The Bank Staff Recognition Ceremony organised by the Hong Kong Police Force was held today (August 30). The award recognises the efforts of banks and frontline bank staff in assisting the Police to combat deception cases. … read more
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (August 30) announced that the deadline for submission of applications for the Second Kindergarten Premises Allocation Exercise (KGPAE) 2022 will be extended from September 2 to September 23, 2022, thereby providing more time for prospective applicant bodies to prepare their applications.
A spokesman for the EDB said that given the recent upward trend in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and that schools are busy making various preparations for the commencement of the new school year including the strengthening of anti-epidemic measures, the work in applying for the KGPAE 2022 will inevitably be affected. In view of this, the deadline for submission of the KGPAE applications is extended.
The duly completed application form, information on the operation plan, list of operating schools run by the applicant body (if any) and supporting documents should reach the Kindergarten Education Division of the EDB (Room 1432, 14/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai) by 5pm on September 23, 2022. Late applications will not be accepted. Detailed information can be found on the EDB homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/preprimary-kindergarten/allocation-of-kg/latest-news.html). read more
Hong Kong Customs has mounted a special enforcement operation in the past three weeks to combat illicit cigarette telephone-ordering activities in public rental housing (PRH) estates in Kowloon East District. A total of about 150 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and about seven grams of suspected cannabis buds were seized. The estimated market value of the suspected illicit cigarettes was about $420,000 with a duty potential of about $290,000.
During the operation, Customs officers detected 25 relevant cases in different districts and sub-districts of Kowloon East District, including Wong Tai Sin, Tsz Wan Shan, Kai Tak, Sau Mau Ping, Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong, Lam Tin and Yau Tong, resulting in the above-mentioned seizures of suspected illicit cigarettes. In those cases, Customs officers raided a suspected illicit cigarette storage centre in a PRH unit in Lam Tin and detained two vehicles suspected to be used for illicit cigarette distribution.
In the above-mentioned cases, 28 persons, including 24 men and four women who were aged between 14 and 71, were arrested. They include both illicit cigarette sellers and buyers. All the cases have been duly followed up.
Customs has all along been enhancing enforcement against illicit cigarette activities on all fronts, including cross-boundary smuggling, storage and distribution as well as peddling, through intelligence analysis. If PRH units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette activities, Customs will notify the Housing Department for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings.
Customs reminds young people, especially students, to never become involved in illicit cigarette activities or distribute illicit cigarette flyers, to avoid creating a criminal record and affect their future.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
The Housing Bureau today (August 30) said that a family member in the household of the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, has tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. She is undergoing home quarantine in accordance with th… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at 0.00am today (August 30), a total of 2 585 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 343 new patients. Among t… read more