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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (July 11) that the Senior Executive Director, Mr Raymond Li, who is currently on secondment to the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will be retiring with effect from December 26, 2024. The Executive Director (Financial Infrastructure), Mr Colin Pou, will be seconded to the HKMC to take over Mr Li's position on the same day.
      
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "Raymond has worked in the HKMA for over 30 years and served in many different roles. In his current role as the CEO of the HKMC, which he took up in 2013, Raymond has been dedicated to continued enhancement of the full range of services of the HKMC, particularly regarding retirement protection for the general public. Under his leadership, the HKMC has also provided strong support to the HKSAR Government in administering various loan guarantee schemes and helped many small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals tide over the difficult time during the pandemic. I would like to thank Raymond for his long and eminent service to the HKMA, and wish him a happy retirement in the many years to come."
      
     The HKMA will arrange open recruitment for the post of Executive Director (Financial Infrastructure), and a separate announcement will be made after the completion of the selection process.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, after the passage of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Bill by the Legislative Council this afternoon (July 11):

Reporter: Are there any future amendments such as longer prison term and how would the Government review the implementation of the new law in the future? 

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: With the passage of the Mandatory Reporting Legislation today, we will soon publish it in the Gazette. The legislation will come into effect in 18 months upon its gazettal. We are going to make use of the coming 18 months to make sure that everything is ready, so that by the time the legislation comes into effect, all the professions who are required under the law to make mandatory reporting will get the necessary training, and also they are well equipped to make the reporting as necessary. Of course, with the passage of the law, we are also at the same time putting in place additional facilities and homes to cater for the increase in cases of reporting, and also we are going to step up our efforts in terms of promotions and publicity, and make sure we all work together for the welfare and betterment of our children. 

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

  

     â€‹The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to attend the 24th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in Guangzhou tomorrow afternoon (July 12). He will co-chair the plenary with the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Weizhong, to discuss enhancing co-operation in such areas as innovation and technology, finance, healthcare, cross-boundary transport and trade.
           
     Members of the HKSAR Government delegation will include the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; and the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong.

     Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.

     The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (July 11).

     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
————————–

Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     Hong Kong Customs on July 3 detected a suspected gold-smuggling case involving air cargo and seized about 22 kilograms of suspected gold with an estimated market value of about $13 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     Based on risk assessment, Customs on that day examined an outbound air cargo consignment, declared as carrying screen separators departing for Japan, at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound at the airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers found a batch of suspected smuggled gold, which was moulded and camouflaged as transformer parts, concealed in the transformers of screen separators. 

     An investigation is still ongoing. 

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     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.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).