Tag Archives: China

     The public consultation on Basic Law Article 23 legislation launched by the Security Bureau on January 30, 2024 concluded yesterday (February 28).

     Since the commencement of the public consultation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government had held nearly 30 consultation sessions to meet with representatives from various sectors to give them detailed briefings on the proposals in the consultation document, and to take the initiative to address the concerns of attendees on specific issues and garner their support. About 3 000 people participated in the consultation sessions, covering representatives from such sectors as local and international businesses, legal, financial, education, media and other professions. Representatives of national organisations, district personalities, political parties and relevant organisations as well as Consuls-General also attended the sessions. A majority of the participants indicated their support for the legislation.

     To enable the public to gain a clearer understanding of the legislative proposals and refute false information, various publicity items (e.g. leaflets, thematic webpage, infographics and Announcements in the Public Interest) were launched to better visualise the content of the consultation document. The Secretary for Justice and the Secretary for Security also participated in a series of media interviews by TV stations, radio stations, newspapers and online media during the consultation period to explain in greater depth areas of public concerns.

     A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, “While it takes time to take stock of the number of views received at the end, according to the preliminary figures as at 11.59pm yesterday (February 28), the HKSAR Government received a total of 13 147 submissions during the consultation period, which are mainly by email, post and fax. Among them, 12 969 (98.64 per cent of the total) show support and make positive comments; while 85 (0.65 per cent of the total) purely contain questions or opinions therein that cannot reflect the authors’ stance and 93 (0.71 per cent of the total) oppose the legislative proposals, amongst them over 10 are overseas anti-China organisations or abscondees. The aforementioned result has indicated that the legislative proposals have gained majority support from the public. On the other hand, views received cover different aspects of the legislative proposals while some offered views on safeguarding national security beyond what is covered in the proposals of the consultation document. These would serve as valuable reference in the process of drafting the bill.”

     In addition, organisations and bodies from various sectors and professions showed their staunch support for the HKSAR Government’s legislative work through open statements, bylined articles, joint letters and more, amounting to 512 as at February 27. Some of the statements were directly submitted to the HKSAR Government as responses to the consultation document.

     “The HKSAR Government would like to express gratitude to members of the public for their active participation in the public consultation, and is pleased that society has reached consensus to complete the legislation as early as possible. We are encouraged by the proactive expression of support for the legislation work by various sectors, which demonstrates a strong ambience to support the Basic Law Article 23 legislation in the society,” the spokesman said.

     The HKSAR Government will work in full steam to consolidate the results of the public consultation and report to the joint meeting of the Panel on Security and the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services of the Legislative Council (LegCo). By making reference to the views received, it will also strive to finalise the Safeguarding National Security Bill soonest for introduction to the LegCo. During the legislative process, the HKSAR Government will continue to brief various sectors proactively, take the initiative to disseminate further information in relation to the legislation through different channels, and refute groundless attacks and smears on the Basic Law Article 23 legislation to set the record straight and protect the public from being misled. In the next stage, the HKSAR Government will proactively facilitate the work of the LegCo to complete the legislative work as early as possible to cope with the constant national security risks and threats, and safeguard public safety, allowing Hong Kong to focus entirely on economic development and maintain prosperity and stability. read more

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hosted a Chinese New Year dinner reception in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on February 28 (Abu Dhabi time).
 
     Speaking to some 150 guests from the local government and business community, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee, welcomed the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, to the dinner reception, who has been visiting Abu Dhabi to attend the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference.
 
     Delivering the keynote address for the evening, Mr Yau highlighted the significance of the visit made by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr John Lee, to the UAE in February last year, which laid the groundwork for deeper and more frequent co-operation between the two economies.
 
     Mr Yau also spoke about the latest developments in Hong Kong’s business environment and the opportunities it offers. Hong Kong is known for being one of the freest, most competitive, and open economies in the world. It has been making strides in developing its economy in emerging sectors with strong support from the Mainland. Building on its traditional strengths as an international financial and trading centre, Hong Kong is also becoming a hub for innovation and technology, as well as an arts and cultural centre where Eastern and Western cultures seamlessly merge.
 
     The event featured a performance by musical group Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, which mesmerised the audience with a fusion of Chinese musical instruments and skilful presentation of traditional Chinese works, Western classics and even Arabic tunes, putting Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West culture on full display. The musical group received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
 
     To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Dubai ETO also sponsored the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival by the shores of Dubai earlier in the month. The festival provided an opportunity for competitors and spectators to learn more about Hong Kong’s latest tourist attractions, arts and culture offerings and mega sports events.

  

     Hongkong Post announced today (February 29) that a special stamp issue and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Characters in Jin Yong’s Novels II – A Path to Glory” will be released for sale on March 14 (Thursday).
 
