Hong Kong Customs on March 26 mounted an anti-smuggling operation at the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary lorry. About 4 400 pieces of computer mice, about 1 100 pieces of USB-C multiport hubs and about 600 pieces of computer accessories, with a total estimated market value of about $2.8 million, were seized. 

     Customs officers on that day intercepted the inbound lorry declared as carrying power cables at the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point. Upon inspection, the batch of suspected smuggled goods was seized inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 57-year-old male driver was arrested and was put on bail pending further investigations. 

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis. 

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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).

  

     The Government today (March 28) invites public tender for a site, Chai Wan Inland Lot No. 185, at Cheung Man Road, Chai Wan, for implementing the measure to put up sites for tender in batches from the 2023/24 financial year onwards for private developers to develop subsidised sale flats (SSFs) as announced in the 2022 Policy Address. The tender invitation will close on July 19.
 
     A spokesman for the Housing Bureau said, "In mid-2023, the Government announced the policy framework for Private Subsidised Sale Flat – Pilot Scheme, with a view to leveraging on market forces and encouraging private developers to participate in the development of SSFs so as to raise the overall development capacity. A project under the Pilot Scheme will be positioned as one developed and sold by private developers. According to the policy framework, the land sale conditions require all flats to be developed as private SSFs and offered for sale at 65 per cent of market prices (i.e. at a discount rate of 35 per cent) to eligible buyers as determined by the Government."
 
     The spokesman continued, "As private SSFs are at the same rung as Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats in the housing ladder, the eligibility criteria of the buyers (including income and asset limits) will follow those under the prevailing HOS and housing policy, and will be subject to the same alienation restrictions as those of HOS flats currently being sold."
 
     According to the land sale conditions, the developer shall provide not less than 700 flats on the lot. Under the policy framework, to ensure that the developer will not build too many small flats while providing flexibility for it to design the appropriate flat mix in response to market needs, all flats must comply with the minimum saleable area (SA) requirement currently set by the Government for land sale sites, i.e. 26 square meters (around 280 square feet). In addition, at least 70 per cent of all the flats should be no smaller than 34.8 sq m (around 375 sq ft) in SA.
　
     To ensure the quality and workmanship of the private SSFs, the land sale conditions require the developer to employ an independent checker to conduct the final inspection of building works. The basic requirements for inspection and the need for the developer to submit a report to the satisfaction of the Secretary for Housing, with the independent checker certifying compliance of the works with the relevant requirements, are also stipulated in the land sale conditions.
 
     "In announcing the policy framework for the Pilot Scheme last year, the Government indicated that the site at Cheung Man Road, Chai Wan, would be put up for sale in the first quarter of 2024. To implement the Pilot Scheme and enable early delivery of SSF production at the site, the Government has put up the tender as planned, demonstrating the Government's commitment in land and housing development," the spokesman added.

     The Government announced today (March 28) the appointment of Mr Stanley Li Sai-wing, Mr Chan Man-chau, Mr George Lau Ka-keung and Dr Lau Sin-ting as members to the Fight Crime Committee, and the reappointment of 12 members, namely Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung, Mr Chan Siu-tong, Dr Eric Cheng Kam-chung, Mr Chong Chong-yip, Ms Melody Kwok Sze-wai, Mr Matthew Lam Kin-hong, Mr Victor Pang Wing-seng, Mr Siu Chor-kee, Mr Roland Wong Ka-yeung, Mr Wong Wing-lik, Mr Yeung Ka-shing and Dr Stanley Yim Yuk-lun. Their term of appointment commences on April 1, 2024.
 
     The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Committee, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, thanked the outgoing members, Mr Ronick Chan Chun-ying, Dr Frankie Ngan Man-yu, Dr Joseph Lee and Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai, for their contributions and dedications to the Committee. He also welcomed the four new members and looked forward to closely working with all members of the new term.
 
     The Fight Crime Committee is responsible for drawing up plans to reduce crime, co-ordinating efforts in fighting crime and monitoring the results, and determining ways in which the public can be encouraged to contribute to the fight against crime.

     The Government today (March 28) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Yemen) Regulation 2019 (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
      
     "The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Yemen) Regulation 2019 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2707 in respect of Yemen," a Government spokesperson said.
      
     The amendments renew the financial sanctions and travel ban.

     â€‹The Government today (March 28) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Libya) Regulation 2019 (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today. 
      
     "The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Libya) Regulation 2019 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2664 and 2701 in respect of Libya," a Government spokesman said.
      
     The amendments renew the sanctions measures in respect of preventing illicit petroleum exports from Libya, and reflect the latest exemption arrangements in respect of arms embargo and asset freeze.