Hongkong Post announced today (August 28) the release of a set of special stamps on the theme of "The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link", together with associated philatelic products, on September 17 (Monday).
 
     The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) will be commissioned in September this year. Hongkong Post is issuing a set of four special stamps to commemorate this important event. The Hong Kong Section of the XRL is a 26-kilometre full-tunnel dedicated railway running from the terminus in West Kowloon to the boundary at Huanggang. This will greatly shorten the travelling time by rail from Hong Kong to major Mainland cities.
 
     With the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL, Hong Kong will be included in the expanding national high-speed rail network. This will help consolidate Hong Kong's status as a transport hub in the region, strengthening exchange and economic ties between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and additionally facilitate collaboration and co-development of various trades and industries. Hong Kong is also keeping pace with other sophisticated transport systems around the world and with the global trend of high-speed rail development.
 
     The set of four stamps, symbolising the linkage in the region and showing the vivid colours and smooth lines of the XRL trains, features Guangzhou ($2), Shenzhen ($3.70) and Hong Kong ($4.90 and $5) stamps from left to right. The various motifs representing the cultural characteristics and landmarks of the three cities appear in the relevant sections of the train. The design for the central part of the train forms a pair of linked hands to signify that Hong Kong and the Mainland will join hands to explore new opportunities through closer exchange in economic affairs and other aspects.
 
     Official First Day Covers at $1.30 each will be put on sale at all post offices from September 3. The stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from September 3 to 8.
 
     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk and via the Hongkong Post mobile app.

      

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will visit Qianhai tomorrow afternoon (August 29). He will tour some Hong Kong enterprises and view the latest developments of Qianhai.

     He will also meet with officials of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and the Qianhai Management Authority to exchange views on matters relating to co-operation between Hong Kong and Qianhai.

     Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong in the evening of the same day.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) and the Communications Authority (CA) today (August 28) jointly launched a public consultation on the allocation and assignment arrangements of a total of 200 MHz of spectrum in the 3.3 GHz band (3.3 – 3.4 GHz) and the 4.9 GHz band (4.83 – 4.93 GHz) for the provision of public mobile services, and the related spectrum utilisation fee (SUF).
 
     As announced earlier by the CA, 100 MHz of spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band for territory-wide use and 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3.3 GHz band for use in indoor locations will be made available in 2019 for the provision of public mobile services, including fifth generation mobile (5G) services.
 
     "Spectrum in these two frequency bands forms part of the 4 500 MHz of new spectrum which the CA will release in 2019/2020 for supporting the development of 5G services.
 
     "The 4.9 GHz band has the advantage of being able to support deployment of 5G services in any locations in Hong Kong, whereas the 3.3 GHz band can be used for enhancing 5G indoor coverage in conjunction with spectrum in other frequency bands," a spokesman for the CA said.
 
     As there are likely to be competing demands for the spectrum in the 3.3 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands, the CA proposes to assign the spectrum by way of auction. Separate auctions will be held for the two frequency bands.
 
     As for the related SUF, similar to other spectrum assigned for public mobile services where there are competing demands, it is proposed that the use of the spectrum in the 3.3 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands should be subject to payment of SUF that reflects the full market value of the spectrum. The SUF should be determined by auction and the auction reserve prices will be set by the SCED nearer the time.
 
     "The auctioning of spectrum will ensure that such scarce public resource be put into the hands of those who value it most and who will consequently put it to the most efficient use, to the benefit of the public at large," a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said.
 
     "The SCED further proposes that spectrum assignees be given a choice to pay the SUF either by lump sum payment upfront or annual instalments so as to afford them a greater financial flexibility," the spokesman added.
 
     Views and comments from the industry and other interested parties are welcome on or before September 26, 2018. After taking into account the views and comments received in response to the public consultation, the SCED and the CA target to make their respective decisions around the end of 2018. The spectrum auctions for the 3.3 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands are planned to take place around mid-2019.
 
     The consultation paper can be downloaded from the websites of CEDB (www.cedb.gov.hk/ccib/eng/paper/pdf/cp20180828_e.pdf) and the CA (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_711/cp20180828_e.pdf).