     Since the 1950s, Dr Louis Cha had published 15 martial arts novels under the pen name Jin Yong. His novels became popular classics around the world, and were adapted into timeless TV and movie works many times. The success of Jin Yong’s novels is attributed not only to the striking twists and turns of the plots, but also to the creation of unique characters. To celebrate the centenary of the birth of Jin Yong in 2024, Hongkong Post will present a set of six stamps, three stamp sheetlets and associated philatelic products themed on “Characters in Jin Yong’s Novels II – A Path to Glory” to pay tribute to his outstanding achievements. This set of special stamps is a sequel to the “Characters in Jin Yong’s Novels” special stamps issued in 2018, showcasing some of the important characters of Jin Yong’s novels in fresh images based on the sculptures of Ren Zhe, a famous sculptor.

     At the same time, “A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe” will be held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from March 16, illustrating classic scenes from the novels as well as the martial arts skills of the characters through the sculptures of Ren Zhe. In addition, “A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, Edinburgh Place Exhibition” will also be held at Edinburgh Place in Central. The exhibition will feature large-scale sculptures created by Ren Zhe, based on the characters from Jin Yong’s novels.
 
     Themed on “Characters in Jin Yong’s Novels II – A Path to Glory”, a set of six stamps and two $10 stamp sheetlets feature eight well-known characters from Jin Yong’s novels, including Guo Jing, Ouyang Feng and Huang Rong from “The Eagle-shooting Heroes”, Linghu Chong and Ren Woxing from “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer”, Qiao Feng from “The Demi-Gods and the Semi-Devils”, as well as Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü from “The Giant Eagle and its Companion”. To commemorate the centenary of the birth of Jin Yong, the $20 stamp sheetlet features the portrait and sculpture of Dr Cha. The stamp sheetlet is specially printed with 3D embossing and gold hot foil stamping, adding sophistication to the overall presentation.
 
     Official first day covers for “Characters in Jin Yong’s Novels II – A Path to Glory” will be on sale at all post offices and on Hongkong Post’s online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from February 29 (Thursday). This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and on ShopThruPost from March 14, while serviced first day covers affixed with the special stamps, postage prepaid picture cards (air mail) and collector packs will be available at philatelic offices only.
 
     A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on March 14 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
 
     Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and in the ShopThruPost mobile app.

              

     The 2024 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp, organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be held between July and August to offer training for young musicians and choir members by renowned maestros from the Mainland and overseas. Participants can also join the in-camp music masterclasses and workshops of the camp. The music camps are categorised into residential and non-residential groups. Applications will be open tomorrow (March 1) and qualified youths aged between 10 and 29 are welcome to join.
 
     Camp A provides in-camp residential training at the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre for music groups of Chinese Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra from July 22 to 27. Camp fees for local campers and non-local campers are $1,875 and $2,730 respectively. Camp conductors are the Resident Conductor of the China National Traditional Orchestra, Yuan Bei; the Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, the United States, Dr Mike Fansler; and the Professor of Orchestra Conducting, National University of Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Professor Gustavo Fontana.
 
     Camp B provides non-residential training at designated music centres of the Music Office for groups of Junior Chinese Orchestra, Junior String Orchestra and Choir from July 29 to August 3. The camp fee for both local and non-local campers is $955. The Resident Conductor of Ding Yi Music Company, Singapore, Wong De Li; the Viola Professor of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, Professor Ho Wing; and the Artistic Director of the Raffles Singers and the Amoris Singers, Singapore, Toh Ban Sheng, will be the camp conductors.
 
     Participants of the music camps will perform at the concert halls of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong City Hall respectively to showcase the achievements of their training at the Music Camp. Tickets of the concerts will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from May 10.
 
     For information on applicants’ eligibility and application details, please visit the Music Office’s website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice). The application deadline is March 25. For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2598 0801 or 3842 7775. read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 28) successfully detected a suspected money laundering case involving about $16 million in crime proceeds, subsequent to a follow-up investigation of a dangerous drugs case identified last year. A 36-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.

     In August last year, Customs detected a seaborne drug-trafficking case involving about $200 million worth of drugs and arrested the local man suspected to be connected with the case. A subsequent financial investigation and fund-flow analysis revealed that there were numerous suspicious transactions amounting to $16 million in the personal bank accounts of the man between February 2022 and June 2023. The funds were suspected to be crime proceeds.

     Upon further investigation, Customs yesterday took enforcement action and arrested the man for “dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence” (commonly known as money laundering) under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO), and searched his residential premises in Chai Wan and two of his companies in Mong Kok and To Kwa Wan. Two mobile phones and a batch of bank documents were seized in the operation. 

     The man has been released on bail pending investigation. An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years, while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.

     Members of the public may report any suspected money laundering 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). read more