Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 20) seized 572 suspected smuggled smartphones and 124 suspected smuggled mobile phone parts with an estimated market value of about $510,000 at Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Customs officers yesterday intercepted an outgoing private vehicle at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and found the batch of suspected smuggled smartphones and mobile phone parts on board the vehicle.

     The 57-year-old male driver was 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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     A science forum entitled "Meet the Shaw Laureates 2018 – The challenges and the joy of doing science" will be held at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum next Friday (September 28) from 2pm to 5pm.
 
     Is their work lonely and difficult or, on the contrary, full of fun and surprises? Shaw Laureates 2018 will attend the forum to share their experiences in scientific research. Speakers are as follows:
 
Shaw Laureate in Astronomy
Dr Jean-Loup Puget (Researcher, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Université Paris-Saclay, France)
 
Shaw Laureate in Life Science and Medicine
Professor Mary-Claire King (American Cancer Society Professor, Department of Medicine and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States)
 
Shaw Laureate in Mathematical Sciences
Professor Luis A Caffarelli (Professor of Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin, United States)
 
Moderators:
Professor Chu Ming-chung (Professor, Department of Physics, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Professor Chan Wai-yee (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Master of CW Chu College, Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Acting Director of School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Professor Wang Xiaoping (Head/Chair Professor, the Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
 
     The forum will be conducted in English. Admission is free on a first come, first served basis. Interested parties may register at hk.science.museum/ms/shaw2018/forum.html by 2pm next Thursday (September 27). For enquiries, please call 2732 3223.
 
     The event is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Shaw Prize Foundation, and organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Education Bureau and Hong Kong Education City.
 
     The Shaw Prize, which consists of three annual awards, namely the Prize in Astronomy, the Prize in Life Science and Medicine and the Prize in Mathematical Sciences, was established in November 2002. The Shaw Prize is an international award to honour individuals who are currently active in their respective fields and have recently achieved distinguished and significant advances, or have made outstanding contributions in academic and scientific research or applications, or have achieved excellence in other domains.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) urged members of the public to keep the environment clean and not to litter when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said today (September 21), "The Government's efforts alone will not suffice to keep the environment clean and tidy. Members of the public and shop operators have the responsibility to dispose of waste properly in public places.

     "During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the FEHD will enhance street cleaning services at locations where large crowds are expected, such as increasing the frequency of street sweeping and refuse collection. In addition, staff of the department will step up patrols to take enforcement action against persons found littering, including issuing Fixed Penalty Notices of $1,500."

     The spokesman appealed to members of the public to exercise civic-mindedness and self-discipline, and keep the environment clean while celebrating the festival.

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting library patrons to take part in a series of Reader Liaison Group tea gatherings to express their views on library services and make suggestions for the improvement of library facilities and services.

     The tea gatherings will be held from October 6 to 21 at the following public libraries with details as below:
 

  
     Online registration at www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/about-us/services/rlg-reg-form.html is available. Interested patrons may also reserve a seat by completing the reservation form available at all public libraries or downloaded from www.hkpl.gov.hk/enrlgform. Completed forms should be returned by fax to 2415 8211 or email to hotline-lib@lcsd.gov.hk.  In addition, patrons may also provide comments and suggestions through the online feedback form www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/about-us/services/rlg-feedback-form.html.
      
     Details and schedule of the tea gatherings have been posted in all public libraries and uploaded on www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/about-us/services/tea-gathering.html. For enquiries, please call 2921 0208 during office hours.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 21) that the Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre in Sai Kung District will be reopened on Monday (September 24). The water sports centre was temporarily closed earlier due to urgent clearance and repair works after the typhoon.

     Meanwhile, Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre and St Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, will remain closed until further notice as more time is needed for urgent clearance and repair works due to the typhoon's impact.