Tag Archives: China

     A boy who went missing in Tseung Kwan O has been located.      Zhang Tsz-hon, aged 16, went missing after he left his residence on King Ling Road on December 9 morning. His family made a report … read more

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) organised the Green and Sustainable Banking Conference today (December 11). The event brought together around 400 participants from banks, technology firms, regulatory authorities and the academia.

     In his opening remarks, the Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Arthur Yuen, highlighted that everyone must act fast in the transition to net-zero and banks play a central role in achieving climate goals.

     “But action must be guided by knowledge,” Mr Yuen said.

     “Banks need to build up knowledge about the latest technologies that support the transition to net-zero before they can effectively channel capital to support transition efforts. The HKMA will enable change through strengthening the green finance ecosystem and supporting banks’ financing of the transition,” he added.

     A key objective of the conference is to provide a platform for the banking sector and the technology sector to discuss the role of low-carbon technology and green fintech in the net-zero transition in Hong Kong and the Mainland. The panel sessions discussed how different types of low-carbon technologies, such as hydrogen energy, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and smart energy management systems, can contribute to the net-zero transition and how the Hong Kong banking sector can assist in scaling up the application of those technologies through their lending and investment decisions.

     The conference concluded with the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Green Fintech Competition. The Competition was launched in September 2023 to seek market-ready solutions that can help the banking sector address challenges under the following themes: Net-zero Transition or Transition Planning; Climate Risk Management; Green and Sustainable Finance; and Sustainability or Climate-related Disclosure and Reporting. More than 85 submissions from around 70 companies were received. The winner and a selected finalist of each theme showcased their solutions at an exhibition area at the conference, which included blockchain-based systems for ESG data reporting and analysis and AI-powered tools for physical risk assessment. Please refer to the Annex for the winners and first runners-up of the competition.

          

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 10) detected a dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.1 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million.
      
     A male passenger, aged 41, arrived in Hong Kong from Lagos, Nigeria, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found him to be suspicious and suspected that he had dangerous drugs concealed inside his body cavity. He was then escorted to the hospital for examination.
      
     Upon examination, the man was confirmed by a medical officer to have foreign objects concealed inside his body cavity. He was arrested immediately. As at 5pm today (December 11), the arrested man has discharged 59 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 1.1kg in total.
      
     An investigation is ongoing.
      
     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
 
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).

  

     Police today (December 11) laid a holding charge against a 52-year-old woman with one count of murder.      The woman was arrested yesterday (December 10) in suspected connection with a murder happened in… read more

     A carcass of a Eurasian teal found in the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) was suspected to be positive for the H5 avian influenza (AI) virus based on preliminary testing, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (December 11). Further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

     The bird carcass was collected earlier at the MPNR. The Eurasian teal is a winter visitor mainly found in the Deep Bay area.

     The spokesman said cleaning and disinfection of visitor facilities including bird hides and a floating boardwalk has been stepped up. A disinfectant carpet has been placed at the entrance of the MPNR for visitors to disinfect the soles of their shoes. In addition, the AFCD is closely monitoring the situation of the birds there and has put up notices to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene.     

     There are no chicken farms within three kilometres of where the dead bird was found. The AFCD will remind poultry farmers to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against AI. Pet bird shop owners and licence holders of pet poultry and bird exhibitions will also be reminded to implement proper precautions against AI.

     The spokesman said that the department will closely monitor poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against AI have been taken. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.

     “People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for AFCD’s follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry,” the spokesman said.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.

     The Department of Health will keep up its health education to remind the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent AI.

     The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal importation of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of AI outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.

     All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against AI. Health advice about preventing AI is available on the “Avian Influenza Health Advice” page at www.afcd.gov.hk. read more