Hong Kong Customs will set up a booth at the JMA Hong Kong International Jewelry Show (JMA), to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), from tomorrow (November 28) for four consecutive days to publicise the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime (the Regime), and will provide on-site counter services to assist non-Hong Kong dealers in submitting cash transaction reports during their participation in the exhibition.

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), the Regime came into effect on April 1, 2023. Any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs and fulfil his/her anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing statutory obligations as appropriate. All dealers in precious metals and stones must successfully obtain a relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

     For non-Hong Kong dealers fulfilling the prescribed conditions (including those who come to Hong Kong to participate in exhibitions), although they are exempt from registration, they are required to submit to Hong Kong Customs a cash transaction report for any cash transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 carried out in Hong Kong within one day after the transaction, or before the dealer or the person acting on behalf of the dealer leaves Hong Kong, whichever is earlier.

     Non-Hong Kong dealers can make an online submission of a cash transaction report via the Regime's webpage at www.drs.customs.gov.hk by accessing the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System. They can also download the related form at www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsform/CED418_Form%208_Cash%20transaction%20report.pdf and then submit the report in person at Hong Kong Customs' booth at the JMA. 

     The Hong Kong Customs' booth (Booth 1CON01) is located at HKCEC Hall 1 Concourse and will be open from 10am to 6.30pm on November 28, from 10am to 7pm on November 29 and November 30, and from 10am to 6.30pm on December 1.

     Dealers can visit the website (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html) for more information about the Regime.

    

     Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the welcome dinner of the 11th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) today (November 27):

Vice President of the IAP First Deputy Prosecutor General Tong Jianming, Secretary General of the IAP Mr Roel Dona, Attorneys General, Prosecutors General, Mr Grenville Cross, delegates, ladies and gentlemen:

     Good evening. Welcome to Hong Kong. I wish to extend my gratitude to each and every one of you for joining this welcome dinner, which marks the commencement of the 11th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the IAP. This evening, we have representatives of prosecutorial agencies and organisations from around 30 jurisdictions; and of course, friends and colleagues from Hong Kong. In particular, we are deeply honoured to be joined by a number of very special and important guests, to whom I feel obliged to extend a personal warm welcome.

     First, we are most honoured to be joined by the Vice President of the IAP, Mr Tong Jianming. Mr Tong is the First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China. Key officials of the IAP are also present: they include the Secretary-General of the IAP Mr Roel Dona, the General Counsel Ms Shenaz Muzaffer, the Executive Director Ms Janne Holst Hubner, and the Executive Administration Manager Mr Benn van Alphen.

     Last but certainly not the least, Mr Grenville Cross, SC. Mr Cross, as most of you know, served as Director of Public Prosecutions of the Department of Justice from 1997 to 2009. In 2008, Mr Cross was awarded the Certificate of Merit of the International Association of Prosecutors at the IAP's 13th Annual Conference in Singapore. It was indeed Mr Cross who led the Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong into the IAP's organisational membership back in 2001. Grenville, we are truly delighted to have you with us tonight.

     For those of you coming from the Mainland and other places outside Hong Kong, I hope all of you have made a smooth and enjoyable journey here. No matter whether this is the first time you come here or not, I hope that, by the end of the conference, you will be convinced that Hong Kong has remained to be a lively and vibrant international city where the East and the West meet.

     You may wonder why we have chosen to host this welcome dinner in this restaurant at the Happy Valley Racecourse of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This is, of course, not because I wish to encourage any gambling even though you are most welcome to try your luck for fun later. There are indeed some much more serious reasons. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a very long history. It was founded back in 1884 shortly after the British occupied Hong Kong. When China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, by adopting the principle of "one country, two systems", in order to reassure people both here in Hong Kong and outside Hong Kong that people here may maintain the same lifestyle as before, one guarantee given by the Central People's Government is that "horse-racing shall continue", "馬照跑舞照跳". Indeed, not only that horse racing has continued, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has thrived. It is now the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, the largest community benefactor and one of the city's major employers. More importantly, its Charities Trust is one of the world's top 10 charity donors. The point that I wish to make is that the Hong Kong Jockey Club serves as one of the best examples to demonstrate the successful implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong.

     Tonight, we have the privilege of enjoying this welcome dinner in the beautiful setting of the Millions restaurant that offers stunning views of the Happy Valley Racecourse. We are here at a most optimal time, as races are generally held on Wednesday evenings. I believe that tonight's races will begin very shortly. I am sure that you are all very excited to experience the thrill of horse racing in person at this unique venue, characterised by an ambience which serves as a reminder of the vibrancy of urban life in Hong Kong.

     Ladies and gentlemen, this evening serves as an opportunity for us to catch up with old friends and perhaps to make new friends. It is meant to be a relaxing and exciting warm up exercise for the conference which will start formally tomorrow morning.

     So without further ado, let the welcome dinner begin. I wish you all a very enjoyable evening of good food, good conversation, good fun and good luck. Thank you very much.

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Civil Service College (CSC) jointly launched the Innovation and Technology (I&T) leadership series thematic seminar for the senior management of the Government today (November 27). The seminar series serves to further enhance the understanding and capabilities of the senior management in information system management, cybersecurity and data security, thereby enabling them to lead their teams to build a secure and high-quality digital government. The first seminar held today was attended by about 80 senior directorates from various government bureaux and departments.
 
