     A man who went missing in Sha Tau Kok has been located.      Lee Tim-fat, aged 62, went missing after he was last seen on Lin Ma Hang Road on March 1 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on March 2.      The man returned … read more
​The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry to begin their visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 3 (Riyadh time).
Upon arrival in Riyadh in the afternoon, Professor Sun, together with the delegation, visited King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and met with its President, Dr Munir Eldesouki. They were briefed on the tech city’s innovative projects and solutions for research applications, such as the Saudi semiconductor and genome programmes and water harvesting from thin air, and visited an innovation centre for promoting advanced manufacturing and a number of laboratories, as well as satellite manufacturing facilities. They went on to The Garage in the tech city, an accelerator providing support to local and international emerging start-ups in Riyadh with the required infrastructure and a range of supportive integrated services. Professor Sun also engaged in exchanges with technology enterprises of the accelerator.
Professor Sun noted that support for start-ups is essential to building a vibrant I&T ecosystem. Hong Kong’s two I&T flagships, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) Corporation and Cyberport, have been committed to providing comprehensive support to I&T start-ups, including incubation programmes, rent concessions, workspace, shared facilities, subsidy grants, and marketing and business development support.
Professor Sun then met with Vice Chairman of the Saudi Chinese Business Council, Dr Anas Mohammed Alfadda, to brief him on Hong Kong’s latest I&T developments and business opportunities. He expressed hope, through this visit of Hong Kong’s delegation, to build up partnership with the Saudi business and technology sectors, and invited Saudi enterprises and investors to explore investment opportunities in Hong Kong.
Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the HKSTP Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of more than 10 technology enterprises from the two I&T flagships and relevant industries. They will continue their trip in Riyadh today (March 4, Riyadh time) to attend LEAP 2024 technology conference.
Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Make-A-Wish Hong Kong (MAW HK) 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner tonight (March 3):
Ms Anita Lai (Chairperson of MAW HK), Professor Rosie Young (Honorary Advisor of MAW HK), Dr Kevin Lau (Honorary Advisor of MAW HK), Ms Linda Choy (Honorary Advisor of MAW HK), Professor Philip Chiu (Dean of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong), Professor Ivan Hung (Professor of the Department of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong), Dr Lee Tsz-leung (Hospital Chief Executive of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you at this gala dinner to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Hong Kong.
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Make-A-Wish Hong Kong for its unswerving support and dedicated commitment to children in need over the past 25 years. Since its establishment in 1998, Make-A-Wish Hong Kong has made great success in fulfilling the wishes of over 2 200 three to 17-year-old children in Hong Kong and Macao with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish Hong Kong aims to bring hope, strength and joy to these children and their families during their most difficult time by making their wishes come true. Such a tendering and philanthropic cause well deserves the full support of everyone.
The current-term Government attaches great importance to the promotion of tripartite collaboration among the Government, the community and the business sector to direct resources to those that are most in need. To take the lead, the Government has introduced various cross-sectoral programmes in collaboration with different sectors, including Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, to respond to the needs of the underprivileged.
In 2008, the Government set up the Child Development Fund (CDF) to promote the longer-term development of children from disadvantaged background. So far, over $1,080 million has been injected into the Fund to support more than 310 projects operated by schools and NGOs, benefitting over 26 000 underprivileged children. The Fund actively promotes collaborative efforts among the private sector, the community and the Government. While the Government supports schools and NGOs to implement projects through the Fund, the private sector contributes matching funds to the saving plans of the participating students and volunteers from the community who serve as mentors to provide guidance to the young participants in mapping out personal development plans and applying savings to implement their plans.
Considering the time required for the development of children, participating schools and NGOs provide three-year projects comprising key training and capacity building programmes to encourage children to plan for their future, build up a savings habit and accumulate intangible assets such as a positive attitude, personal resilience, social network and more that are all essential attributes for their long-term development.
The Fund will launch the next batch of projects in the first quarter of 2024. Let me take this opportunity to make an appeal to interested primary schools and NGOs to join hands with the Government to extend the reach of CDF projects to more underprivileged children. Of course, any donations from individuals and enterprises to support the saving plans of the participating children will be hugely appreciated!
The Government endeavours to enable our next generation to strive together with determination to achieve their goals and pursue their dreams. We trust Make-A-Wish Hong Kong will continue to partner with us in creating an enabling environment for the betterment of our young ones. On this note, I would like to extend my warmest wishes on the Silver Jubilee of Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, and my deep gratitude for its generous support for children over the past 25 years. I wish Make-A-Wish Hong Kong continuous success and every one of you an enjoyable and memorable evening.
Thank you.
​Hong Kong Customs detected a case which involved a local company having conducted a transaction of precious stones with total value above HK$120,000 without a registration during the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show held at AsiaWorld-Expo between February 27 and March 2. The investigation is ongoing and three arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.
This is the first case effected by Hong Kong Customs after the end of the nine-month transitional period for registration (i.e. April to December 2023) under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime (the Regime).
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 out 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 total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. Any dealer, other than a registrant, claims to be a registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with total value at or above HK$120,000 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, with the expiry of the transitional period, any dealer who submit 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 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 the C&ED’s 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 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
Hong Kong and Bahrain signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) in Manama, Bahrain today (March 3, Manama time) to strengthen mutual investment protection, with a view to enhancing confidence of investors, expanding investment flows and further strengthening the economic and trade ties between the two places.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, on his visit to Manama signed the IPPA with the Minister of Finance and National Economy of Bahrain, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
Mr Yau said, “This IPPA is a milestone of strengthening investment links between Hong Kong and Bahrain, each being the respective predominant gateway to the vast and exciting investment opportunities of our respective regions. The signing of the IPPA also signifies the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s commitment to the continual expansion of economic ties with Middle East economies, as heralded by the high level visit led by the Chief Executive to the region in February last year.
“An IPPA enables investors of the two parties to enjoy corresponding protection of their investments in the host economies, and thus enhance investors’ confidence in making investments abroad. Hong Kong has been making dedicated efforts to expand its network of IPPAs, in particular with countries along the Belt and Road and in the Middle East region, in order to enhance two-way investment flows and bring about economic growth and mutual prosperity,” he added.
Under the Agreement, the two governments undertake to provide investors of the other side with fair, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment of their investments, compensation in the event of expropriation of investments, and the right to free transfers abroad of investments and returns. The Agreement also provides for settlement of investment disputes under internationally accepted rules. The Agreement will enter into force after the fulfilment of the relevant internal procedures on both sides.
Following the IPPA signed with Türkiye in October last year, the Hong Kong-Bahrain IPPA is the second such agreement that this term of Government has signed. It is also the 24th investment agreement that Hong Kong has signed with a foreign economy.
Hong Kong has also signed IPPA with Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Australia, Austria, the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
With an aim to further enhancing Hong Kong’s economic and trade network especially that in the Middle East region, the Government is currently conducting negotiations of an IPPA with Saudi Arabia and considering establishing an Economic and Trade Office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Following the signing of the Hong Kong-Bahrain IPPA today, the geographical scope of the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales is also extended to cover Bahrain (as the 39th eligible economy) with immediate effect to further support Hong Kong enterprises in developing their businesses there.
