Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 28) that due to big … read more
Following is the English translation of the speech by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse in Conghua, Guangdong, today (August 28):
Mr Song (Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Song Zhe), Mr Chen (Director of the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress, Mr Chen Jianhua), Simon (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Simon Ip), Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to join this event today to celebrate the official opening of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse, and witness this historical moment with all of you.
The 16th Asian Games was successfully held in Guangzhou eight years ago, and it was also the first international equestrian event hosted by the Mainland. Given the close co-operation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, respective Mainland authorities and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the joint effort marked the exemplary achievement of implementing the first internationally recognised Specific Equine Disease-free Zone (Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone) on the Mainland, which enabled horses from overseas to participate in competitions held on the Mainland for the first time. Beyond the expectations of many, this collaboration has created a unique opportunity for the Hong Kong Jockey Club to develop the Asian Games equestrian venue into the current Conghua Racecourse, providing high-quality facilities for horse training.
The newly established Conghua Racecourse is an important support base for Hong Kong racehorses. The HKSAR Government and Mainland authorities signed four collaboration agreements in December 2017, which safeguard the system and co-operation on the operation of the Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone. In addition, with the close Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation, the disease prevention and control measures could be fully implemented, ensuring the long-term high-health status of horses moving into and out of the Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone. At the same time, the two authorities have also enhanced customs clearance, inspection and quarantine procedures, and successfully implemented the “single approval, multi-entry” equine quarantine and transportation arrangements.
World-class racing in Hong Kong has gained significant international recognition. The HKSAR Government has imposed stringent measures on the import and export of plants and animals, as well as equine quarantine requirements, enabling high-health, high-performance horses from all over the world to join competitions in Hong Kong every year. The establishment of Conghua Racecourse is a collaborative achievement involving the HKSAR and the Mainland, building on the strengths of the Mainland’s infrastructural facilities, the HKSAR Government’s experience in equine inspection and quarantine, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s expertise in equestrian sport. The Central Government is supporting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, leveraging the comparative advantages of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao as well as enhancing their co-operation and promoting economic growth. For the medical and healthcare field, I led a delegation to Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Shenzhen in early August to study the medical development in the Bay Area. This delegation comprised some 100 representatives from medical institutions and healthcare professional bodies from the HKSAR, reflecting the anticipation of the medical and healthcare sector with regard to the development of the Bay Area. The establishment of Conghua Racecourse is in line with the direction of the Bay Area development, the equestrian sport and related fields in the area, setting an excellent example of the Bay Area development.
The Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone is recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health as a successful application of the concept of an equine disease-free zone. The European Commission has also reaffirmed the high-health status of horses in the Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone. These endorsements demonstrate significant global recognition for the Conghua project.
I believe the establishment of Conghua Racecourse will strengthen the co-operation and exchange between the Mainland and Hong Kong with regard to veterinary science, equine inspection and quarantine procedures, surveillance and control of diseases as well as training of professionals. The HKSAR Government will continue to foster its co-operation with Mainland authorities concerned in ensuring the smooth operation of the Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone.
Lastly, I would like to offer my best wishes for the successful operation and continuous development of Conghua Racecourse, and for all guests to have a happy, healthy and rewarding stay. Thank you very much.
Police today (August 28) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sham Shui Po. Cheung Kang-por, aged 73, went missing after he left an elderly home on Tai Po Roa… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 78th meeting held in August 2018:
Non-compliance with reporting requirement on changes of directors by Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific Limited and Greenroll Limited
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The CA decided that Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific Limited (FNGAP), a non-domestic television programme service licensee, and Greenroll Limited, another licensable television programme service licensee, had contravened section 39(3) of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562) by failing to report to the CA changes of their directors within seven days of the changes. The delays in reporting by FNGAP and Greenroll were more than 330 and 270 days respectively. Taking into account the licensees’ representations and the duration and severity of the breaches, the CA decided that FNGAP and Greenroll should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision.
Non-compliance with reporting requirement on changes of addresses of registered offices by Ricobem Limited and Gala Hotels Limited
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The CA decided that Ricobem Limited and Gala Hotels Limited, both being other licensable television programme service licensees, had breached Condition 5 of their licences by failing to promptly notify the CA of changes of the addresses of their registered offices. The time lapse between the effective date of the changes of addresses and the notifications of Ricobem and Gala Hotels to the CA were four years and four years and two months respectively. Taking into account the licensees’ representations and the duration and severity of the breaches, the CA decided that Ricobem and Gala Hotels should be strongly advised to observe more closely the relevant provision.
Broadcast complaints
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The CA considered two complaint cases in respect of the broadcasters’ non-compliance with the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards (TV Programme Code) and the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards (TV Advertising Code):
(a) Complaints against the television programmes “News Roundup” and “Late News” broadcast on February 17, 2018, on the Jade Channel and the News Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) respectively. The CA decided that TVB should be warned to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the TV Programme Code; and
(b) A complaint against the television programme “Change The World” broadcast on January 30, 2018, on the TV 33 Channel of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). The CA decided that RTHK should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision in the TV Advertising Code.
Details of the above cases are at www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/en/content_713/appx_20180828_en.pdf. read more
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.
