Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, in the Legislative Council today (December 18):
 
Question:
 
     In November this year, a member of the public was found unconscious after having shower at home, and was subsequently hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning, along with two family members living with him. It has been reported that the water heater used by the family concerned was purchased outside Hong Kong and was installed by the family itself. An investigation by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) discovered that the water heater is of a flueless type, which should not be used in bathrooms, has not been approved by the EMSD, and does not bear a “GU” mark (i.e. a mark for domestic gas appliances approved by the Gas Authority of the EMSD). Some members of the community have pointed out that quite a number of people have purchased imported electrical appliances from cross-border e-commerce platforms or have personally brought electrical appliances into Hong Kong through customs (commonly known as “parallel-imported electrical appliances”) without paying recycling levies (which apply to regulated electrical equipment) or obtaining energy efficiency labels and certificates of safety compliance issued by the EMSD, thus posing potential safety hazards to the public. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the details of the incidents caused by non-compliant parallel-‍imported electrical appliances in each of the past three years and this year to date (including the type of products involved and the number of casualties);
 
(2) whether it will consider requiring all imported electrical appliances purchased from cross-border e-commerce platforms and those which are personally brought into Hong Kong through customs be subject to prior declaration as well as conducting stop-and-search actions at various boundary control points, so as to ensure that such electrical appliances comply with Hong Kong’s requirements relating to product safety compliance, energy efficiency labelling and recycling levy, etc., before being imported into Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) of the quantities of parallel-imported electrical appliances which have been seized by the Government in the local market for non-‍compliance with the statutory requirements of Hong Kong in each of the past three years and this year to date (set out in a table by type of products and reason for non-compliance); and
 
(4) how it will eradicate the sale and supply of parallel-imported electrical appliances which do not comply with the statutory requirements of Hong Kong, and penalize those who engage in the relevant activities?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for the enforcement of the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51), Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598) and the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation (the Regulation) made under the Electrical Ordinance (Cap. 406) to ensure public safety in the use of household electrical products and gas appliances, as well as to promote the energy efficiency of household products. In addition, to minimise the environmental impacts of various products, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has fully implemented the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WPRS) since 2018 to mandate that suppliers shall pay to the Government the corresponding recycling levy.
 
     Regarding the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai, the reply is as follows:
 
(1) The numbers of incident cases involving household electrical products in the past three years and the first six months of this year are set out in the table below:

Year	Incident cases involving household electrical products
2021	46
2022	50
2023	51
2024 (January to June)	28

Remarks: There are various causes for the above-mentioned incidents involving household electrical products. Some of the incident cases were not related to the safety standards of the household electrical products. The EMSD does not maintain the breakdown of the number of cases involving parallel imported electrical products.

     The types of products involved in the cases are at the Annex. The EMSD does not maintain records of the number of casualties involved in the incident cases.
 
(2) and (4) The Regulation provides statutory control over all household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong, including parallel imported electrical products, to ensure the safety of the public in the use of these electrical products. In addition, all household electrical products currently supplied in Hong Kong, whether they are parallel imported products or not, must comply with relevant statutory regulations if they are prescribed products under the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance and the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603).
 
     According to the Regulation, suppliers of household electrical products are required to ensure that the products have been issued with certificates of safety compliance and comply with applicable safety requirements before supply in Hong Kong. Every year, the EMSD conducts sample checks for household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong and engages third party testing and certification bodies to conduct testings on the relevant safety standards for selected electrical products. If relevant products are suspected to be in violation of the Regulation, the EMSD will conduct follow-up investigations. The EMSD also conducts inspections at retail stores, local e-commerce platforms and their suppliers. Prosecutions will be carried out for non-compliant household electrical products identified during inspections. Any person who supplies household electrical product for which a valid certificate of safety compliance has not been issued in accordance with the Regulation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3.
 
     According to Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, energy labels are required to be shown on the prescribed products for supply in Hong Kong to inform consumers of their energy efficiency performance. Any person who contravenes such a requirement commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 6.
 
