Hong Kong Customs today (May 28) arrested a male director of a wedding services company who is suspected of having applied false trade descriptions in the course of selling a wedding banquet service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information from a member of the public alleging that a wedding services company in Kowloon Bay falsely claimed to a customer that a specified number of staff would be on-site to provide service, and that the food and beverages specified in the contract would be provided. However, the customer discovered on the day of the banquet that the number of staff and the food and beverages provided on-site were significantly different from what the company had promised.

     After an investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 34-year-old male director of the wedding services company.

     An investigation is ongoing and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase products from reputable shops. 

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
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     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk), or by filling in an online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, at the Asian Shipowners' Association 2024 International Shipping Forum today (May 28):
 
Mr Banga (Chairman of the Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA) and the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA), Mr Angad Banga), Mr Domínguez (Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco), Mr Platten (Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, Mr Guy Platten), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,  
     
     Good afternoon and a warm welcome to the Asian Shipowners' Association 2024 International Shipping Forum. To begin with, I would like to congratulate the Asian Shipowners' Association and the Hong Kong Shipowners Association for organising this remarkable forum in Hong Kong and for providing an excellent platform that brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts from the maritime community around the world. The success of this forum is a testament to the HKSOA's leadership as the rotational chair within the ASA this year. 
      
     Today, we gather here in Hong Kong to put our heads together on the future of the maritime industry in Asia. Indeed, the theme of the forum this year – "Asia Shipping, Greener Together" – comes at a critical juncture as the world rallies its resources to address climate change and accelerate the green transition. In this regard, shipping has long been one of the most fuel-efficient and sustainable means of moving goods around the world, releasing only a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions when compared to other modes of transport. Nevertheless, owing to its sheer size as the backbone of global trade, unavoidably the shipping industry also accounts for a substantial amount of carbon emissions. 
      
     At the same time, over the past decade, we have witnessed a significant shift in the centre of gravity of shipping towards Asia. From fleet ownership and cargo shipment to shipbuilding and maritime services, Asia is playing an indispensable role in creating a sustainable maritime industry and the world is watching. Being an Asia's world city, Hong Kong is already charting new waters for our current and future generations. 
      
     As shown in the video just now, in December 2023, we promulgated the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy, outlining 10 strategies and 32 action measures across four directions to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as an international maritime centre. In fact, the very first strategy of the Action Plan is to develop Hong Kong as a green shipping hub towards the goal of zero-carbon emission.  
      
     The maritime industry holds immense potential for embracing green transformation, and our drive to promote sustainable practices is unwavering. To support this endeavour, we will provide incentives for Hong Kong-registered ships that have attained high ratings under the international decarbonisation standards formulated by the International Maritime Organization. This initiative, backed by approximately HK$65 million in funding, demonstrates our dedication to supporting environmentally friendly shipping practices.  
      
     Furthermore, the HKSAR Government is conducting a comprehensive feasibility study on the provision of green fuel bunkering services for both local and ocean-going vessels. Our objective is to establish Hong Kong as a leading green maritime fuel bunkering centre. By the end of this year, an action plan will be promulgated, outlining our roadmap for the development of green fuel bunkering in Hong Kong.
      
     Ladies and gentlemen, today's forum sets an exceptional stage for all of us to come together, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions. The panel sessions, focusing on fuels, technologies, training, development, regulation and compliance, will undoubtedly shed light on the course ahead for the maritime industry. Let us seize this opportunity to showcase Hong Kong's position as an international maritime centre and our commitment to greener shipping. 
      
     Together, we will build a sustainable future for the maritime industry in Asia and beyond. Thank you. 

    

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme Signing Ceremony today (May 28):

尊敬的中�辦盧新寧副主任 (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Ms Lu Xinning), 王�明教科部部長 (Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Dr Wang Weiming), university presidents and representatives, project leaders, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. I'm delighted to be here with you all for the first signing ceremony for the RAISe+ Scheme, to celebrate the partnership between the Government, research, academic and industry sectors.

