The Government gazetted today (December 6) the proposed road improvement works necessary for the phases 2 and 3 columbarium development at Wo Hop Shek Cemetery.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

North Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, North District Government Offices,
3 Pik Fung Road, Fanling, New Territories

District Lands Office, North,
6/F, North District Government Offices,
3 Pik Fung Road, Fanling, New Territories

     The gazette notice, scheme, plans and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.

     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau's Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than February 4, 2025.

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a two-week joint operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from November 18 to 30, during which inspection of goods across the three places and destined for North America, Europe, Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative was stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary and transshipment counterfeiting activities. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 26 cases and seized about 36 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phone accessories, watches, jerseys and handbags, with a total estimated market value of about $11 million.

     Through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigations, Hong Kong Customs in the operation detected 22 related cases at a number of local express couriers. Meanwhile, Customs officers on November 27 inspected one 40-foot container, arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland and containing suspected counterfeit goods, at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound, leading to the detection of one more case.

     In the other three cases, Customs officers intercepted three incoming lorries on November 22 and 23 at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, seizing a batch of suspected counterfeit goods from the vehicles. Three male lorry drivers, aged between 27 and 58, were arrested. The three arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to vigorously combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipping activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions. 

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (December 6) announced that the department tested 94 water samples collected from cooling towers in 59 buildings in its routine inspections in November 2024. Four samples were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The cooling towers in which the samples were collected are located at 19 Playing Field Road, Yau Tsim Mong; 48-56 Choi Hung Road, Wong Tai Sin; 329 Shun Ning Road, Sham Shui Po; and Fuk Wing Building, 117 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po. The EMSD has issued nuisance notices under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owners of the cooling towers requiring appropriate disinfection work to be done. Disinfection of the cooling towers in these cases has already been completed by the owners. Details of the case can be found in Annex 2.

     The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website
     (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).

     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

     The Government published in the Gazette today (December 6) the Stablecoins Bill, which seeks to put in place a regulatory regime for issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins (FRS) in Hong Kong. 
 
     The Bill aims to enhance the regulatory framework for virtual asset (VA) activities, by addressing the potential financial stability risks posed by FRS, ensuring adequate user protection, and harnessing the potential benefits of VAs and their underlying technologies. Under the proposed licensing regime, any person carrying on any of the following activities has to be licensed by the Monetary Authority (MA):
 
(i)     issuing FRS in Hong Kong in the course of business;
(ii)    issuing FRS that purport to maintain a stable value with reference to Hong Kong dollars in the course of business; or
(iii)   actively marketing the person's issue of FRS to the public of Hong Kong.
 
     The Bill also seeks to provide the MA with necessary supervision, investigation and enforcement powers for effective implementation of the regime.
   
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "The legislative proposal is essential for Hong Kong in fulfilling our obligations as a member of the Financial Stability Board. Adhering to the 'same activity, same risks, same regulation' principle, this risk-based proposal aims to promote a robust regulatory environment, which is in line with Hong Kong's approach to VA development."
 
     The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "We have undertaken extensive consultations and given due consideration to the views of the industry when formulating the details of the regulatory regime. We believe that a well-regulated environment is conducive to the sustainable and responsible development of the stablecoin ecosystem in Hong Kong."
 
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading on December 18. 

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is collaborating with Hong Kong Ocean Park to launch new privilege offers. From now until August 31, 2026, Ocean Park Annual Membership holders will enjoy a 10 per cent discount for purchase of a Museum Pass during the promotional period, while Museum Pass holders will enjoy a 10 per cent discount from the published price for the purchase of an Ocean Park Annual Membership.
      
     In addition, latest offers include from December 12, 2024, Museum Pass holders will be offered a 10 per cent discount upon purchase of standard tickets for Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance) productions (excluding copresented productions) via URBTIX outlets and HKDance merchandise at performance venues during production.
      
     At present, Museum Pass holders are enjoying a wide range of privileges, including unlimited admission to the fee-charging permanent and special exhibitions (except for specified thematic exhibitions) of LCSD museums during the validity period of the pass; admission discounts at Hong Kong Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Maritime Museum; shopping discounts at The Alchemist Cafe in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the CHAT Shop in The Mills, and the purchase of souvenirs and publications produced by the LCSD at the gift shops or book shops in LCSD museums (excluding the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence). Pass holders can also participate in activities organised by museums at discounted prices.

     Members of the public can purchase a physical Museum Pass at seven designated museums under the LCSD (Note 1), or an electronic Museum Pass via the URBTIX website (www.urbtix.hk) or its mobile app. Both the physical and electronic Museum Pass are valid for admission to LCSD museums. The annual fee for a family pass, individual pass and concessionary pass (full-time students, people with disabilities and senior citizens aged 60 or above) are $100, $50 and $25 respectively. There is a 10 per cent discount on the Museum Pass for Hong Kong Disneyland "Magic Access" holders and Hong Kong Ocean Park Annual Membership holders during the promotional period (Note 3). For details of the Museum Pass and its privilege offers, please visit the website www.museums.gov.hk/en/web/portal/museum-pass.html.
      
     More privilege offers are coming, stay tuned.
      
     Note 1: The seven designated museums are the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum (Note 2) and the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Museum.
     Note 2: The Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum is now closed temporarily for upgrading of the permanent exhibition galleries, and for maintenance and renovation works.
     Note 3: The price of each discount Museum Pass will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.