Author Archives: hksar gov

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 is 107.5 (same as yesterday’s index). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to phishing instant messages, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the instant messages concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

     Hong Kong Customs on December 9 detected a suspected case of using an ocean-going vessel to smuggle goods to Malaysia at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. A large batch of suspected smuggled printed circuit boards with an estimated market value of about $70 million was seized.

     Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities.

     On December 9, Customs officers identified an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for Malaysia for inspection and seized a large batch of printed circuit boards inside two containers which were declared as containing mixed metal aboard the vessel.

     An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs is the primary agency responsible for tackling smuggling activities and has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on related crimes.

     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 upon conviction.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     Following is the translation of the opening speech by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, at the WE@FUTURE JAMBOREE of the Scout Association of Hong Kong today (December 24) in Zhuhai:
 
Dear Deputy Head Guo Hanyi (Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China), Deputy Director Zhang Zhihua (Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province), Head Guo Caiwu (member of the Standing Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department of the Zhuhai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China), Chief Commissioner Wilson Lai (Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Hong Kong), Chairman David Yip (Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Scout Association of Hong Kong), Camp Director Terence Lo (Camp Director of JAMBOREE), scouts and young friends from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas countries, distinguished guests,

     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be invited to attend the opening ceremony of the WE@FUTURE JAMBOREE of the Scout Association of Hong Kong.

     As we all know, the Scout Association of Hong Kong is an outstanding voluntary organisation in Hong Kong with a very long history. Over the years, it has been dedicated to youth education, helping young people develop self-efficacy as well as a sense of national identity and civic responsibility. The Scout Promise includes the duty to my country as an obligation, which manifests the Scout Association’s commitment to fostering the spirit of loving the country and loving Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Scout Jamboree is a highlight of Hong Kong Scouts, and this year’s event, with the theme of “WE@FUTURE JAMBOREE”, is held on Zhuhai’s beautiful Qi’ao Island. Through diverse, interesting and creative activities, the event aims to promote friendships amongst scouts from different places, strengthen exchanges with young people on the Mainland, and deepen understanding of the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     Today’s event is massive in scale. Over 4 300 young scouts and leaders from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas countries get together to experience the joy of outdoor camping and aquatic activities, establish friendships and conduct cultural exchanges. Besides, the organiser has especially arranged visits to a large-scale enterprise and the Space Center in Zhuhai, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and a traditional old village, etc, enabling participants to learn more about our country’s rapid development and remarkable achievements in recent years, the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the fine traditional Chinese culture.
 
     My heartfelt gratitude particularly goes to the Scout Association of Hong Kong for organising such a profoundly meaningful event. This event not only facilitates friendships and exchanges amongst young people from different places, but also enriches their experiences, contributes to their all-round development and heightens the sense of national identity and national pride of Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland youths. At the same time, this event enables our young friends from around the world to better understand our country, including Hong Kong’s and Macao’s actual situation, and to accurately understand the “stories of China”, “stories of Hong Kong” and “stories of Macao”.
 
      President Xi Jinping said, “History and reality tell us that a nation will be full of hope and have a bright future when its younger generation have ideals and a sense of responsibility, and there will be endless, powerful forces for achieving our development goals,” and “A nation will prosper only when its young people thrive.”
 
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government always attaches great importance to the healthy, comprehensive and balanced development of youths. At the end of 2022, the HKSAR Government released the Youth Development Blueprint, which comprehensively outlines the principles and blueprint for its youth development work in the future, with the aim of nurturing a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, global perspectives and positive thinking. The Blueprint puts forward more than 160 concrete actions and measures on supporting youth development. Our goal is to provide young people with an excellent environment so that they will be full of hope for the future, strive for continuous growth, and contribute to the development of the country and Hong Kong with their expertise and skills.
 