     The Hong Kong I&T (Innovation & Technology) Development Blueprint was published in December 2022. Among the four broad development directions set out in the Blueprint, the very first one is to enhance the I&T ecosystem, which presents a comprehensive roadmap to guide us step by step towards our vision of becoming an international I&T centre.

     To develop a vibrant I&T ecosystem, we need to create a healthy I&T ecological chain with close interaction between the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. With our robust R&D (research and development) capability and the ability to make breakthroughs out of the blue, Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages in the upstream sector. However, it is very often that the potential to transform the R&D outcomes cannot be fully unleashed due to various constraints, which results in a comparatively weak midstream sector. This is how we came up with the RAISe+ Scheme to incentivise and accelerate the "1 to N" transformation of outstanding R&D outcomes and the industry development.

     Thanks to the tremendous support from our universities, we have received a total of 94 applications in the first application solicitation period. I must say that every single one of them presents brilliant and groundbreaking concepts and innovative technologies. The ideas presented in these applications are incredibly inspiring and hold great potential within their respective fields. The Steering Committee has eventually recommended 24 applications for funding support in-principle. Congratulations to the 24 project teams present here today. We are truly excited about the potential impact that your work is going to bring to the I&T ecosystem, and we hope to witness the emergence of unicorn companies from you all.

     I often say that direction is more important than speed in I&T development. I can assure you that we are now on the right track, with a very good start and remarkable progress. With the right direction, what we have to do is to speed up and enhance the efficiency. In addition to launching the RAISe+ Scheme to strengthen the midstream sector, we have also made a lot of efforts to promote the development of downstream industries, with a focus on life and health technology, AI (artificial intelligence) and data science, as well as new energy and advanced manufacturing industries. In fact, in just two years, we have successfully negotiated with more than 100 tech enterprises with strategic importance to set up operations or expand their presence in Hong Kong, ahead of the five-year KPIs (key performance indicators) set out in the Chief Executive's Policy Address in 2022. This in turn echoes our development direction to enhance our I&T ecosystem with a virtuous cycle of interactions between different sectors.

     In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to the universities for their positive responses, and to the members of the Steering Committee for generously dedicating their time and sharing their expertise in assessing the applications. And of course, my thanks also go to my colleagues at the ITIB (Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau) and the ITC (Innovation and Technology Commission), for their diligent work and unwavering support.

     Today's collaboration marks a significant step forward in Hong Kong's I&T development, and will contribute to propelling the development of Hong Kong's new quality productive forces and enhancing our global competitiveness in the long run. I look forward to seeing the fruits of this scheme very soon and I wish you all a memorable afternoon. Thank you very much.

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

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.

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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning June 3, 2024:
 

     The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will stage the "Coming to a Theatre Near You – Gems of Hong Kong Film Trailers" exhibition at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA from May 31 until November 3. The exhibition will display over 100 trailers of films from the 1940s to the present day from the HKFA's collection to introduce to visitors how film production crews produced trailers of duration from tens of seconds to a few minutes by adopting deft and smooth editing skills and meticulously designed promotional taglines with a view to enticing audiences into purchasing film tickets. Visitors can also learn about the development of Hong Kong films through these trailers. This exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024.
 
     Trailers are film advertisements which aim to catch the attention of audiences through revealing a certain amount of the film story and highlights. Their production requires superb editing skills. This exhibition will showcase some of the most precious items of the HKFA's collection. Based on the traces of the development of Hong Kong films, the exhibition will outline the methods, styles and characteristics of trailers in different periods as well as their changes across time. It will display trailers in six different categories, namely the earliest trailers of the HKFA's collection, drama and realist films, musical films, comedy films, martial arts and action films, overseas versions of trailers.
 
     The earliest trailers of the HKFA's collection to be displayed at the exhibition include 10 trailers of films in the 1940s from the HKFA's collection. The taglines of post-war trailers in the 1940s generally closely tap the pulse of society to cater to the tastes of most audiences. In order to attract people of all ages, the trailers, about four minutes long on average, often weave laughter and tears together alongside attention-grabbing slogans. An example is the trailer for the film "Intimate Lovers" (1947), which is about the story of a married woman entering the workplace. Film trailers became shorter and more brisk later as the economy of Hong Kong took off with the quickening pace of city life.
 
