent commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which have enormously enhanced the connectivity between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
 
     Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Japan tomorrow (October 31).