Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 22) seized 20 slabs of suspected smuggled gold weighing about 20 kilograms in total, with an estimated market value of about $10 million, at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. 

     Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday evening intercepted an outgoing seven-seater vehicle at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected smuggled gold in a space behind the glove box of the vehicle. The 34-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested. 

     An investigation is ongoing. 

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary 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). 

  

     The Government announced today (February 23) that following an open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise, Dr Ge Ming will take up the appointment as the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology) on February 26, 2024. Led by the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), the New Industrialisation Development Office (NIDO) will be established on the same day to adopt an industry-oriented approach to promote new industrialisation in Hong Kong.

     Concerning Dr Ge's appointment and the establishment of the NIDO, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, "Dr Ge possesses rich experience in innovation and technology (I&T) and the industry sector in Hong Kong. He will lead the NIDO in formulating policy along the directions and strategies as set out in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, focusing on such industries as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology. I trust that the NIDO, led by Dr Ge, will carry out the functions of supporting strategic enterprises to develop their businesses in Hong Kong, assisting the local manufacturing sector in upgrading and transformation by making use of I&T, and providing support for start-ups."

     Dr Ge said that he was honoured to be appointed the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology). He hopes to leverage his experience in the I&T and new industry sector, and contribute to the new industrialisation development in Hong Kong.
      
     Brief biographical notes of Dr Ge are set out below:

Dr Ge Ming
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     Dr Ge holds a PhD in Mechanical and Automation Engineering. He has been focusing on the research and development (R&D) and applications of artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and intelligent manufacturing. He was also responsible for many R&D projects funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund as well as those developed jointly with the Mainland and overseas. He actively promoted technology implementation and industrialisation and assisted enterprises to establish a series of digital, automated and intelligent pilot projects, as well as to pave the way for new industrialisation. 

     Dr Ge joined the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in 2004 and served as General Manager, Consultant on Mainland Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of a subsidiary of the HKPC on the Mainland. In 2009, he was transferred to the HKPC headquarters and served as Senior Consultant, Principal Consultant and General Manager. In 2020, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Hong Kong Industrial Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Centre Limited, and the General Manager of the HKPC's Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Division.

     Dr Ge obtained his doctoral degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2003. He was a member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development and an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as well as the Department of Systems Engineering of the City University of Hong Kong.

  

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, February 23, 2024 is 105 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Tsuen Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). 

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Tsuen Wan area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (February 23). 

     The planning scheme area, about 743.48 hectares, covers Tsuen Wan Valley and its adjoining areas, and forms part of the Tsuen Wan New Town. The area extends from Wo Yi Hop Road in the east to Yau Kom Tau in the west.

     The approved OZP has incorporated the amendment shown on the draft Tsuen Wan OZP No. S/TW/36, which mainly involves rezoning a site at the upper section of Lo Wai Road from "Green Belt" to "Government, Institution or Community (10)" for redevelopment into a proposed private columbarium.

     The Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP are amended to take into account the above amendment. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zones and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The approved Tsuen Wan OZP No. S/TW/37 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office, (iv) the Tsuen Wan District Office and (v) the Tsuen Wan Rural Committee.

     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

     â€‹The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Kau Pui Lung Road/Chi Kiang Street Development Scheme Plan (DSP).

     "The approved DSP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the implementation of the URA Kau Pui Lung Road/Chi Kiang Street Development Scheme", a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (February 23).

     The development scheme area, covering about 1.6 hectares, is designated as "Residential (Group A)" and areas shown as 'Road'. The development scheme, which is intended primarily for high-density residential developments, is one of the pilot Civil Servants' Co-operative Building Society redevelopment projects being taken forward by the URA. The planned residential developments will comprise both private housing and Starter Homes units. An underground public vehicle park, various government, institution or community facilities, at-grade pedestrianised avenue/event plaza and public open space will also be provided to meet the future residents' and community needs. 

     The approved DSP No. S/K10/URA2/2 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Kowloon District Planning Office and (iv) the Kowloon City District Office.
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     Copies of the approved DSP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the DSP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).