Tag Archives: China

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (March 28) the rating results of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Distributor Safety Performance Recognition Scheme (the Scheme) for 2023.
      
     All the 145 distributors under the five registered gas supply companies supplying LPG cylinders in Hong Kong joined the Scheme. Among the participating distributors, 64 attained the highest level of safety performance, the gold rating, while 15 and 66 received silver and bronze ratings respectively.
      
     Under the Scheme, independent auditing companies commissioned by the registered gas supply companies rated the distributors based on their performance in LPG cylinder delivery arrangements, safety inspection of gas appliances, record keeping of customer receipts, employee training and maintaining gas safety operation records. The rating results were verified by the EMSD.
      
     Distributors will display the Scheme’s logo and the rating certificate outside and inside their shops respectively for easy identification by the public.
      
     Organised by the EMSD and registered gas supply companies, the Scheme aims to enhance the safety performance of the LPG cylinder trade. For details of the Scheme and the ratings of LPG cylinder distributors, please visit the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/media/lpgcdsprs) and the EMSD mobile application “E&M Connect”.

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     â€‹Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the appointment ceremony of Xu Bing as Ambassador for Cultural Promotion today (March 28):
 
Master Xu, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to announce the Government’s appointment of Master Xu Bing, a world-renowned Chinese artist, as Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, with the mission of bringing Hong Kong to a higher level among the international arts community. This is particularly significant for Art March, when international and local cultural and artistic events converge in Hong Kong’s vibrant arts scene.
      
     The Government is committed to fostering the cultural development of Hong Kong and strengthening the city’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange as set out in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. In 2022, we appointed Dr Tan Dun as Hong Kong’s first Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, and he had made a notable contribution towards elevating Hong Kong’s status as a global hub for cultural exchanges and demonstrating Hong Kong’s cultural soft power.
      
     Master Tan has dedicated his efforts to showcasing young Hong Kong talent on significant international cultural stages, including performances in the prestigious Holland Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. Under his artistic vision, the brand-new Tan Dun WE-Festival was a resounding success, creating enjoyable experiences for local audiences and tourists alike.
      
     To extend this positive impact and momentum to other fields of arts, we have appointed Master Xu Bing as another Ambassador for Cultural Promotion this year. He will plan a series of large-scale art projects in Hong Kong to present its unique culture, thereby promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing the city’s image in international arts scene. 
      
     Master Xu is widely recognised as one of the most innovative and influential contemporary artists for his unparalleled originality and creativity. He had served for several leading roles and was the former Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, bringing with him a wealth of experience in arts education. Having lived and worked both in Mainland China and abroad, his international exposure is exceptional as an ideal professional, enhancing Hong Kong’s position in cultural exchanges and fostering the growth of our local talent. His works of art not only embody the beauty of traditional Chinese culture, but also integrate it with new elements. His artistic style has enabled more people to appreciate Chinese culture and art, as well as the development of new technology, earning him international acclaim. 
      
     The Hong Kong Museum of Art also houses one of Xu’s most well-known works, “Book from the Sky”. This ground-breaking artwork contains both traditional and contemporary elements, just like Hong Kong, which is characterised by a blend of Chinese and Western cultures as well as ancient and modern features. 
      
     We look forward to seeing Master Xu create more works with local characteristics and showing Hong Kong’s exceptional cultural charm to the world. We believe that Master Xu surely can use his extensive global network and experience to help local young art talent to participate in internships or art exchange programmes on the Mainland and abroad, widening their horizons in art and cultural development. 
      
     Master Xu’s artistic concepts about contemporary art, outstanding artistry and pioneering spirit will be a guiding and inspirational force for local young talent. Together, they will join hands to tell good stories of Hong Kong.
      
     Last but not least, I would like to thank Master Xu for accepting the appointment, and wish him every success in future collaborations. Thank you. read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 27) detected a case that involved a local watch company having conducted cash transactions of precious products with a total value exceeding HK$120,000, while not being a Category B registrant under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime.

     In an investigation conducted yesterday, Customs officers discovered a local watch company, who has already registered as a Category A registrant under the Regime, had carried out several cash transactions with a total value exceeding HK$120,000 in the course of business. The investigation is ongoing and a 33-year-old director of the company is assisting in the investigation.

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), the Regime has come into effect since April 1, 2023. Any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones in Hong Kong 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 the Commissioner of Customs and Excise.

     In particular, no person other than a Category B registrant may carry out a cash transaction with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in the course of business of dealing in precious metals and stones. Any dealer who is not a Category B registrant, who claims to be a Category B registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     Hong Kong Customs reminds all dealers in precious metals and stones that the transitional period for registration under the Regime has ended. Any dealer who submits their applications for registration from January 1, 2024, onwards must successfully obtain 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 the forms, procedures and guidelines to submit applications for registration, please visit the website for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System (www.drs.customs.gov.hk) or Hong Kong Customs’ webpage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html).

     Members of the public may report any suspected transactions involving precious metals and stones with a total value at or above HK$120,000 conducted without the required registration 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). read more

     The Government gazetted today (March 28) the proposed road improvement works at Hoi Sha Path in Cheung Sha, Lantau Island, to cater for the anticipated increase in traffic flow and pedestrian movement arising from the residential development in that area.
      
     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
 
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
Islands Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (Tung Chung),
1/F, Tung Chung Post Office Building,
6 Mei Tung Street, Tung Chung, Lantau Island
 
Islands District Office Main Office,
20/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
District Lands Office, Islands,
19/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plan, resumption plan and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.
      
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.

 
     A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than May 27, 2024. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (March 28) that the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme 2023 will be open for public voting starting April 1, 2024. Members of the public are welcome to cast their votes online for the awards “Quality Taxi Drivers” and “Good Driver, Good Service” through the website at www.ctsq.org.hk/voting or by scanning the QR code printed on the promotion materials (see Annex) of the scheme. The voting period will end on June 14.
      
     The public nomination of this year’s Scheme has received an enthusiastic response. Over 1 200 nominations of “Quality Taxi Drivers” and “Good Driver, Good Service” awards were received, among which 70 nominees for the “Quality Taxi Drivers” award and six nominees for the “Good Driver, Good Service” award were shortlisted for public voting. Twenty nominees of the “Quality Taxi Drivers” award and two nominees of the “Good Driver, Good Service” award obtaining the highest combined scores from the public voting and a professional assessment panel will be given the awards, while the driver obtaining the highest score from the public voting will be named the “Most Popular Taxi Driver”. Also, the taxi service management team obtaining the highest score from the professional assessment panel will be given the “Quality Taxi Service Management Team” award.
 
     Members of the public are encouraged to vote. After the end of the public voting, the assessment panel will evaluate and select the winners of the various awards for taxi drivers and taxi service management teams. The award presentation ceremony is expected to take place in the third quarter of this year.
 
     The TD and the Committee on Taxi Service Quality jointly launched the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme with an aim of promoting quality services and enhancing the image of the taxi industry. The assessment panel will evaluate the nominated taxi drivers with reference to their driving records, conduct, in-service training records, the commended behaviours and passengers’ satisfaction with the services they provided. As for the nominated taxi service management teams, the assessment panel will appraise a series of aspects, including the management on taxi service quality, the application of advanced technology in enhancing the efficiency and quality of taxi service, and their social responsibility. read more