Tag Archives: China

     The Hong Kong Student Aid Society Limited has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (June 15), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 
      
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/ngo/controlofc/flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
      
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.        read more

     â€‹In response to media enquiries about the smearing comments made by the United States and some western countries regarding the specification of absconders and specific measures applicable against them by the Secretary for Security in accordance with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance recently, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (June 14) strongly disapproves of and rejects these comments.
      
     The HKSAR Government spokesman said, “The legal framework in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is fully in compliance with the international standard for the protection of human rights. The Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, and the freedoms of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applicable to the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law. Legislation that safeguards national security only targets a very small number of organisations and individuals that endanger national security.”
      
     The spokesman said, “Individuals endangering national security often abscond overseas to evade criminal liability, and continue to endanger national security through various means (e.g. colluding with external forces to exert pressure on the Central Authorities and the HKSAR Government, or setting up, outside the HKSAR, organisations endangering national security, etc.). The specified measures aim at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts of abscondment, and procuring the return of absconded persons to Hong Kong to face law enforcement and judicial proceedings. People with ulterior motives in the United States and some western countries deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks in an attempt to mislead the public. The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves of such acts.”
      
     The spokesman stressed, “Absconders should not think they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong. Ultimately, they will be liable for their acts constituting serious offences endangering national security and be sanctioned by the law.”
      
     “Amongst all, the measures under section 96 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance seek to regard the HKSAR passport of an absconder as being cancelled and the application for an HKSAR passport by the absconder as being invalid. In fact, all specified measures including the abovementioned one align with human rights requirements; and quite a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada would also impose such measures on wanted criminals. It is indeed a demonstration of hypocrisy with double standards by any external forces or people with ulterior motives that, after the HKSAR Government has announced the relevant measures, attack the HKSAR in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law.”
      
     The spokesman reiterated, “The Constitution and the Basic Law steadfastly safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people. Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s situation will only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail. The HKSAR Government will continue to unwaveringly discharge its duty in safeguarding national security.” read more

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (GBA Office) of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) co-organised the GoGBA Seminar for Accounting Sector today (June 14) to kick off the “GoGBA Sector Series”. With the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants as the strategic partner, the seminar focused on the development of Hong Kong’s accounting profession in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

     In her opening address at the event, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, said “Under ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong enjoys significant advantages such as free flow of capital, a common law system, a low and simple tax regime, and a regulatory regime aligned with the international market. With a world-class business environment and a renowned professional services sector, Hong Kong is best placed to serve as the ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ between the Mainland and the global market.”

     Ms Chan added that Hong Kong’s accounting profession and accountants are at the forefront of the world in terms of professionalism and regulatory standards, and are an important force in supporting the high-quality development of different sectors in Hong Kong and the entire GBA. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities to strive for more policy innovations and breakthrough, and the compatibility and alignment of rules and mechanisms, so as to facilitate the smooth flow of financial factors in the region, and better leverage Hong Kong’s advantages as an international financial centre. This will further drive the demand for professional accounting services in the GBA and greatly expand the room for development of the accounting profession.

     At today’s seminar, representatives from the Nansha District People’s Government of Guangzhou, and the Qianhai Authority of Shenzhen, were also invited to introduce the latest preferential policies and tax incentives in Nansha and Qianhai, the two major co-operation platforms in the GBA. A number of accounting professionals also shared the strategies and practices of Hong Kong’s professional accounting services in expanding their businesses in the GBA, helping participants better understand and grasp the development opportunities brought about by the development of the GBA.

     The new “GoGBA Sector Series” is a joint initiative of the GBA Office and HKTDC, which aims to focus on the needs of different sectors and provide more specific and targeted information and support to enterprises and professionals in relevant sectors through more diversified means, and support them in expanding their businesses in different cities of the GBA. In addition to keynote speeches and panel discussions, small group advisory workshops and one-on-one consultation services were also arranged at the seminar, where experts answered questions and offered advice on development of the accounting sector in the Mainland cities of the GBA. The next event under the accounting sector series, namely “GoGBA Accounting Sector Study Tour”, will be held in late July.  Arrangements will be made for the participants to visit the Mainland cities of the GBA to learn about the latest development of and policy measures applicable to the accounting sector in the Mainland, and at the same time, to build up their business network and open up new markets.

     For more information about the GBA, please visit the dedicated website (www.bayarea.gov.hk/en/), which also covers the content of the Greater Bay Area Information Station (www.bayarea.gov.hk/gbais/en/) for easy browsing by members of the public.

    

　　The inaugural Chinese Cultural Festival (CCF) will present a number of quality Chinese opera performances from June to September, covering Cantonese opera, North Road Bangzi opera, Chiuchow opera, Liuzi opera, Yue opera, Kunqu opera, Wu opera and Peking opera, which allows members of the public to appreciate the essence of Chinese opera, with a view to promoting Chinese culture as well as the arts of Chinese opera. The local production “Cyrano de Bergerac” – A Cantonese Opera Interpretation kicked off the series of performances at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre today (June 14), which also marked the start of the 12th Chinese Opera Festival (COF). The performance is one of the highlights of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre as well.
 
　　The “Cyrano de Bergerac” – A Cantonese Opera Interpretation is a new production developed by Cantonese opera virtuoso Law Ka-ying, who has been working on it for a decade. The play is an adaptation of a 19th-century French classic piece of the same title. Law partners with famous veterans Liza Wang and Sun Kim Long to present this well-known story of a love triangle. This adaptation not only preserves the performing techniques, traditional forms and artistic charm of Cantonese opera, but also exhibits an exquisite combination of the plot and musical elements of Western drama to reflect the protagonist Zhu Bufan’s deep love for the princess. The touching performance won warm applause from the audience.
 
　　The LCSD has invited outstanding troupes from all over the country to participant in this year’s festival, including the Academy of Xinzhou Studies, Guangdong Chiu Chow Opera Theatre Number One Troupe and Sun Hon Kwong Chiu Chow Opera Troupe, the Centre for the Safeguarding of Liuzi Opera of Shandong, the Fujian Fanghua Yue Opera Troupe, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, the Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Centre, and the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company. In addition, the LCSD will arrange a series of extension activities, including talks, meet-the-artists sessions, an exhibition and Chinese opera film screenings, throughout the CCF period to promote the artistry and culture of Chinese traditional opera. The “Artistic Essence Everlasting – Chinese Opera Festival Photo Exhibition”, currently being held at the Foyer Exhibition Area of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, features a fine selection of memorable moments from past performances on stage at the COF, allowing Chinese opera lovers to revisit the captivating brilliance of top-notch Chinese opera artists from various genres. Admission to the exhibition is free, and the exhibition will run until June 16 (Sunday).
 
　　For more information about the Chinese opera programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival, please visit
www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme-categories/chinese-opera/.
 
　　The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD’s Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public’s appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens’ national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is being held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity among the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”. For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.
 
　　The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

              

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 13) seized about 6 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A 46-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Paris, France via Doha, Qatar yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found three stuffed toys in his carry-on suitcase, in which 262 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 6kg in total were concealed. The man was subsequently arrested.

     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).