The Immigration Department (ImmD) today (December 12) announced that the services of the Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks (PDSKs) will be enhanced tomorrow (December 13) by introducing self-application services for Hong Kong identity cards (HKICs). Eligible applicants can complete the HKIC application procedures in a self-service manner and can apply for HKICs and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports in one go through the PDSKs. The new services will further automate and digitalise the application and collection procedures for personal documentation, thereby providing more convenient services to members of the public.

Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks

     Currently, the PDSKs are set up at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. Starting from tomorrow, eligible applicants can complete the application procedures, including electronic form filling and signing, photo taking, fingerprints taking and application submission, at the PDSKs in a self-service manner without the need to meet a registration officer of the ImmD in person. The services provided by the PDSKs are appointment-free. The first phase of the new services will cover the following three types of replacement applications of HKIC holders who are aged 18 or above holding a locally issued smart HKIC:
 

1. Replacement for an adult HKIC for persons reaching the age of 18;
2. Replacement for a permanent HKIC for persons having their eligibility for permanent HKIC verified; and
3. Replacement for a new smart HKIC for persons holding a valid old form of smart HKIC.

     After the launch of the new services, eligible applicants can also apply for HKICs and HKSAR passports in one go through the PDSKs without the need to repeatedly undergo identity verification, photo taking and form filling.

Personal Documentation Collection Kiosks (PDCKs)

     For collection, the ImmD has integrated various functions of the collection kiosks. Eligible applicants can collect HKICs and HKSAR passports in one go in a self-service manner through the PDCKs, which are also located at the Immigration Headquarters.

     The address of the Immigration Headquarters is 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories. For the location and service hours of the kiosks, please refer to the Annex. The above information is also available on the ImmD's website (www.immd.gov.hk) and mobile application.

Shortening the processing time for identity card applications

     Furthermore, the ImmD will shorten the processing time for the new smart HKIC starting from tomorrow. The time required will be shortened to five working days from the current seven working days (working days exclude Saturday, Sunday and general holidays). Applicants can collect the new HKIC on the next working day after the completion of processing by the ImmD.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by calling the enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Lingnan University Gala Dinner 2024 tonight (December 12):

Mr Andrew Yao (Chairman of the Council, Lingnan University), Professor Joe Qin (President, Lingnan University), Dr Winne Ko (Chairman, Kingrich Charitable Foundation), alumni and students, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. I am so glad to join you here at the Lingnan University Gala Dinner, the first time it returns after the pandemic.

     Lingnan University boasts a rich history that reflects its resilience and commitment to education. Founded in Guangzhou in 1888, it experienced significant transformations throughout its first century. With perseverance and dedication, the institution has continued to grow and become a prominent institution offering quality education to Hong Kong and the region. Despite the challenges the university has gone through, the Lingnan spirit and the determination to provide the best education to its students have always been deep-rooted in its foundation, as reflected in the university motto – "Education for service".

     The theme of tonight's Gala Dinner is "Lingnan's Transformation into the Digital Era". I believe we would all agree that technology plays an ever more prevalent and significant role in influencing education. For example, artificial intelligence is a powerful tool for enhancing learning outcomes and research capabilities. By leveraging AI, institutions can implement personalised education strategies that cater to individual student needs, improving engagement and academic performance.

     I am excited to learn that Lingnan University – hitherto renowned for its outstanding liberal arts programme – is actively incorporating digital innovations into its education. This echoes the Government's dedication to integrating technology into the educational framework, to enhance teaching and learning experiences across all levels of education. As announced in the Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address, the Chief Secretary for Administration will chair a newly established Committee on Education, Technology and Talents to co-ordinate and drive the integrated development of education, technology and talent in Hong Kong. The Committee's mission is to expand connections and formulate policies to attract and cultivate high-calibre talent while fostering the development of technologies.

     Hong Kong has five of the world's top 100 universities. Under "one country, two systems", we have a rich academic atmosphere that serves us well as a dynamic international hub for higher education, bringing in students and researchers from around the globe. It is well recognised that Hong Kong has strong connections with higher education institutions worldwide, participating keenly in collaborative research and studies on applications of technologies such as AI. The partnerships promote knowledge exchange and, by sharing the best practices, we can facilitate innovation and its practical applications within and across various sectors. Our educational institutions also encourage students from all disciplines to enhance their digital competencies, through encouraging interdisciplinary studies and merging technical skills with critical thinking, thereby preparing them for a technology-centric job market.

