Tag Archives: China

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CS attends seminar in Beijing on promoting talent exchanges and co-operation in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (with photos)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended a seminar in Beijing this morning (December 6) together with the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, and the Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, Mr Anthony Lau. The seminar was convened by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS) to exchange views on promoting talent exchanges and co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and to deepen and forge the work of building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent. Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Wu Xiuzhang, Deputy Secretary General of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province Mr Sun Zhe, and Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government Mr Teng Sio-hong also attended the meeting and delivered speeches.  
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     At the seminar, Mr Chan said that, “This year marks a fruitful year for integrated talent development in the GBA, achieving various significant milestones, including the signing of the framework agreement on promoting Guangdong-Hong Kong talent co-operation between the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in January this year, and establishing a co-operation mechanism to enhance co-operation between the two places in respect of talent cultivation, attraction, and exchanges. In May this year, to further attract and retain talent, the 9+2 cities of the GBA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly strengthen services provided for talent in the region and create an environment more favourable for talent settling down.”
      
     Mr Chan said that Hong Kong has brought together diversified talent from around the globe, and has served as a window for outside talent for the GBA and the country. Hong Kong will play the important roles of building an international hub for post-secondary education, attracting innovation and technology talent and leading technology enterprises, and strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an international talent hub, with a view to making greater contributions to Hong Kong and the country’s high-quality development, and accelerating the process of building China into a great country through modernisation.
      
     “Each city of the GBA possesses unique advantages on development, and has ample room for collaboration. Looking ahead, I have confidence that Hong Kong will build on our past efforts to continue to enhance the GBA’s strategic planning on areas including the admission, nurturing and mobility of talent, with a view to expediting the enhancement of the ability to attract and gather talent in the GBA to make a greater contribution to the high-quality development of our country,” Mr Chan concluded.
      
     Witnessed by Mr Chan, Mr Sun signed at the seminar an MOU on behalf of the Labour and Welfare Bureau of the HKSAR Government, together with the MoHRSS, the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province (GDHRSSD), and the Talent Development Committee of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government (MTDC). The MOU will help the GBA to jointly build a pilot international hub for high-calibre talent, a demonstration zone of interface and reform of talent-related regulations, a strategic fulcrum of innovation and entrepreneurship of talent in the GBA, an innovative co-operation zone of skilled workforce training, and a high-quality development zone of human resources. The MOU will consolidate efforts of different parties and expedite the creation of a strategic fulcrum for the building of a talent-rich country.
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     The seminar was attended by the MoHRSS, the GDHRSSD, and the MTDC, together with representatives from the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai of Guangdong Province, etc.
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     Mr Chan and the delegation will depart from Beijing for Hong Kong this afternoon.

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Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan

     In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on December 5 to noon today (December 6), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 194 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 52 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 103 889 samples of food imported from Japan (including 67 017 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 23 416 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case involving ocean-going vessel with goods worth about $23 million seized (with photos)

     Hong Kong Customs on December 1 detected a suspected case of using an ocean-going vessel to smuggle goods to Pakistan at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. A large batch of suspected smuggled earphones and skincare products with an estimated market value of about $23 million was seized.
 
     Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods, and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities.
 
     On December 1, Customs officers identified for inspection an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for Pakistan. A large batch of suspected smuggled earphones and skincare products were found to be concealed in four machines inside a container which was declared as containing machines, air-conditioners, electronic parts, etc.
 
     An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
 
     Customs is the primary agency responsible for tackling smuggling activities and has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on related crimes.
 
     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
 
     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

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Government appoints Chairmen and members to Councils of HKBU, CityU and PolyU

    The Government today (December 6) announced that the Chief Executive appointed Dr Kennedy Wong Ying-ho as the Chairman of the Council of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), and Mr Michael Ngai Ming-tak as the Chairman of the Council of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), and reappointed Dr Lam Tai-fai as the Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), all with effect from January 1, 2025, for a term of three years.
 
    The Chief Executive also appointed members to the Councils of the above three universities (the terms all beginning on January 1, 2025, for three years): HKBU – appointed Mr Lo Wing-hung, Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa and Ms Malina Ngai Man-lin, and reappointed Mr Abraham Chan Yu-ling and Dr Wong Yu-yeuk; CityU – appointed Mr Eugene Fong Yick-jin and Ms Grace Yu Ho-wun, and reappointed Ms Miranda Kwok Pui-fong, Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang and Mr Justin Wong Tak-ho; PolyU – appointed incumbent Council member Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin as the Deputy Chairman of the Council, and Mr Arthur Lee Kin as the Treasurer of the University.
 
    The Chief Executive said, “With highly international and diverse post-secondary education, and outstanding science and research talent, Hong Kong is an international hub for high-‍calibre talent for exchanges and collaboration. HKBU, CityU and PolyU are important assets of Hong Kong, providing constant impetus for Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub, and commanding high expectations from the Government and the public. The new appointees are all prominent leaders in society. They have been dedicated to serving the community in different fields over the years. They possess outstanding capabilities and rich experience, and have made remarkable contributions to Hong Kong’s education sector. With their wealth of experience in public service and knowledge about Hong Kong’s education sector, I believe that they will steer the three universities towards greater achievements on various fronts in the coming few years, supporting Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub.”
    
    The Chief Executive has expressed his gratitude to the outgoing HKBU Council Chairman, Dr Clement Chen Cheng-jen, and members Mr Chui Wing-On, Ms So Ching and Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching; CityU Council Chairman, Mr Lester Garson Huang, and member Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung; and PolyU Council Deputy Chairman, Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang, and Treasurer of the University, Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen, for their work and efforts during their terms. read more