     Trailers for drama and realist films often made use of the films' songs. Some of them even covered whole songs, such as "Love in a Fallen City" (1984) and "An Autumn's Tale" (1987). Others featured the lead actors themselves introducing the films, including the trailer of "The House of 72 Tenants" (1973) directed by Chor Yuen, where the cast of the film, Lydia Shum, Hu Chin, Elliot Yueh, Ching Li and Ivan Ho introduce the film as themselves, in order to attract audiences.
 
    In the category of trailers for musical films, the trailers for musicals, Huangmeidiao films and Cantonese opera films in the 1950s and 1960s will be displayed. Trailers for Cantonese opera films in this period sometimes included the performance by an actor of an entire Cantonese opera excerpt. The exhibition will display various precious trailers for Cantonese opera films starring Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin including "The Fairy in the Picture" (1957) and "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" (1959). In the trailer for "Trouble on the Wedding Night" (1964), the focus is unconventionally placed on the film's music, featuring precious footage of the choir and band's live recording of the film's music with the well-known composer Zhou Lan-ping.
 
     Voice-overs in trailers for comedy films often adopted a light-hearted tone. In the trailer for director Chun Kim's "How to Get a Wife" (1961), the film title and main cast are introduced in a comic style. It opens and ends with lead actor Patrick Tse speaking directly to the camera about the highs and lows of being both a husband and father. Coupled with the witty banter between the actors, the trailer is filled with playfulness and hilarity. Meanwhile, the promotional taglines of trailers for Stephen Chow's comedies, which were unparalleled in the 1990s, are testimonials of his zany humour.
 
     The exhibition also presents trailers for martial arts and action films. In the trailer for "Spy with My Face" (1966), actresses Connie Chan and Nam Hung captivate film audiences with action and comedy alongside catchy title cards. In the trailers for Bruce Lee's "The Big Boss" (1971) and "Fist of Fury" (1972), some of the most thrilling action scenes were showcased. Films produced with greater budgets often feature stunt scenes, explosion scenes, etc to entice audiences into purchasing film tickets.
 
     Trailers are the most important promotional tools of films. When films are shown overseas, there are different edits of trailers to cater for overseas markets. For example, Bruce Lee's kung fu films "The Big Boss" and "Game of Death" (1978) have English trailers. The exhibition will also display different trailer editions of the film "Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain" (1983), which is a film combining Chinese myths, the wuxia genre and history for Hong Kong, the Japanese, the English and overseas markets. Trailers reflect how film companies target different audiences by adjusting their promotional focus.
 
     To deepen visitors' understanding of film trailers, excerpts of interview videos with renowned actress Fung Bo-bo and experienced dubbing artist Ding Yue will be shown in the exhibition. In addition, interviews with filmmakers on different roles including directors Siu Wing, Bee Chan, Ho Cheuk-tin, Wilson Yip, Nick Cheuk, Jonathan Li, producers Terence Chang, Shu Kei, Amy Chin, editors Tony Chow, Chiang Kwok-kuen, Ng Wang-hung, and Wong Hoi will be rolled out at the exhibition in phases. Three screenings of selected trailers will also be held at the HKFA Cinema with free admission. Each screening will last for about an hour. Moreover, various filmmakers will share their experiences in film editing and film promotion in seminars.
 
     A tunnel of stars will also be set up at the exhibition, with screens on both sides of the tunnel showing star-studded clips of film trailers to provide an immersive experience to visitors. They can also take photos with a promotional cardboard of the cast of "The Quarrelsome Couple" (1959), including Patrick Tse, Patsy Kar Ling, Woo Fung and Nam Hung.
 
     Admission to the exhibition is free. For details, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/trailer/pe-event-2024-trailer.html or call 2739 2139.
 
     The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year, the second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong's pop culture. It encompasses both "Arts" (creative works) and "Action" (martial arts), an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture. The event lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities and its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong's vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.