The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will set up a booth at the Education & Careers Expo 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from tomorrow (January 25) for four consecutive days to introduce the latest information about GBA development, including the choices and opportunities available for study, internship, employment, entrepreneurship, etc, in the Mainland cities of the GBA. Students and young people who wish to study or pursue a career in the Mainland cities of the GBA are welcome to visit the exhibition booth.
 
     A spokesman for the Office said that young people are the future, hope and pillars of Hong Kong. They are also contributors to the long-term development of society and the economy. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to youth development, and supports Hong Kong young people to aim high and grasp the significant opportunities brought about by GBA development. The HKSAR Government continues to launch various schemes to provide concrete and targeted support to Hong Kong young people who aspire to pursue study, internship, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the Mainland cities of the GBA, with a view to helping them catch the "high-speed train" of development of the country and the GBA.
 
     This is the fourth consecutive year that the Office has set up a booth at the Education & Careers Expo. Apart from introducing various tailor-made support schemes and facilitation measures for Hong Kong young people through electronic display panels and interactive games, the Office will also set up a Greater Bay Area Information Station (GBAIS) at the booth. Through a simple and easy-to-use interface, the GBAIS introduces more information about the GBA, including basic information about the GBA cities, timeline of GBA development and the policy measures of the HKSAR Government in taking forward GBA development in different areas, thereby enabling visitors to know more about the development opportunities of the GBA. Photo-taking spot will be set up at the booth for visitors to take photos. Staff will also distribute souvenirs to members of the public. Souvenirs are limited and are only available while stocks last.
 
     The Education & Careers Expo 2024 will be held at Hall 1 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Admission is free. The Office booth will be located at Hall 1D (Booth 1D-D02) and will be open from 10am to 7pm from January 25 to 27, and from 10am to 6pm on January 28.
 
     For further information about the GBA, please visit the dedicated website (www.bayarea.gov.hk/en), which also covers the content of the GBAIS (www.bayarea.gov.hk/gbais/en) for easy browsing by members of the public.

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary cold shelters in various districts today (January 24) for people in need of the service. The temporary shelters will remain open when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.

     Clean mattresses and blankets/quilts, hot meals and hot water will be provided to shelter users free of charge during the opening of temporary shelters.

     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.

     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.

     The 18 temporary cold 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:
——————

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:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, 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:
—————-

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

Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, 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

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out a repatriation operation today (January 24). A total of 34 Vietnamese illegal immigrants and overstayers were repatriated to Vietnam. The persons removed comprised 16 men and 18 women, all of which were unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants. Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment.

     The ImmD will remain committed to expediting the removal process to repatriate illegal immigrants and overstayers from Hong Kong as soon as practicable, according to the actual situation through appropriate measures as necessary.

    

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, attended the signing ceremony of the Strategic Collaboration Agreement between Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (Agreement) today (January 24) to witness the establishment of a close partnership between the two hospitals in supporting the continuing development of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMH).
 
     Witnessed by Professor Lo, the President of the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (GDHTCM), Professor Zhang Zhongde, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CMH, Mr Huen Wong, signed the Agreement which lays the foundation and direction for co-operation between the two hospitals. According to the Agreement and with the support of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the CMH and the GDHTCM will foster co-operation on various fronts covering the preparatory work for the hospital's commissioning, exchange of Chinese medicine (CM) talent, cross-boundary distance discussion of cases, establishment of a sharing platform for drug interaction alert notification, organisation of CM academic conferences, development of a scientific research network and advanced nursing training in specialised CM services.
 
     In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Professor Lo said, "As announced by the Chief Executive in his 2023 Policy Address, the first CM hospital in Hong Kong is having a co-operation mechanism established with the GDHTCM to cover collaboration in the realm of resource sharing, experience exchanges and technical co-operation so as to support the continuing development of CM, attain the goal of the Development Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, and also actualise the regime for extensive consultation, joint contruction and shared benefits with regards to CM as stated in the Construction Plan for the Chinese Medicine Highlands in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (2020-2025) for making further contributions to the high-quality development of CM and driving the development of the Greater Bay Area." 
  
     Professor Lo also met with the CMH's Board of Directors and core management team today to receive a briefing on the effective implementation of CMH missions and measures to be taken in meeting the challenges arising from the preparatory work for the hospital's commissioning. He expressed to the team his confidence in and expectations for the development of the CMH and encouraged them to strive to accomplish this meaningful task which has a profound influence.
 
     The Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Professor Alexander Wai; and board members of the CMH also attended the signing ceremony today.
 
     As for the delegation led by Professor Zhang, they met with the representatives of the CMH during their stay in Hong Kong to discuss the concrete arrangements and timetable for putting the Agreement into practice. They also joined Mr Chan for an overview of the CMH's construction site at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, and get a better grasp of the architectural design concept and works progress.
 
     The CMH adopts a public-private partnership model. The construction of the CMH is fully funded by the HKSAR Government, which announced in June 2021 the commissioning of HKBU through tendering as the contractor in overseeing the development and operation of the CMH. HKBU subsequently incorporated the HKBU Chinese Medicine Hospital Company Limited as the operator for managing, operating and maintaining the CMH in accordance with the service deed for operation at the end of 2021.

            

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, signed in Hong Kong today (January 24) a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Croatia, signifying the Government's sustained efforts in expanding Hong Kong's CDTA network, in particular with tax jurisdictions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. Representing the Government of Croatia was the Minister of Finance of Croatia, Mr Marko Primorac.

     This CDTA is the 48th agreement that Hong Kong has concluded. It sets out the allocation of taxing rights between the two jurisdictions and will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities. Including Croatia, Hong Kong has signed CDTAs with 17 member states of the European Union.

     Mr Hui said, "Croatia is one of the economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. I have every confidence that this CDTA will further promote economic and trade connections between Hong Kong and Croatia, and offer additional incentives for the business sectors of both sides to do business or make investments. Hong Kong will continue to negotiate with trading and investment partners with a view to expanding its CDTA network. This could enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a business and investment hub, and consolidate the city's status as an international economic and trade centre."

     Under the Hong Kong-Croatia CDTA, Hong Kong companies can enjoy double taxation relief in that any tax paid in Croatia, whether directly or by deduction, in accordance with the CDTA, will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income, subject to the provisions of the tax laws of Hong Kong.

     Moreover, the Hong Kong-Croatia CDTA also provides the following tax relief arrangements: 

(a) Croatia's withholding tax rates for Hong Kong residents on dividends, interest and royalties will be capped at 5 per cent; and

(b) Profits from international shipping transport earned by Hong Kong residents arising in Croatia will not be taxed in Croatia.

     This CDTA will come into force after the completion of ratification procedures by both jurisdictions. In the case of Hong Kong, it will be implemented by way of an order to be made by the Chief Executive in Council under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112). The order is subject to negative vetting by the Legislative Council.

     Details of the Hong Kong-Croatia CDTA can be found on the Inland Revenue Department's website (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Agreement_Croatia_HongKong.pdf).