Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (June 28) that a dog inoculation campaign will be held at various fishing ports in Hong Kong. Fishermen can have their dogs vaccinated against rabies and microchipped, and renew their dog licences.

     The AFCD mobile vaccination teams will provide the services at the following fishing ports according to the schedule below from 10am to 3pm:
 

Sam Mun Tsai	July 8
Sha Tau Kok	July 10
Aberdeen	July 12
Castle Peak	July 12
Shau Kei Wan	July 19
Sai Kung	July 24
Cheung Chau	July 26

     The half-yearly dog inoculation campaign has been held since 1980 with the aim of providing licensing renewal and rabies vaccination services for dogs that are kept by fishermen on board fishing vessels and spend long periods of time there. A fee of $80 will be charged for each dog. To date, over 7 400 vaccinations have been given to dogs on fishing vessels by the AFCD.

     An AFCD spokesman said that the services are part of the Government’s proactive measures to prevent rabies, a fatal disease that is transmitted to humans from animals. Dogs on board vessels that have visited places outside Hong Kong may have come into contact with other animals, making them more susceptible to rabies infection.

     “Although Hong Kong has been free from animal rabies since 1987, we must remain vigilant to prevent any possible outbreak,” the spokesman said.

     Under the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421), all dogs aged over 5 months must be vaccinated against rabies, licensed and microchipped. Dogs have to be revaccinated against rabies and their licences have to be renewed at intervals not exceeding three years. Dog owners who fail to do so are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 upon conviction. read more

     The Marine Department (MD) announced today (June 28) that the Green Incentive Scheme is now open for applications from eligible Hong Kong-registered ships until December 31, 2026, to encourage the green transformation of the maritime industry.

     The Government promulgated the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy on December 20, 2023, outlining 10 strategies and 32 concrete action measures to support the sustainable development needs of the maritime and port industry in Hong Kong, with a view to enhancing the long-term competitiveness of the industry. One of the action measures is to provide green incentive to Hong Kong-registered ships that have attained high ratings under the international standards on decarbonisation formulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government has allocated $65 million in the 2024-25 Budget to implement this initiative.

     Under the Scheme, all Hong Kong-registered ships of 5 000 gross tonnage or above in possession of a valid “Statement of Compliance – Fuel Oil Consumption Reporting and Operational Carbon Intensity Rating” showing that the ship has attained rating A or B in the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) formulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are eligible for the green incentive. Each qualified Hong Kong-registered ship is eligible to receive $20,000 per corresponding year from 2024 to 2026. If a ship attains rating A or B in the CII throughout three years from 2024 to 2026, it may receive a maximum incentive of $60,000.

     A spokesman for the MD said, “Hong Kong-registered ships are renowned for their high quality and safety. The port state control detention rate of Hong Kong-registered ships in 2023 was only 0.81 per cent, significantly lower than the global average of 3.39 per cent. The Hong Kong Shipping Registry (HKSR) is consistently included in the white list of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Tokyo MoU, and recognised in the United States Coast Guard Qualship 21 programme.”

     “Hong Kong, China, as an associate member of the IMO, has been committed to supporting the organisation’s decarbonisation initiatives. Although various green incentives have been introduced by other flag administrations, so far none of them has introduced a CII-related green incentive. Hong Kong will be the pioneer administration supporting the IMO’s green shipping policy on the CII. The measure will help promote the image of the HKSR as a green fleet and reinforce its brand in the international maritime arena,” the spokesman continued.

     To promote the work of the HKSR and introduce the Green Incentive Scheme, the MD has uploaded a new promotional leaflet (www.mardep.gov.hk/filemanager/en/share/publications/pdf/materials/hksr.pdf). The application form of the Scheme has also been uploaded onto the MD’s website (www.mardep.gov.hk/filemanager/en/share/hksr/gisform.pdf). read more

     The Government today (June 28) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action-Iran) (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
 
     “The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action-Iran) Regulation to reflect the expiry of certain restrictive measures imposed against Iran under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231,” a Government spokesman said.

