Hongkong Post announced today (February 7) that, as advised by the postal administration of Türkiye, mail delivery services previously impacted by earthquakes have returned to normal.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs on January 20 seized about 9 400 suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of about $1.1 million at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. 

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. The batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phone accessories, watches, footwear, handbags and clothes, was found inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 44-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested. 

     An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would have been transhipped to overseas regions by the airfreight channel. 

     The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation. 

     Customs will continue to strengthen co-operation with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and take stringent enforcement action against cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities. 

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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).

  

     â€‹Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session at Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, today (February 7) after attending year-end caring visits in 18 districts:
 
Reporter: Miss Mak, some English questions from the South China Morning Post. With the different Day and Night Vibes activities held by the Government, how confident are you able to boost the local economy especially when a lot of Hong Kongers are potentially going to Mainland China or travelling overseas during the holiday season? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: Thank you. The purpose of organising various activities during the Chinese New Year is to provide an opportunity for our residents to enjoy the festive experience in the community. We hope that with all these activities, our residents can experience the festive atmosphere. We can also enjoy the different kinds of special cuisine, Chinese traditional cuisine, or other activities. I think this is a good opportunity for Hong Kong people, our residents, to get together during this festive season to enjoy the joyful Chinese New Year.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     â€‹The Government reminded members of the public today (February 7) that during the Lunar New Year holidays between February 10 and 13, all public COVID-19 vaccination venues and most of the Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs) will be closed, while a few PCVSs will provide vaccination services during the above-mentioned Lunar New Year period.

     Members of the public can visit the Government online booking system (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk) for details on the available dates and time slots, or the website of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html) for details of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

     A Government spokesman reminded high-risk persons who have never been vaccinated or infected with COVID-19 to arrange vaccination as soon as possible and adopt additional hygiene measures to protect themselves. Parents are also reminded to arrange COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible for their children aged 6 months or above in order to reduce the risk of severe illness and fatalities. In addition, high-risk priority groups are recommended to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine booster at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection, regardless of the number of doses received previously. All currently available COVID-19 vaccines, including inactivated, mRNA ancestral strain or bivalent, and XBB vaccines, are effective in preventing severe illness and death. Eligible persons may continue to choose any currently available COVID-19 vaccines. The Government has provided XBB mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to all high-risk priority groups since January 18. The latest list of venues providing XBB vaccination can be found on: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/xbb_venues_dec2023_eng.pdf.

     â€‹The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a light refreshment restaurant in San Po Kong and a restaurant in Tsuen Wan to suspend business for 14 days and 21 days respectively, as the operators repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by illegally extending the food business area.

     The light refreshment restaurant, located on the ground floor of 118 Tseuk Luk Street in San Po Kong, was ordered to suspend business from today (February 7) to February 20, while the restaurant located on the ground floor of 22 Sam Pei Square in Tsuen Wan was ordered to suspend business from today to February 27.

     "Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the light refreshment restaurant in San Po Kong last June and November. A total fine of $3,800 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension. Meanwhile, from July to November last year, four convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant in Tsuen Wan. A total fine of $7,400 was levied by the court and 90 demerit points were registered against this licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in seven-day and 14-day licence suspensions running consecutively,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

     The licensee of the light refreshment restaurant in San Po Kong had a record of two convictions for the same offence in February and March last year. A total fine of $3,800 was levied and 30 demerit points were also registered, leading to a seven-day licence suspension last June.

     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html).