Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong Underwater Photo and Video Competition 2019, jointly organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Hong Kong Underwater Association, concluded successfully today (December 1) with an award presentation.
 
     “The Hong Kong Underwater Photo and Video Competition has been held since 2012, making this the eighth edition. A total of 720 entries were received this year, which was a record high. The entries fully showcased the beauty of marine habitats and the amazing species in Hong Kong waters, and helped raise public awareness of the importance of marine conservation,” an AFCD spokesman said.
 
     The competition was composed of an Open Group and Student Group. Contestants to the Open Group could participate in the Digital Photo Competition and Digital Video Competition. There were two categories in the photo competition, namely the Macro & Close-up Category and the Standard & Wide Angle Category. For the Open Group, in addition to champions and runners-up, there were three special prizes for junior underwater photographers/videographers presented by the judging panel to encourage less-experienced underwater photographers/videographers to participate. Outstanding awards were also given in each category of the Digital Photo Competition. For the Student Group Digital Photo Competition, three special prizes for student underwater photographers were given to encourage their appreciation and protection of Hong Kong’s marine ecology and environment.
 
     All entries had to feature marine ecology, habitats or marine life in Hong Kong waters. Digital photos should have been taken in Hong Kong waters within the designated period from 17 September, 2018 to 30 September, 2019, while digital video should have been taken in Hong Kong waters from 17 September, 2017 to 30 September, 2019.
 
     The list of the winners and their winning entries can be viewed at the AFCD’s website:  www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_mar/con_mar_edu/photo_com_2019.html.
 
     A roving exhibition featuring the winning entries will be held. Details are as follows:
 
Date: December 1
Time: 10am to 6pm
Venue: Atrium, G/F, Domain Mall, Yau Tong
 
Date: December 13 to 15
Time: 10am to 6pm 
Venue: Hall 5G, Diving & Resort Travel Expo (DRT Show Hong Kong), Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
 
Date: December 19 to 23
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Venue A, L7, Fortune Metropolis, Hung Hom
 
     Members of the public are invited to visit the roving exhibition. For enquiries, please call 1823 or visit the above AFCD website.

                              

     The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced today (December 1) re-appointments to the Committee on Provision of Space in the Legal Hub for 13 months from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.

     Pursuant to the policy objective of enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international legal and dispute resolution centre in the Asia Pacific region, the Government has committed to provide certain space in the West Wing of the former Central Government Offices (CGO) and the former French Mission Building to law-related organisations. Together with the DoJ’s offices in the Main Wing, East Wing and part of the West Wing of the former CGO, the area is intended to form a Legal Hub at the heart of Hong Kong.

     The Committee, chaired by the Secretary for Justice, was set up in December 2014 to consider the arrangements in relation to the provision of space in the Legal Hub and to accordingly advise the Secretary for Justice on other implementation details.

     The Committee comprises non-official members from the legal, business and other relevant sectors, as well as representatives from relevant Government departments. Taking into account the progress of the Legal Hub project, members of the Committee are re-appointed for 13 months to continue to advise on the project’s development. The membership of the Committee is as follows (with effect from December 1, 2019):

Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, Secretary for Justice (Chairman)
Mr Chan Chak-ming
Mr Stephen Lai Yuk-fai
Dr Eddy Li Sau-hung
Mr Stephen Liang
Ms Kim M Rooney
Representatives of the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, the Architectural Services Department and the DoJ read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (December 1) that due to special circumstances which may possibly happen nearby, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong S… read more

     The Human Resources Planning Commission launched a new one-stop online manpower information portal (www.talent.gov.hk) today (December 1). The portal consolidates human resources information and data from different sources with a vi… read more

     Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 4 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $2.7 million at Hong Kong International Airport on November 28.

     Customs officers first inspected an air express parcel arriving in Hong Kong from France on that day and found about 1kg of suspected ketamine concealed inside two packets of dog food. Then they found about 3kg of suspected ketamine concealed inside nine boxes of chocolates in an air mail parcel from Germany.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested two men, aged 58 and 20, suspected to be in connection with the cases in Tai Wai and Sai Ying Pun on November 29 and yesterday (November 30) respectively.

     The arrested men have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts and Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 2) respectively.

     Including the two abovementioned cases, Hong Kong Customs had effected four drug trafficking cases from Europe to Hong Kong via parcel or cargo over the past week. A total of 29kg of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $19 million were seized. Five persons were arrested.

     Customs will maintain close contact with Hong Kong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcel and express courier channels.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).