The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:
 
Yuen Long DC member charged with $147,000 salary payments fraud
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     A member of the Yuen Long District Council (DC) has been charged by the ICAC today (August 28) with defrauding the Home Affairs Department (HAD) of reimbursement of his part-time assistant's salary payments totalling $147,000.
      
     Man Kwong-ming, 56, faces one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
      
     The defendant will appear in the Tuen Mun Magistracy on Thursday (August 30) for plea.
      
     The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offence.
      
     At the material time, the defendant was a member of the Yuen Long DC. He was entitled to apply for reimbursement of operating expenses incurred from employing staff members to assist him in running his ward office.
      
     The charge alleges that between February 28, 2012 and June 29, 2016, the defendant dishonestly and falsely represented that a man was employed by him as a part-time assistant between January 1, 2012 and January 31, 2016; submitted to the HAD operating expenses reimbursement applications to evidence that he had paid a monthly salary to the man in the sum of $3,000 each month during that period; and with intent to defraud, induced staff members of the HAD to process and effect payments to him of a total sum of $147,000 as reimbursement of the operating expenses, which resulted in benefit to him or prejudice to the Government.
      
     The HAD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
      
     The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Thursday.

     The Government promulgated today (August 28) the first Talent List of Hong Kong. Aiming to attract quality people from around the world in a more effective and focused manner to support Hong Kong's development as a high value-added and diversified economy, the Talent List, which contains 11 professions, has been drawn up after extensive consultation with the stakeholders.

     The Talent List highlights specific professions needed most for Hong Kong's economic development. In order to attract relevant world talents to Hong Kong, immigration facilitation is provided to eligible persons under the Talent List through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) within its existing annual quota of 1 000. Successful applicants under the QMAS are not required to have secured an offer of local employment for settlement in Hong Kong. For applicants who meet the specifications of the respective profession under the Talent List, bonus marks will be given under the General Points Test of the QMAS.

     The 11 professions are listed as follows:

(a) Experienced waste treatment specialists/engineers;

(b) Experienced management professionals in asset management including but not limited to trust fund management;

(c) Experienced professionals in marine insurance;

(d) Actuaries;

(e) Experienced professionals in Fintech;

(f) Experienced data scientists and experienced cyber security specialists;

(g) Innovation and technology experts in, but not limited to, the following fields: (i) pharmaceutical and life science/biotechnology; (ii) data engineering (e.g. data mining/data analytics), artificial intelligence, robotics, distributed ledger technologies, biometric technologies and industrial/chemical engineering, etc.; and (iii) materials science/nanotechnology;

(h) Naval architects;

(i) Marine engineers and superintendents of ships;

(j) Creative industries professionals in: (i) music: recording engineers, mastering engineers, and cutting/pressing engineers for Vinyl LP; (ii) digital entertainment: game development experts (game designers, game programmers and game graphic designers) and game producers; and (iii) films: various roles in pre-production, production and post-production and winner of designated renowned international film festivals; and

(k) Dispute resolution professionals specialising in resolving international financial and investor-state disputes, and transactional lawyers with specialised knowledge of and experience in cross-border transactions from investing or host states.

     Detailed information on the 11 professions in the Talent List and qualification/experience requirements of the talents can be found in the dedicated website for the Talent List (www.talentlist.gov.hk) launched today.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Human Resources Planning Commission, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "Hong Kong welcomes talents from all over the world with valuable skills, knowledge and experience to work here, bringing their talent into full play and further developing their careers. The promulgation of the Talent List is one of our major initiatives to enhance our competitive advantages in attracting international talents, creating cluster effects, stimulating the development of local talents and propelling Hong Kong forward."

     Application under the QMAS for eligible persons in the Talent List starts today. Information on application arrangements can be found in the websites of the Talent List and the QMAS (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/quality_migrant_admission_scheme.html). Meanwhile, the QMAS continues to welcome talents from other industries and sectors not covered by the Talent List.

     With the joint efforts of Government's overseas and Mainland Economic and Trade Offices, as well as the support of industry stakeholders, the Talent List will be publicised with the theme "Hong Kong • Talent Hub – Unlimited Opportunities" to attract targeted quality talents from around the world.

     The Talent List will be regularly updated to ensure that it can keep up with Hong Kong's latest economic development and the changing needs for different talents.