     At the same time, we put great emphasis on promoting patriotic education. Under the Chief Executive’s guidance, the Working Group on Patriotic Education was established in April this year. In just eight months, we have done a lot of work that has produced positive outcomes. For example, the HKSAR Government and various sectors of the community organised over 400 celebratory events for the National Day, fostering patriotic sentiment amongst citizens in a festive atmosphere. The HKSAR aims to build and foster mainstream values in Hong Kong characterised by patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong, and in conformity with the “one country, two systems” principle, and to enable the spirit of patriotism to take root in Hong Kong and in people’s hearts.
 
     Dear friends, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a significant milestone in national development. Over the past three-quarters of the century, under the resolute and strong leadership of the Central Authorities and with the unabated efforts of the entire nation, our country has undergone tremendous changes and created two great miracles, viz. rapid economic development and long-term social stability. The Chinese nation has also achieved a great transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. Today, our country has captivated the world with impressive achievements in different spheres. China has become not only the world’s second-largest economy, but also a key engine driving global economic growth.
 
     On the other hand, despite the fact that our country has made achievements that attract worldwide attention, we have not forgotten the spiritual essence of the fine traditional Chinese culture, namely that “everyone belongs to one and the same family in a harmonious world”, which is a pursuit and vision for a wonderful world. Today the world is going through profound change on a scale unseen in a century. With complex geopolitical tensions and the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, the world is full of the mentality of a “zero-sum” game. To foster the peaceful development of the world, we particularly need to promote the spirit of great harmony of inclusiveness, and achieve a win-win situation with mutual benefits. It is because of this reason that President Xi has all along been advocating that every one of us should build together a global community of a shared future, so that the future of every nation and every country will be closely linked with each other, through thick and thin, as well as sharing both honour and disgrace. Together, we should endeavour to build our planet, where we were all born and grew up, into a harmonious giant family, and turn the aspiration of people of different countries in the world for wonderful lives into a reality.

     Today we all gather here, with youths from China and friends from abroad, to learn and exchange from each other, seeking common ground while holding back differences with an open and inclusive attitude. Through frank exchanges, we will learn from each other’s strengths, understand each other better, make progress together and create a better world with our common efforts.

     Youths are our future successor. I have full confidence in all of you and hope that you will learn and experience the most through various activities in these few days. This is indeed a precious opportunity. I hope you will make more friends and give different activities a try. It is important that you will learn from and exchange with each other with the attitude of staying harmonious even when there exists different opinions and being inclusive. I believe all of you will achieve fruitful results. I sincerely wish WE@FUTURE JAMBOREE every success. As 2024 is drawing to a close, may I wish everyone here good health, every success in your future endeavours and family happiness in the new year, and our young students every success in their studies and future endeavours.
 
     Thank you. read more

     The Secretary for Security exercised the powers conferred by sections 89(1) and 89(4) of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (6 of 2024) today (December 24) to specify seven persons who have absconded to the United States and Australia respectively and are subject to warrants of arrest issued by the court for being suspected of having committed offences endangering national security, and to specify the measures to be applied against the relevant absconders by notices published in the Gazette. Details are set out in G.N. (E.) 58 of 2024 and G.N. (E.) 59 of 2024.

     These seven absconders have been engaging in acts and activities endangering national security overseas. Thus, the Police applied to the court for the warrants of arrest in accordance with the law and put female Kwok Fung-yee, male Yuan Gong-yi, male Kwok Wing-hang, male Hui Chi-fung and male Yam Kevin on the wanted list on July 3, 2023, and put female Hui Wing-ting and female Siu Joey on the wanted list on December 14, 2023. After the warrants of arrest were issued and before the specification was made, these seven absconders who fled to the United States and Australia respectively have not returned to Hong Kong to surrender themselves.

     The four measures applicable to all seven relevant absconders include: “Prohibition against making available funds etc or dealing with funds etc”, “Prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property”, “Prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders” and “Cancellation of HKSAR passports etc”. Moreover, two measures, namely “Suspension of qualification to practise” and “Temporary removal from office of director” are applicable to individual relevant absconders.