     In delivering his opening remarks, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government understands that digital security is the prerequisite for high-quality development. In this regard, as we are actively driving the digital transformation of public services, we have to spare no effort in enhancing cybersecurity of government departments and other public bodies to provide more stable and high-quality public services. With the importance the Government attaches to I&T development, the directorate management has to be well-equipped with emergency response capabilities and bottom-line thinking in handling technology incidents. They should also encourage frontline staff in the departments to navigate the digital landscape with agility in order to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public services delivery."
 
     In his welcome remarks, the Head of the CSC, Mr Oscar Kwok, said that promoting I&T application is a strategic imperative for the HKSAR Government to improve the efficacy of governance and the quality of public services, and steering of senior leaders is the key. In addition to adopting an innovative mindset, leaders should drive reforms with vigour and have the courage to overcome the inertia of conventional modus operandi and delineation of authorities and responsibilities in order to drive departments to leverage technology for innovation. They also need to strengthen information systems security, cybersecurity and data security, and strike a balance between technology application and safeguarding security. Furthermore, senior leaders should create an organisational culture that embraces I&T and prioritise staff training. They should foster an open environment that is conducive for staff to actively involve themselves in technology application and proactively exchange and collaborate with other departments for service enhancements. These will in turn foster innovation in society, and drive Hong Kong's economic restructuring and sustainable development in the long run. 
 
     This seminar marks the beginning of the thematic series for enhancing digital skills and digital government management capabilities of the senior management of the Government. Speakers of the seminar included the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, with topics covering strengthening project governance of information systems, protection of cybersecurity and leveraging central information and technology platforms. The DPO also invited an industry representative in cybersecurity and I&T applications to share and exchange views, enabling government officials to keep abreast of the latest trends in cybersecurity and related technical products and solutions. The DPO will continue to closely collaborate with the CSC to provide relevant training with a view to broadening the scope of knowledge and horizons of civil servants, as well as encouraging them to enhance public services with wider application of technology.

        

     â€‹The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met the Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Mr Tong Jianming, at Government House today (November 27) to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, also attended the meeting.
      
     Mr Lee welcomed Mr Tong's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation to attend the 11th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Prosecutors. He noted that, with the support of the Central Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is hosting the conference again since 2004, providing a platform for prosecutors and legal professionals from various countries and regions to discuss and share experiences on topics such as combating technology crime and prosecuting related cases in the technological age.
      
     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong attaches great importance to strengthening collaboration with various jurisdictions to combat crime. The Department of Justice has been committed to maintaining close collaboration with prosecutors of other jurisdictions and initiating new measures to tackle crime, ensuring the effectiveness of prosecution.
      
     Mr Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government for giving Hong Kong the opportunity to host the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference next year, showcasing the unique position and advantages of the HKSAR under "one country, two systems". He thanked the Supreme People's Procuratorate for arranging for the Secretary for Justice to participate as a member of the Chinese delegation in the China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference and attend bilateral meetings between the delegation and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the past two years.
      
     Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to consolidate Hong Kong's status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, deepen legal co-operation with the Mainland and contribute to the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies:
 
     A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies that departed for Guangdong Province to visit the Dongjiang (DJ) Water Supply System and learn about the latest situation of matters in relation to DJ water supplied to Hong Kong concluded its fruitful two-day visit today (November 27).
 
     During the two-day visit, members of the Committee visited the main operation facilities of the DJ Water Supply System, including a section of DJ along the Greenway and the DJ River Basin Water Quantity and Quality Monitoring and Control Centre in Huizhou, the intake point of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong at the Taiyuan Pumping Station in Dongguan, as well as the Shawan River, the Bio-nitrification Plant and the Environmental Water Quality Monitoring Centre next to the Shenzhen Reservoir. Members were briefed by the officers concerned about the operation of these facilities and inspected the quality of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong.
 
     The Committee also visited the operating Integrated Improvement Works for the Water Environment of Shawan River, which mainly included laying of sewers for sewage interception and expansion of the sewage treatment plant. The works have improved the water environment of the Shawan River and its surrounding area, and have greatly reduced pollutants from entering the Shenzhen Reservoir, thereby further safeguarding the quality of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong. The Committee also learned that the Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation project was commissioned in January this year. This project diverts water from the Xijiang River to the eastern part of the Pearl River Delta, providing new water sources for Nansha of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan to relieve their demand for Dongjiang water, and serving as an emergency backup source of water for Hong Kong. This enhances the water security of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as optimises the water resources allocation capabilities of the area.
 
     The two-day visit, covering several major operation facilities of the DJ Water Supply System, concluded with fruitful results. It deepened members' understanding of the situation of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong, and allowed members to observe the good quality of the DJ water at a close distance. Members deeply appreciated the country's determined efforts over the past six decades in safeguarding the quality and quantity of DJ water supplied to Hong Kong, supporting the sustained social and economic development of Hong Kong. Noting that next year marks the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong, members were pleased to know that the Water Supplies Department (WSD) has launched a series of celebration events in phases from September this year to commemorate this remarkable milestone and help the public recognise the country's continuous support and care rendered to Hong Kong. The Committee is fully supportive of the WSD in taking forward the related events.
 
     The terms of reference of the Committee are to advise the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the Director of Water Supplies on matters relating to water supplies, including water resources, network management, regulation and control of inside service, water conservation and other operational matters. It comprises members from the academics, green advocates, professionals, trades and officials from related government departments and the bureau.