​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 29) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea. The trade shoul… read more
The Security Bureau today (February 29) strongly disapproved of and rejected the biased and erroneous remarks made by the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (UK), Mr David Cameron, about the Basic Law Article 23 legislation (Article 23 legislation).
The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said, “While making his biased and erroneous remarks, the UK Foreign Secretary, Mr Cameron, deliberately did not mention the extensive public consultation and nearly 30 consultation sessions conducted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on the Article 23 legislation. In fact, a majority of the participants and members of the public filing written submissions in response to the public consultation indicated their support for the legislation; and once the Safeguarding National Security Bill is finalised, it will be introduced to the Legislative Council for scrutiny.
“The UK has laws and procedures covering different areas for safeguarding national security. The legislative proposals of Article 23 has made reference to laws of foreign countries, including those of the UK. The UK has more than 10 stringent laws to safeguard its national security. What Mr Cameron said reflected his double standards.
“Under the United Nations Charter, one of the elements of sovereign equality is that each state has the right freely to choose and develop its political, social, economic and cultural systems. No country or region should fantasise that its system is superior to that of another. Moreover, regardless of the systems, every state will enact laws on safeguarding national security. This is an inherent right of every sovereign state, and is also an international practice. Each country or region has the right to enact laws in the most suitable way, having regard to its own circumstances and needs. It should also respect the systems of other countries and regions and their responsibilities and needs to legislate for safeguarding national security, rather than conceitedly attempted to interfere in the legislative procedures of other countries or regions.
“After Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the Chinese Government ruled the HKSAR with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the HKSAR as legal basis, rather than the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong. The UK should immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are internal affairs of China.”
“The HKSAR Government will complete the legislative exercise as early as possible to plug the relevant national security loopholes, and in the process, it will listen to the constructive suggestions from various sectors to ensure that the legislation is in line with the Basic Law, and the relevant provisions on safeguarding rights and freedoms in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong. In formulating the relevant offences and drafting the Bill, we will target acts endangering national security with precision and define the elements and penalties of the relevant offences with clarity. Normal business operations and normal exchanges with overseas institutions, organisations and individuals will be fully protected by the law,” Mr Tang stressed. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 29) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting seven persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and … read more
The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, departed today (February 29) for a two-day visit to Zhaoqing to meet with leaders of the People’s Government of Zhaoqing Municipality and visit key local enterprises as well as a youth innovation and entrepreneurial base.
Ms Chan travelled to Zhaoqing by high speed rail at noon and visited an electric vehicle enterprise, a new-energy technology enterprise and a mechanical equipment enterprise in turn. She was briefed by representatives of the three enterprises about their businesses and development plans. She encouraged Zhaoqing enterprises to make good use of Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems”, especially our international business network and world-class professional services, as well as Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Mainland and global markets, to expand and go global through the internationalised platform of Hong Kong.
Ms Chan then called on Executive Deputy Mayor of the People’s Government of Zhaoqing Municipality Mr Li Xingwen to learn about the latest developments of Zhaoqing and exchange views with him on deepening the co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhaoqing, and jointly take forward the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Ms Chan said that as one of the core cities of the GBA, Hong Kong will continue to act as a core engine for regional development and co-operate closely with other cities in the GBA under the principles of complementarity to firmly grasp the immense opportunities of GBA development and contribute to the high-quality development and high-level opening up of the country and of the GBA.
Ms Chan added that Hong Kong and Zhaoqing have all along been partners with complementary advantages. The commissioning of major cross-boundary infrastructure such as the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link has brought Hong Kong and Zhaoqing, as well as other cities of the GBA, much closer together. Zhaoqing is rich in natural resources and is committed to promoting new industrialisation and the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism. In the process of jointly taking forward the development of the GBA, there is much scope for Hong Kong and Zhaoqing to strengthen co-operation in different areas. The two places should maintain close liaison and continue to seek breakthroughs with innovative minds to strive for more policy measures to promote interconnectivity and integrated development among cities in the GBA.
Tomorrow (March 1), Ms Chan will continue her visit to Zhaoqing, including visiting an enterprise that specialises in the research and development of display modules, touring Zhaoqing New District to learn about its planning and development, and visiting a youth innovation and entrepreneurship base to exchange views with young people.
A renovation company and its male director were convicted of applying a false trade description to renovation services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), and were fined $3,000 and sentenced to imprisonment for eight months respectively at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (February 29). The imprisonment sentence laid down by the court on the director is the highest penalty imposed on unfair trade practices cases relating to renovation services since the TDO was amended in July 2013.
Hong Kong Customs in January 2022 received information alleging that a renovation company and its director had engaged in unfair trade practices in the supply of renovation services.
An investigation revealed that the renovation company and its director made a false claim to a customer that the renovation services would be commenced on a specified date. However, no services had been provided to the customer at the end. The total amount of the contract involved was about $190,000.
Customs welcomes the sentence which has achieved a considerable deterrent effect and given a clear warning to unscrupulous practitioners in the industry. The department has all along been concerned about the unfair trade practices in the industry and will continue to take stringent enforcement actions and will not tolerate any illegal acts.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Consumers are also reminded to procure services from reputable shops. After purchasing services, they should keep the relevant records, such as transaction receipts and contracts, which can become basic information in case a complaint is lodged in the future.
Under the TDO, any person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any service commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
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 online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/). read more