     A Government spokesperson stressed that “These seven lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United States and Australia and continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, inciting secession, inciting subversion, and requesting foreign countries to impose ‘sanctions’ or blockade and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). More so, they continue to collude with external forces to be covered for their evil deeds. It is therefore necessary to take such measures to strongly combat the acts of abscondment. Time had been given for these seven persons to return to Hong Kong for law enforcement and legal proceedings before the measures were taken. However, these seven persons did not cherish the opportunity and did not return to Hong Kong to surrender themselves.

     “Except under the authority of a licence granted by the Secretary for Security, any person, whether directly or indirectly, making available any funds or other financial assets or economic resources to a relevant absconder, including provision of funds to online platforms or dedicated pages established by the relevant absconders, or dealing with any funds or other financial assets or economic resources belonging to, or owned or controlled by, a relevant absconder; leasing, or otherwise making available, immovable property to a relevant absconder, or leasing immovable property from a relevant absconder; or establishing a joint venture, partnership or any like relationship with a relevant absconder (including setting up a company), or investing in or providing funds to such joint venture, partnership or any like relationship, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years. The Police will take strict enforcement actions in respect of the relevant offences. Members of the public should not break the law and should avoid any pecuniary or financial connection with the relevant absconders,” the spokesman said.

     The HKSAR Government today also announced that legal proceedings would be initiated against Hui Chi-fung, one of the absconders specified today, to confiscate his proceeds of crime.

     According to Section 9(3)(b)(ii) of Schedule 3 to the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Implementation Rules), the Police today published in newspapers a notice of legal proceedings in respect of the arrest warrant against Hui Chi-fung. The Department of Justice (DoJ) will later apply to the Court of First Instance for a confiscation order under Section 9(1) of Schedule 3 to the Implementation Rules to confiscate the criminal proceeds from the offences endangering national security which Hui Chi-fung has committed.

     The Government spokesman said, “Hui Chi-fung, has committed numerous heinous crimes, with a number of criminal charges being laid against him. In 2020, Hui Chi-fung was charged with ‘contempt of the Legislative Council’, ‘criminal damage’, ‘attempting to pervert the course of justice’, ‘access to computer with dishonest intent’, and ‘administering to any other person a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy such person’, etc. In 2020, he conspired with foreign politicians to forge documents and deceived the court with false information to obtain the court’s permission to leave Hong Kong while he was on bail. He pretended to go on an official visit to Denmark, but in fact he jumped bail and absconded overseas to evade criminal responsibility. In 2022, he was sentenced to imprisonment of three years and six months for his conviction of contempt of court.”

     The Government spokesman also said that, “The DoJ applied to the Court of First Instance in 2022 and was granted a restraint order, prohibiting Hui Chi-fung, his wife and mother from removing property from the HKSAR or dealing with their property in any way within the HKSAR. Upon investigation, sufficient evidence was found proving that Hui Chi-fung had committed and profited from offences endangering national security, and had transferred some of his assets to his wife and mother. Therefore, it is necessary to take further measures to confiscate the proceeds of Hui Chi-fung’s criminal acts and prevent Hui Chi-fung’s use of the proceeds in further acts and activities endangering national security.”

     The spokesman stressed that, “While Hui Chi-fung has jumped bail and fled overseas, he continued to brazenly engage in acts endangering national security. On August 12, 2021, and June 21, 2023, two Magistrates issued arrest warrants against Hui Chi-fung for being suspected of committing offences of ‘incitement to secession’, ‘incitement to subversion’ and ‘collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security’. He is now a wanted person with a reward notice by the Police.

     “As with confiscation orders targeting proceeds obtained from other criminal acts, this application is only directed at individuals who have committed and profited from offences endangering national security. It has no impact on law-abiding Hong Kong residents and those conducting legitimate business in Hong Kong.”

     The spokesman stressed that, “Endangering national security is a very serious offence. These kind of acts or activities may lead to extremely serious consequences. The HKSAR Government has the responsibility to pursue the legal liabilities of the persons who have committed an offence under the Hong Kong National Security Law or other offences endangering national security outside the Region in accordance with the law.” read more