     The Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance stipulates that any person who manufactures regulated electrical equipment (REE) in Hong Kong in the course of business or imports REE into Hong Kong for distribution, is subject to control under the WPRS, regardless of whether the relevant sales platform is online or not. In addition, any person who acts as a purchasing agent, conducts reselling business or distributes parallel imported REE shall be regarded as suppliers and/or sellers.
 
     If anyone purchases prescribed products from a cross-border e-commerce platform or imports prescribed products in person for personal use, since the prescribed products are not supplied in Hong Kong, they fall outside the purview of the both the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance and the Regulation, and therefore does not violate the relevant legislations. Similarly, if members of the public purchase REE directly from other places or via online sales platforms outside Hong Kong, or bring so into Hong Kong through border control points for personal use, relevant acts do not involve distribution, sales or other commercial activities. Therefore, these acts fall outside the scope of WPRS and do not violate the relevant laws.
 
     In response to the upward trend of cross-border purchases of household electrical products by the public in recent years and to enhance public safety awareness of purchasing household electrical products, the EMSD has strengthened public education from various aspects since 2023, such as collaborating with the Home Affairs Department and non-governmental organisations to organise a number of seminars and talks, as well as publishing promotional messages and videos through social media platforms so as to remind the public to pay attention to labels, safety requirement and energy efficiency performance of household electrical product. before purchasing these products. Also, the Cross-border E-commerce Working Group was established under the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency between the EMSD and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. The work of the Working Group focuses on controlling the risks arisen from cross-border e-commerce platforms, including the reporting of non-compliant electrical and mechanical products supplied from cross-border e-commerce platforms via the established reporting mechanism, and the arrangements of publicity and education work targeting the trade of cross-border e-commerce platforms. The EMSD reported to the Mainland authority regularly for the electrical products supplied from Mainland cross-border e-commerce platforms to Hong Kong. Upon the notifications, the Mainland authorities will conduct follow-up actions according to situation of the cases, including taking measures such as proactively incepting orders. The EMSD also co-organises policy and regulation briefings with the relevant Mainland authorities every year, to explain to personnel of cross-border e-commerce platforms, manufacturers of mechanical and electrical products and testing institutions the relevant laws and regulations, as well as instructions for the supply of mechanical and electrical products in Hong Kong. The purpose is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the regulations related to the export of household mechanical and electrical products to Hong Kong of the cross-border e-commerce industry in the Mainland. In addition, the EMSD plans to set up promotion posters at border control points to remind public of the attention required when purchasing household electrical products across the border.
 
     The EPD and the EMSD have established a communication mechanism to exchange intelligence on suspected offences relating to the safety of electrical products, the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme and the WPRS. A joint enforcement operation was conducted in July 2024 and the cases of suspected violation are now being followed-up. Prosecution will be initiated in case of sufficient evidence. The EMSD will sign a Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management with the State Administration for Market Regulation in December 2024, which includes promoting cooperation and communication in the field of cross-border electrical product safety. With the support of relevant Mainland authorities, the EMSD has been actively collaborating with major e-commerce platforms in the Mainland to strengthen the interception of non-compliant electrical products supplied to Hong Kong. The EMSD will continue to liaise with various major e-commerce platforms to explore expanding the coverage of such control measures to other e-commerce platforms and products.
 
     Regarding the purchase of electrical products supplied through cross-border e-commerce platforms and those imported in person, the Government currently has no plans to amend the relevant regulations to cover these electrical products after referencing to overseas regulatory practices and taking into account the need to strike a balance between the practicality of law enforcement and the prevailing business environment. The EMSD and the EPD will continue to adopt a risk-based approach in enforcement actions and will raise public safety awareness of using electrical products through publicity and education, as well as encourage them to purchase energy-efficient products.

(3) The numbers of cases which contravene the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance and the Regulation in the past three years and the first six months of this year are set out in the table below:
 

Year	2021	2022	2023	2024 (January to June)
Cases which contravene the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Failing to attach or affix with energy label on prescribed products for supply)	4	4	3	1
Cases which contravene the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation	67	53	60	30

Remarks: The EMSD does not maintain the breakdown of the number of cases involving parallel imported electrical products.
 