     Hong Kong, with the strong support from the Mainland, has boundless opportunities. Collaborations between Hong Kong and Mainland cities, such as those in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, can enhance the access to resources and expertise vital for technological advancement, which creates a comprehensive ecosystem for innovation. Furthermore, we support our higher education institutions in maximising their strengths and working together to advance innovative capacity, contributing to the national strategy of reinvigorating the country through science and education and to the country's modernisation.

     In closing, I am confident that Lingnan University, navigated by President Qin, is ready to sail through this wave of digital revolution and develop into a future-ready institution. I look forward to seeing the transformed Lingnan University in bringing more breakthroughs through impactful innovations and research in the years to come. Thank you.

  

     â€‹The Department of Health (DH) today (December 12) urged the public not to buy or consume a product called MINTS Plus+, packaged as a candy, as it was found to contain an undeclared controlled drug ingredient. Improper use can pose serious health risks, especially to patients with heart problems.
      
     Acting upon a public complaint, the DH obtained a sample of the product via an online social media platform for analysis. The test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the sample contained tadalafil, which is a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (the Ordinance). The product is not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong and cannot be sold in the market. The test results also revealed that the level of tadalafil in the sample exceeded its usual daily dose.
      
     The DH is continuing to investigate the incident.
      
     Tadalafil is a prescription drug used for treatment of erectile dysfunction, and should only be used under a doctor's advice and be supplied in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription. Side effects of tadalafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness and transient vision disturbances. It may interact with some drugs (such as nitroglycerin for treatment of angina) and cause a decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels. Improper use of tadalafil can pose serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems.
      
     According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
      
     The DH spokesman strongly urged members of the public not to buy or consume products of unknown or doubtful composition, or from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
      
     Members of the public who have purchased the above product should stop consuming it immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if feeling unwell after consumption. The public may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1804-1806, 18/F, Wing On Kowloon Centre, 345 Nathan Road, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.
      
     The public may visit the webpage of the DH's Drug Office's page for the health message on sexual dysfunction and virility products and virility products found to contain undeclared Western medicines.

  

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 12) said that subsequent to an earlier announcement that a sample of milk-flavoured ice cream collected from a light refreshment restaurant in Kowloon Bay was found to contain coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits, a follow-up investigation showed that another sample of milk-flavoured ice cream and a sample of milk tea-flavoured ice cream collected from the light refreshment restaurant concerned were found to contain coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits. The products concerned were produced and sold at the same branch of the restaurant. The follow-up investigation is ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected food samples from the light refreshment restaurant concerned for testing when following up on the related incident on December 9. Results of the above-mentioned two ice cream samples produced at the branch of the restaurant concerned showed that the milk-flavoured ice cream sample contained 1 300 coliform bacteria per gram and 57 000 bacteria per gram, while the milk tea-flavoured ice cream sample contained 240 coliform bacteria per gram and 70 000 bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limits. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

     "The CFS has conducted follow-up investigation of the restaurant concerned again. According to the CFS's advice, the restaurant concerned has stopped selling all ice cream products since December 9 and carried out thorough cleaning and disinfection. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the restaurant, and inspected and monitored the restaurant to ensure that it has adopted relevant improvement measures," the spokesman said.

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram or more than 50,000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count and the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limits indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) announced today (December 12) that the Approved Hand-in Articles e-Ordering Service will be fully implemented on December 17 to facilitate the visitation of visitors.
      
     The service has been in a trial run at different correctional institutions in phases since September 10, 2024, to enable relatives and friends of persons in custody (PICs) to purchase approved hand-in articles for PICs via an online platform. The articles will be directly delivered to the correctional institutions concerned by the supplier.
      
     A spokesman for the CSD said, "Positive responses have been received since the launch of the trial run of the service, which can reduce time for visitors to source the articles in the market and the inconvenience of carrying the articles to the correctional institutions. The service also shortens the time for correctional officers to conduct security checks and handle the articles, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of correctional institutions."
      
     The spokesman emphasised that the service aims to bring convenience to the public by providing them with an additional option. Visitors can continue to purchase articles for PICs using existing methods. 
      
     Visitors must be declared visitors of PICs to register for a user account on the Social Visit e-Services Platform before using the service. Visitors can register for an account through the following means:
 

1. Use the "iAM Smart" mobile application;
2. Visit the Social Visit e-Services Platform webpage (ebooking.icrms.csd.gov.hk/ebooking) via the CSD website or CSD mobile application to submit an application, and then go to the correctional institution where the PIC concerned was admitted in person for identity verification; or
3. Visit the correctional institution where the PIC concerned was admitted in person to submit an application and undergo identity verification.

      
     For more details of the service, please browse the information on the CSD website (www.csd.gov.hk/english/online_service/eservicesplatform.html).