Author Archives: hksar gov

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.      To prevent heat stroke, avoid pro… read more

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (July 26). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Buddhist Society for the Blind Limited; in Kowloon, Power of Love; and in the New Territories, Tin Shui Wai Women Association Limited, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.

     Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people to distinguish among the three flag-selling activities.    

     Information on the three flag-selling organisations on July 26 is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation	Colour of collection bag	Colour of flag
Hong Kong Island	Hong Kong Buddhist Society for the Blind Limited	Red	Light blue
Kowloon	Power of Love	Green	Red
New Territories	Tin Shui Wai Women Association Limited	Magenta	White

     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.

     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

     In response to media enquiries on the impact arising from the court granting leave to Hong Kong Golf Club’s application for judicial review and related matters, a spokesperson for the Development Bureau gave the following response today (July 25):
 
     We note that the court has granted leave to the relevant application for judicial review and an “interim interim” stay of the relevant approval for the environmental impact assessment. The decision of the court will not affect the Government taking back the 32 hectares of land on September 1 as scheduled. Having sought legal advice, we also note that the court’s decision will not affect the Town Planning Board’s procedures of gazetting the proposed amendment of zoning to “Undetermined” in early August and inviting further representations. read more

     The Anti-Illegal Migration Agency of the Immigration Department (ImmD) smashed a syndicate using false instruments to apply for foreign domestic helper (FDH) working visas today (July 25). ImmD officers raided a flat on Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei. During the surprise raid, two male active core members of the syndicate were arrested. They were, respectively, a Hong Kong resident aged 67 and a Filipino recognizance form holder aged 40. Upon a search, computer equipment and a considerable number of false instruments were seized, including FDH working visa application forms, false salary and residential proof. The computer equipment was believed to be used for making false instruments.
 
     During a previous investigation into a case relating to overstaying ex-FDHs who were taking up unapproved employment in Hong Kong, the ImmD detected several suspicious cases of ex-FDHs using forged FDH contracts to stay in Hong Kong and work illegally. After months of in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, a syndicate was identified as having arranged foreign nationals to work in Hong Kong illegally through the use of false FDH contracts.

     In May 2023, the ImmD triggered the enforcement action. Over 50 persons, including employers listed on forged FDH contracts, Filipinos, Indonesians and Indians who had applied for the FDH visas using false contracts, aged 27 to 67, were apprehended. The syndicate arranged false employers and made false instruments, including false salary and residential proof, to dishonestly obtain FDH working visas from the ImmD. More suspects could be arrested as the investigation is continuing.

     “It is an offence to make, possess or use false instruments or copies of false instruments. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. In addition, it is an offence to make false representation to an immigration officer. Offenders are liable to prosecution and to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Furthermore, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years,” an ImmD spokesman said.

     The spokesman also stressed that FDHs should only take up employment as a domestic helper as approved by the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution.

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     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (July 25) extended his deepest gratitude on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to President Xi Jinping for his reply letter to Secondary 4 students of Pui Kiu Middle School in Hong Kong.The letter conveys President Xi’s earnest expectations for young people to fulfil their mission and responsibilities as the young generation of Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Lee said that the reply letter from President Xi to students of Pui Kiu Middle School in Hong Kong on their sharing of experience of participating in such activities as the burial ceremony of the remains of the Chinese People’s Volunteers martyrs that returned to China from Korea, and real-time dialogue with astronauts carrying out their mission at Tiangong Space Station, shows his care and encouragement to the students. It also motivates schools in Hong Kong to actively organise diversified extra-curricular activities to help young people gain a better understanding of the history of the country and national affairs, and strengthen their affection for and sense of belonging to the country, as well as their sense of national identity. Schools are encouraged to help students transform their affection for the country and Hong Kong into action and pass on this mission from one generation to the next.
 
     Mr Lee pointed out that since the current-term HKSAR Government took office, it has adopted the contents and spirit of the important speech delivered by President Xi in Hong Kong on July 1 last year as the policy framework. On youth development, the first edition of the Youth Development Blueprint was launched at the end of last year to holistically guide young people to gain a deeper understanding of the developments of the country as well as the rest of the world, and strengthen their national pride and sense of responsibility and ownership.
 
     Mr Lee stressed that the HKSAR Government will continue to promote and strengthen patriotic education and national education, and provide a learning environment that supports the growth and development of young people in Hong Kong, so as to nurture a new generation with an affection for the country and Hong Kong and also equipped with a global perspective, an aspiring mind-set and positive thinking. It is hoped that they will unleash their full potential in society in the future, ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle in Hong Kong, and make proactive contributions to building a better Hong Kong and achieving national rejuvenation.  read more