     The cases which contravene the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance mainly included televisions, induction cookers and dehumidifiers, and all the cases involved failing to attach or affix with energy label on prescribed products for supply. The cases which contravene the Regulation mainly included adaptors, extension units and USB chargers. All the cases involved supplying electrical product for which no certificate of safety compliance has been issued as required by the Regulations or supplying electrical product which fails to comply with the applicable safety requirements.
 
     The numbers of prosecution cases involving parallel imported REE in violation of the WPRS in the past three years and the first ten months of this year are set out in the table below:
 

Year	Number of prosecution cases involving parallel imported REE in violation of the WPRS
2021	0
2022	1
2023	3
2024 (January to October)	0

 
     The above cases mainly involved laptop computers, tablets and mini desktop computers, and the reasons for non-compliance are associated with distribution of REE by supplier without being registered and distribution of REE by a seller without an endorsed removal service plan, etc. read more

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (December 18) that, as advised by the postal administration of France, due to the impact of a hurricane, mail delivery services to Mayotte with postcodes 976xx are suspended.  read more

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (December 18):
 
Question:

     There are views that the Mainland has a mature development of the work on overseas Chinese affairs, which has achieved remarkable results in guiding and supporting the vast number of overseas Chinese to actively participate in building up our country. Overseas Chinese also play an important role in promoting Hong Kong’s economic development, promoting the cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world, and enhancing international understanding of China and Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number and types of overseas Chinese organisations currently registered in Hong Kong; whether there is a dedicated department responsible for liaising with such organisations regularly and promoting the initiatives; of the results achieved by the relevant initiatives in the past three years;

(2) whether InvestHK and the various overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) have mechanisms of liaising regularly with the local overseas Chinese organisations; how support is provided for those organisations to tell China’s stories well and promote Hong Kong in their localities; whether key performance indicators are set in respect of the liaison work with those organisations and evaluation is conducted on the effectiveness of the relevant work;

(3) whether it will consider reviewing the overseas Chinese policy of Hong Kong comprehensively, including studying the current population, distribution and development needs of overseas Chinese and establishing a database on overseas Chinese, so as to make long-‍term development planning; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether it will consider studying the experience of the Mainland in the work on overseas Chinese affairs to strengthen support for overseas Chinese organisations; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) whether it will consider strengthening the coordination of resources of various departments, coordinating the various ETOs and strengthening the liaison with overseas Chinese, and formulating specific measures to support overseas Chinese organisations in promoting the economic development of Hong Kong and telling the stories of China and Hong Kong well; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,

     Regarding Dr the Hon Starry Lee’s question, after consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Security Bureau, and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, a consolidated reply is as follows:

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to liaison with overseas Chinese and the overseas Chinese community in foreign countries and those returned to the Mainland. At present, the 14 overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) and five Mainland Offices (MOs) of the HKSAR Government have been taking forward their external liaison and promotion work via different channels through their respective networks. The ETOs have established extensive network with different contacts, covering overseas Hong Kong people and overseas Chinese organisations, in addition to stakeholders from various sectors, to ensure that all sectors fully dovetail with the relevant policy measures of the HKSAR Government; actively promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world under “one country, two systems”, and actively promote the opportunities brought by national strategies such as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

     In addition, through the Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents of the ETOs and MOs, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) also leverages Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”, as well as collaborates with relevant organisations, chambers of commerce (including local Chinese chambers of commerce and overseas Chinese chambers of commerce in the Mainland) and professional bodies, etc, to organise different kinds of investment promotion activities, including meetings, conferences, roadshows, seminars and exhibitions, so as to proactively provide potential investors in overseas with the latest information on Hong Kong’s business environment and attract overseas enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. InvestHK will continue to maintain close communication with stakeholders, including local Chinese chambers of commerce and overseas Chinese chambers of commerce in the Mainland, to strengthen co-operation and exchanges. At the same time, the Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents will recruit talents from different places, including overseas Chinese and Hong Kong people who study or work in foreign countries or the Mainland, encouraging them to return to Hong Kong to unleash their potential. Also, the MOs have exchange and contact with the national and regional overseas Chinese organisations, and invite them to participate activities organised by the MOs to contribute to the development of the country and Hong Kong. 

