Author Archives: hksar gov

     With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO), the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival 2024 was held June 22 and 23 (Copenhagen time) in Copenhagen, Denmark; and the 2024 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival was held June 8 and 9 (London time) in Manchester, United Kingdom (UK).

     At the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival 2024, around 30 teams from the Danish community competed in over two days of racing. Beyond the thrilling on-water competition, sports enthusiasts and families enjoyed music performances and immersed themselves in a variety of cultural experiences along the shores of Copenhagen. The event was graced by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Ms Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, and other esteemed guests.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival 2024, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, encouraged the audience to visit Hong Kong and experience the dynamic atmosphere of the city. “The Dragon Boat Festival is widely celebrated in Hong Kong, showcasing our city’s energy and vibrancy, as well as our deep Chinese cultural heritage. In particular, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races at Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour vividly demonstrates the city as a dynamic hub with a unique fusion of tradition and modernity where we celebrate Eastern and Western festivals with equal enthusiasm,” he added.

     The festival was also celebrated in Manchester, UK, where over 80 teams participated in races of various categories during the two-day 2024 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. Martial arts, lion dance and dragon dance performances were staged alongside the exhilarating dragon boat races. 

                

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 24) announced that a kind of imported bottled coconut drink was found to contain milk, an allergen, but it was not declared on the product’s food label. The CFS advised consumers who are allergic to milk not to consume the batch of product concerned. Those who feel unwell after consuming it should seek medical treatment. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of product concerned immediately.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Fresh Coconut Juice
Brand: �尺本館 (English brand name not available)
Place of origin: China
Volume: 450 ml
Best-before date: May 9, 2025
Sole agent: KitKat (Hong Kong) Company Limited

     “The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a retail outlet in Tsuen Wan for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained milk, an allergen, but it was not declared on the product’s food label,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. According to the CFS’s instructions, the sole agent has initiated a recall on the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2478 0819 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned.

     “People who are allergic to milk may have an immunologic response like vomiting, diarrhoea and rash upon consumption of food containing this allergen. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may even develop. As for other members of the public, generally speaking, they would not be subject to such reactions when the food in question is consumed,” the spokesman added.

     The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in its list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. read more

     Hong Kong today (June 24, Yerevan time) signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Armenia in Yerevan, signifying the sustained efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in expanding Hong Kong’s CDTA network, in particular with tax jurisdictions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.  

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “This CDTA is the 50th agreement that Hong Kong has concluded. It marks a major milestone in the Government’s drive to expand Hong Kong’s tax treaty network. We will continue to sign CDTAs with more trading and investment partners to promote closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and the rest of the world. This will enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a business and investment hub, and consolidate the city’s status as an international economic and trade centre.

     “This CDTA sets out the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and Armenia and will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities. I have every confidence that the CDTA will encourage the business sectors of both sides to do business or make investments.”

     In accordance with the Hong Kong-Armenia CDTA, Hong Kong companies can enjoy double taxation relief in that any tax paid in Armenia, whether directly or by deduction, will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income, subject to the provisions of the tax laws of Hong Kong.  

     Moreover, Armenia’s withholding tax rate for Hong Kong residents on dividends will be capped at 0 per cent or 5 per cent (depending on the percentage of their shareholdings), while that on interest and royalties will be capped at 5 per cent. 

     The Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mr Tam Tai-pang, signed the CDTA on behalf of the HKSAR Government with the Government of Armenia on the margins of the Sixth High-level meeting of the Asia Initiative hosted by Armenia. Representing the Government of Armenia was the Minister of Finance of Armenia, Mr Vahe Hovhannisyan.  

     The CDTA will come into force after the completion of ratification procedures by both jurisdictions. In Hong Kong’s case, it will be implemented by way of an order to be made by the Chief Executive in Council under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112). The order is subject to negative vetting by the Legislative Council.

     The Asia Initiative was launched by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2021. It focuses on developing tailored solutions to ensure the implementation of tax transparency standards across Asia and enhancing regional co-operation. To date, Hong Kong and 16 other tax jurisdictions have joined the Asia Initiative.    

     Details of the Hong Kong-Armenia CDTA can be found on the Inland Revenue Department’s website (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Agreement_Armenia_HongKong.pdf).

    

     Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department (FSD) co-organised a counter-terrorism intelligence and hazardous material incident exercise codenamed "WOLFHUNT" this afternoon (June 24) at the Shenzhen Bay Co… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     â€‹The Legislative Council Panel on Security observed the Inter-departmental Counter-terrorism Exercise, codenamed Arbalest, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) today (June 24) to learn more about the work of the Security Bureau (SB) and its disciplined services in counter-terrorism.
 
     The exercise simulated local terrorists launching an attack by activating a hazmat device during an international conference at Bauhinia Room in the HKCEC. A large number of participants were injured and contaminated by hazardous substances. The relevant Government departments took action and successfully unravelled the plot and handled the hazardous substances. Following a briefing by representatives of the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), Members observed the exercise accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung.
 
     During the exercise, HKPF’s fully-armed Counter Terrorism Response Unit and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau sped to the scene to subdue the terrorists and handle the hazardous material agent respectively. The FSD then utilised a robotic dog and drones for search and aerial monitoring at the scene. It also mounted a rescue operation with the Civil Aid Service, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Hospital Authority, carrying out mass decontamination for the injured and triaged them for treatment. The Government showcased the Fire Services Mobile Command Unit and Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre, as well as the HKPF’s new mobile command station and operational tools during the exercise.
 
     Members took the opportunity to exchange views with representatives of the Government regarding counter-terrorism and emergency response efforts of the SB and its disciplined services. They believed the exercise demonstrated the professionalism and excellent capabilities of various disciplined services in effectively and rapidly responding to unforeseen incidents in Hong Kong. The large-scale inter-departmental exercise, which is held twice a year on average, helps enhance the co-ordination and communication among different units.
 
     Members noted that innovative technologies were widely adopted by the disciplined services during the exercise to enhance operational efficiency. These included the Patient Tagging System for Multiple Casualties Incidents equipped with a chip and a QR code on the triage cards, the Indoor Locating Equipment that monitored the movements of firefighters, and the Hazmat Robotic Dog that provided real-time imaging and data analysis of the environment. The latter two were introduced from the Mainland last year. Members suggested that the Government should allocate more resources to continue leveraging technology to enhance crisis management capabilities and ensure the safety of frontline personnel, so as to provide better protection to the lives of the people.
 
     A total of 15 members and non-members of the Panel on Security participated in the visit.