Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the Hong Kong Night reception in the 77th Cannes Film Festival yesterday (May 16, Cannes time):
 
     Hello, everyone! Welcome to our Hong Kong Night reception. It's my great pleasure to meet all of you here in Cannes.
 
     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been actively promoting arts and culture. Since 2005, the Government has been injecting about HK$3 billion into our Film Development Fund, a fund designated to support our film industry.
 
     We treasure our overseas partners and have strengthened our participation in international film festivals to extend our market coverage and enhance exchanges. By leading delegations of some of the most exceptional and emerging directors, producers and actors from Hong Kong, like those attending here tonight, we hope to increase the exposure of Hong Kong cinema in a proactive approach, fostering more cultural exchanges among film talents across national borders and various cultures.
 
     To reinforce Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, we launched the Hong Kong-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme last year to support collaboration between the film industries of Hong Kong and Asian countries. The response was overwhelming. We hence extended the funding scheme to cover Europe as the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme, to welcome projects from Europe and Asia.
 
     Most important of all, we are thrilled to see many Chinese language films selected in Cannes this year. Hong Kong film, "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In", is chosen for the Midnight Screenings section, and will be screened right after this reception. We are honoured to have the director and cast joining us tonight. With the strong tradition of Hong Kong cinema, a 4K restoration of "Shanghai Blues", directed by esteemed filmmaker Tsui Hark, is selected for Cannes Classics section. Renowned Hong Kong director Peter Chan's mainland production "She's Got No Name" will be presented under Out Of Competition section towards the end of the Festival. 
 
     Last but not least, tonight, we are not just celebrating Hong Kong cinema, but also aiming to forge new connections among all of us at this world's most prestigious film event. So let us enjoy the party. Thank you.

  

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (May 16, Arequipa time) met with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Ms Elizabeth Galdo Marín, and jointly announced the substantial conclusion of negotiations of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and Peru on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Arequipa, Peru.

     "The negotiations, which began in 2023, cover trade in goods, trade in services (including e-commerce), investment and other related areas. I am pleased to note that our shared objectives in achieving a high-quality and comprehensive bilateral FTA are met," Mr Yau said.

     "Peru is Hong Kong's important trading partner in Latin America. The FTA will enhance the trade and investment ties between the two sides, provide Hong Kong products, enterprises and investors with legal certainty and better access to the Peruvian market, and bring mutual benefits to our two economies," he added.

     The two sides aim to finish the few remaining issues and the respective internal procedures with a view to signing the FTA within this year. Details of the agreement will then be announced.

     In 2023, Peru ranked fifth among Hong Kong's merchandise trading partners in Latin America. The total merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Peru amounted to HK$5,231 million in 2023 and grew at an average annual rate of four per cent from 2019 to 2023.

     Hong Kong has so far signed eight FTAs with 20 economies, including the Mainland of China, New Zealand, the member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Chile, Macao, the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), Georgia and Australia. All FTAs have entered into force.

     In addition to the FTA with Peru, Hong Kong will continue to actively expand economic and trade network, such as seeking early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and exploring FTAs or investment agreements with other potential partners in the Middle East and other regions along the Belt and Road.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of the Northern Metropolis (the Subcommittee) conducted a duty visit to Shenzhen today (May 16) to understand its experience of applying the district-wide co-ordinated approach for development and operation of modern logistics there. The Subcommittee returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

     Joined by representatives of the Development Bureau, Members first visited Houhai Smart Operations Centre and learnt that it is a platform established by the Nanshan District Government to explore innovative models for smart city operation, and utilise technologies to improve management and quality of social services. Members noted that the Centre is piloting low-altitude drone delivery and low-altitude intelligent patrol in Houhai central area.

     Members then visited Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base Exhibition Hall to gain an overview of the planning and design of the Base, which aimed to attract leading enterprises to set up headquarters there.

     In the afternoon, Members visited the exhibition hall of China Resources Land in Dachong to understand how Dachong village was redeveloped through the district-wide co-ordinated approach to enhance efficiency and coherence of development in the district. Under the project, Dachong has been transformed from an old district into a new development area integrating commercial activities and residential functions. During the visit, Members also exchanged views with representatives of the Government on adopting the "large-scale land disposal" approach in Northern Metropolis. Members opined that the development model of and experience of Dachong offer valuable references for the planning and development of the Northern Metropolis. They also learnt that a transportation hub being planned in Guiwan has reserved port spaces to cater for the future railway between Qianhai and Hung Shui Kiu.

     Members then went to Qianhai Development Exhibition Hall to receive a briefing on the planning and latest development of Qianhai. While in Qianhai, they visited MBE International's Hong Kong air cargo clearance centre project located at Qianhai Bonded Zone to understand the aviation logistics services it offers.