     The Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC clearly supports Hong Kong in building herself into an international hub for high-calibre talents. Since the end of 2022, the HKSAR Government has rolled out an array of measures to “trawl for talents”, including the Top Talent Pass Scheme, and has enhanced various existing talent admission schemes and updated the Talent List, with a view to attracting global talents, including overseas Chinese, to complement the local workforce and strengthen the local talent pool. In addition to a series of measures to “trawl for talents”, the Government has been attracting global talents and nurturing local talents by means of promoting education and technology innovation. For Chinese nationals living overseas who have obtained foreign permanent residence or have lived overseas for not less than one year immediately before the application can apply to work in Hong Kong through different schemes according to different qualifications, such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme, General Employment Policy, Technology Talent Admission Scheme, Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates and Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. In terms of study, if Chinese passport holders have obtained foreign permanent residence, they can apply to study in any private higher education institutions and accredited colleges and universities registered in Hong Kong. Chinese passport holders who have obtained foreign permanent residence and live overseas can apply to come to Hong Kong as dependents. Holders of Chinese passports who have lived overseas for not less than one year immediately before the application can also apply to come to Hong Kong to join their sponsors as dependents. The second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents who have emigrated overseas can also apply to return to work in Hong Kong through the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents.

     We also attach great importance to the communication and co-operation with overseas Chinese organisations in Hong Kong. Their members include returned overseas Chinese, relatives of overseas Chinese and descendants of overseas Chinese. They have a network of kinship, clansman relationship and friendship with overseas Chinese in the Mainland and foreign countries. They have connection with overseas Chinese at home and abroad to form a world-wide network. Many overseas Chinese organisations in Hong Kong have all along supported “one country, two systems”. Many returned overseas Chinese have actively participated in the country’s reform and opening up, hugely invested, and made a lot of contribution to the modernisation of the country and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. They form an important force of love of both the Motherland and Hong Kong. In fact, the HKSAR committee members of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese are also electors of the Fifth Sector of the Election Committee, who can nominate and elect the Chief Executive and Legislative Council Members. It demonstrates that both our country and the HKSAR attach great importance to it. Regarding the number and types of overseas Chinese organisations registered in Hong Kong, the Police do not maintain statistics on the overseas Chinese organisations registered or exempted from registration under the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151). 

     The HYAB together with the Home Affairs Department (HAD) maintain close liaison with all sectors of the community and various organisations. At the district level, the district offices of HAD collaborate with local organisations to take forward all sorts of community building initiatives from time to time. In addition, the HAD provides funding support through the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme for clansmen associations in Hong Kong to organise activities that promote and preserve hometown culture, unite clansmen in Hong Kong and promote exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland, thereby facilitating patriotic education and promoting the spirit of loving the Country, Hong Kong and the hometown. 

     The HKSAR Government’s work on overseas Chinese affairs mentioned above has been effective. We will review the progress of relevant work from time to time, and make adjustments and improvements when necessary. The HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen ties and co-operation with various sectors, and unite the of love of both the Motherland and Hong Kong from different sectors, so as to make contribution to the development of Hong Kong and tell good stories of China and Hong Kong.  read more

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

     â€‹The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited relating to phishing instant messages, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the instant messages concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

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

     Result of the tender of the People’s Bank of China RMB Bills held on December 18, 2024:
 

Tender Result
*************************************************************************
Tender Date	:	December 18, 2024
Bills available for Tender	:	Six-Month RMB Bills
Issuer	:	The People’s Bank of China
Issue Number	:	BCHKFP24019
Issue Date	:	December 20, 2024
Maturity Date	:	June 20, 2025 (or the closest coupon payment date)
Application Amount	:	RMB 57,619 million
Issue Amount	:	RMB 20,000 million
Average accepted Coupon Rate	:	2.37 per cent
Highest accepted Coupon Rate (Bills’ Coupon)	:	2.55 per cent
Lowest accepted Coupon Rate	:	2.00 per cent
Allocation Ratio (At Highest accepted Coupon Rate)	:	Approximately 8.01 per cent

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