     The expired measures relate to the prohibition against:
 

• the supply, sale, transfer or carriage of certain items to Iran;


• the supply, sale, transfer or carriage of certain items from Iran;


• the provision of certain training, services or assistance related to conventional arms;


• the provision or transfer of certain technology, assistance, training, services or resources related to ballistic missiles;


• making available to, or for the benefit of, certain persons or entities any funds or other financial assets or economic resources (economic assets);


• dealing with economic assets belonging to, or owned or controlled by, certain persons or entities;


• the sale and acquisition of interest in certain commercial activities; and


• entry into or transit through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by certain persons.

     The HKSAR Government has all along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC. The Amendment Regulation aims to give effect to the instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling the international obligations of the People’s Republic of China as a Member State of the United Nations.
  read more

     A 47-year-old male person in custody who had been found unconscious in Shek Pik Prison died in a public hospital today (June 28).

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in March 2012. He was admitted to the institution hospital for medical treatment due to physical discomfort. At 1.23am today, he was found unconscious in his bed in a hospital cell by correctional officers. The officers immediately provided first-aid treatment to him and called for reinforcement. A helicopter was called to send him to a public hospital for further treatment. His condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 2.53am.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court. read more

     A Government spokesman said today (June 28) that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) warmly welcomed and expressed sincere gratitude for the Central Government’s active response to the HKSARG’s proposal, announcing that the duty-free allowance for luggage articles brought into the Mainland from Hong Kong by visitors who are Mainland residents will be increased from the current level of RMB5,000 to RMB12,000, while retaining the measure of allowing for additional duty-free goods at the value of RMB3,000 purchased at port entry duty-free stores, bringing the total amount of allowance to RMB15,000. 

     The new measure will be applicable to six land ports, including Lo Wu, Futian (Lok Ma Chau Spur Line), Shenzhen Bay, West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and more, starting from July 1, and then be implemented at all ports starting from August 1. 

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, “I am very grateful for the care of the Central Government and the introduction of various measures to promote Hong Kong’s economy. The current measure of increasing the duty-free allowance for luggage articles brought into the Mainland from Hong Kong by visitors who are Mainland residents, implemented under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, shows the Central Government’s support for the HKSAR’s economic development. The new measure will enhance the shopping experience for Mainland resident visitors in Hong Kong and allow them greater flexibility when shopping, which is beneficial for Hong Kong in attracting more visitors and boosting the development of diversified tourism. Additionally, the measure can help stimulate the retail atmosphere in Hong Kong and bring vibrancy to the local economy.” 

     The number of visitor arrivals has continued to increase in the first five months of this year. As of end-May, the total number of visitor arrivals reached 18 million, representing an increase of around 78 per cent compared to the same period last year. Of this, 13.8 million were Mainland visitors, an increase of around 74 per cent compared to the same period last year. The average length of stay for overnight Mainland visitors was 3.1 nights in the first quarter of this year, with an average per capita spending of HK$5 400. The new measure will provide Mainland visitors with more shopping choices in Hong Kong to cater to their consumption needs, allow them to enjoy the pleasure of shopping and enrich their travel experience in Hong Kong. 

     Under the new arrangements, it is roughly estimated that this will bring an additional HK$8.8 billion to HK$17.6 billion in shopping expenditure to Hong Kong, generating value-added of about HK$2.7 billion to HK$5.4 billion to the Hong Kong economy.

     The various measures introduced by the Central Government in support of Hong Kong, including adding 10 more Individual Visit Scheme cities, extending the period of stay for holders of an exit endorsement for business visit travelling to Hong Kong, and launching the Express Rail Link sleeper train between Hong Kong and Beijing/Shanghai, will further support Hong Kong’s tourism and economic development and ensure the long-term prosperity and stability. Hong Kong’s tourism and related industries are in the process of complementing the concept of “Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong” through innovation and transformation, and developing more diversified tourism resources and vibrant travel itineraries in Hong Kong, with a view to adding vitality to the city’s economy. 

     The HKSARG will carry out promotional efforts to inform Mainland visitors and related trades about the new policy arrangements. In addition, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will launch a new summer promotional event, Summer Chill Hong Kong, on July 11 to coincide with the peak season of visitor arrivals during the summer holidays. This will involve distributing 500 000 sets of offers worth more than HK$100 million, covering sightseeing and transport, dining and consumption discounts. Full support will also be given to various large-scale consumption and promotion activities, including the second edition of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival organised by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, to collaborate with the trade in attracting more overnight visitors to Hong Kong and encourage them to increase consumption.  read more