     Before returning to Hong Kong, Members visited Mawan Smart Port to gain a better understanding of its latest technologies for improving the efficiency of customs clearance and supervision. Mawan Smart Port, which can handle up to three million containers a year, is the first automated port in the country that has been upgraded and transformed from a traditional port.

     Members who participated in the duty visit were the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr Lau Kwok-fan; Subcommittee members Mr Frankie Yick, Mr Chan Han-pan, Mr Dennis Leung, Mr Gary Zhang and Prof William Wong; as well as a non-Subcommittee member Ms Judy Chan.

        

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (May 16) the arrangements for travel document services after the relocation of the Immigration Headquarters on June 11.

     A spokesperson of the ImmD said that the last working day of the Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) (TDNA) Section and the Travel Documents (Issue) (TDI) Section at the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai is June 8. The two sections will be relocated to the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O on June 11 to continue to render services for travel document application and collection.

     To provide members of the public with more convenient services, the TDNA Section will, on the same day upon commencement of operations of the new Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O, extend its services to the handling of applications for the Document of Identity for Visa Purposes and the Re-entry Permit, in addition to the existing service of processing applications for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport. For members of the public who need to submit those applications in person at that office, they may book an appointment through the Internet (www.gov.hk/tdbooking) or via a 24-hour hotline (2598 0888) available from May 27.

     As regards the arrangements for collection of travel documents, the spokesperson said that for an applicant whose travel document application has been processed, the ImmD will issue a Notice of Collection to notify the applicant the collection arrangements. Upon relocation of the TDI Section, applicants who have originally opted to collect their new travel documents at the TDI Section at the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai may collect their travel documents according to the details stated in the Notice of Collection. For applicants with a Notice of Collection issued on or before March 10, 2024, they are advised to collect their new travel documents as soon as possible; the uncollected new travel documents will be transferred on June 11 to the TDI Section in Tseung Kwan O (Address: 1st Floor, Administration Tower, Immigration Headquarters, 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories) for collection thereafter.

     Moreover, for applicants with a Notice of Collection issued on or after March 11, 2024, they may collect their new travel documents at the Wan Chai Collection Office on or before June 8, or at the Hong Kong Island Travel Documents Issuing Office (Address: 2nd Floor, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central) from June 11 onwards.

     The details of the above collection arrangements are appended in the Annex. If members of the public wish to collect their new travel documents before the relocation of the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, they should attend that office early for the collection, and no appointment booking is required. For more information about collection of travel documents and office hours, please visit the Immigration webpage (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/hk-travel-doc.html).

     The ImmD takes this opportunity to call on members of the public who are planning for travel to arrange for renewal of their HKSAR passports in advance, and allow sufficient time for the applications for and collection of their new passports. The ImmD also encourages members of the public to submit their HKSAR passport applications online, which is fast and convenient. For enquiries, please call the ImmD hotline on 2824 6111 or contact the ImmD by fax (2877 7711) or email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (May 16) the following arrangements for the Registration of Persons (ROP) services after relocation of the Immigration Headquarters on June 11.

     A spokesperson of the ImmD said, ROP – Kwun Tong Office, which is located in Manulife Financial Centre, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, will be relocated to the new Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O and renamed as ROP – Tseung Kwan O Office on June 11. Upon commencement of operation of the ROP – Tseung Kwan O Office, extension of service hours will also be provided, i.e. operating from 8am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sunday and public holidays.

     The last working day of ROP – Kwun Tong Office is June 8. Applicants, who have made identity card applications at ROP – Kwun Tong Office, are advised to collect their new identity cards from ROP – Kwun Tong Office on or before June 8. Starting from June 11, applicants who have not yet collected their new smart identity cards are required to collect their identity cards at the adjacent ROP – Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office. ROP – Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office will continue to provide services at the current location. The address of ROP – Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office is Office 1, 2nd Floor, Manulife Financial Centre (for registration service) and Office 1B, 3rd Floor, Manulife Financial Centre, Tower A (for collection service). 

     On the other hand, ROP – Hong Kong Office, which is located on the 8th Floor of the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, will continue to provide services at the same location. The working hours and scope of services remain unchanged.

     For applicants, who have applied for the Certificates of Registered Particulars or Certificates of Exemption and the location for collection is ROP – Kwun Tong Office, please collect the certificates on or before June 8. Starting from June 11, applicants who have yet to collect the mentioned certificates are required to collect their certificates at the ROP – Tseung Kwan O Office.

     For details of the working hours and scope of services of ROP Offices, please see Annex. For more information about ROP services, please visit the Immigration webpage (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/faq_hkic.html).

     For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by calling our enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).