Young persons in custody (PICs) at Lai King Correctional Institution (LKCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (September 20) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.

     In the past year, 33 PICs of the institution sat for various academic and vocational examinations including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the Aptis-British Council English Assessment Test and the General Aptitude Putonghua Shuiping Kaoshi, and obtained vocational certificates covering Food and Beverage Services, Coffee Making and Latte Art Training, Bakery and Pastry Making, Cantonese Cooking as well as Beauty Care organised by the Christian Action and the Vocational Training Council. During the year, the PICs attained 37 merits out of 122 certificates obtained. In the ceremony today, 15 PICs were presented with 59 certificates, of which 21 were marked with merits. 

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Shanxi Chamber of Commerce (HKSXCC), Mr Ng Tang, said that the HKSXCC is fully supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD, and set up a subsidy scheme named the HKSXCC – Igniting Hope Education Fund in August 2022, with the aim to support needy PICs to pursue continuing education and vocational training. He encouraged the young PICs to better equip themselves through education and prepare for re-entering society with the support of their families and the staff of the CSD.

     During the ceremony, members of the marching band displayed their effort through a music performance to show their gratitude to their family and correctional officers for their unwavering support. Moreover, PICs put their training into practice and showed traditional Chinese culture through a delicate Chinese tea ceremony demonstration on stage. In the sharing session, a PIC representative expressed wholehearted gratitude to their family members and CSD staff for their support. A parent representative also shared her happiness of witnessing the positive changes of her daughter while undergoing training in LKCI. 

     Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.

     LKCI accommodates young female PICs aged from 14 to under 21. The Department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for PICs to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

        

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 18) conducted anti-illicit cigarette operations in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, and raided two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres. A total of about 3.6 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 130 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with a total estimated market value of about $14 million and a duty potential of about $9.6 million, were seized.

     In the first case, Customs officers raided a metal hut on Kung Um Road, Yuen Long, yesterday at noon and seized about 1.7 million suspected illicit cigarettes therein. Upon a follow-up investigation, a 29-year-old woman who is suspected to be connected with the case was arrested at night. She was the tenant of the metal hut.

     In the second case, Customs officers yesterday afternoon seized about 1.9 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 130kg of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco inside a metal hut in Ha San Wai Tsuen, Tin Shui Wai, successfully smashing another suspected illicit cigarette storage centre. A 43-year-old man, who claimed to be a warehouse keeper and is suspected to be connected with the case, was arrested.

     The above two cases are still under investigation. Customs believes that syndicates were trying to store a large number of illicit cigarettes before the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holidays to meet the increasing demand during the long holidays, and smuggle the illicit cigarettes to overseas regions. 

     Customs will continue to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts through a multi-pronged approach.

     Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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 Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Cheshire County and East Staffordshire District of Staffordshire County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 400 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 180 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first six months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the British authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     An interactive lighting installation entitled "The Moon Machine" will be displayed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza pool from today (September 15) until October 8, kick-starting the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals 2023. The installation, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will be lit up from 6.30pm to 11pm daily, extended to midnight on the Mid-Autumn Day (September 29).
 
     "The Moon Machine" installation is designed and produced by local team One Bite Design Studio with four members, namely Alan Cheung, Sarah Mui, Sherman Sun and Deanna Lai. The team has set up the interactive lighting installation at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza pool to create lighting effects through visual and sensory technology. The colours of the installation will change in response to the size of the crowd in its vicinity. Members of the public can appreciate different shapes of the moon and take photos with an Instagram filter tailor-made by the team: www.instagram.com/ar/195041303460915.
 
     To avoid overcrowding on the Mid-Autumn Day, members of the public are advised to schedule their visits for other dates during the display period.
 
     In addition to the "The Moon Machine" installation, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals 2023 will be extended to Victoria Park, Sha Tin Park and Tuen Mun Park from September 23 to October 2 to display beautiful lanterns of different themes. There will be a wide range of activities at the carnivals on specific dates including stage performances, Chinese traditional handicraft demonstrations and intangible cultural heritage item demonstrations by local masters and more. Details will be announced later. The carnivals are one of the LCSD's programmes in support of the Night Vibes Hong Kong campaign.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2591 1340 or visit the webpage at: www.cpo.gov.hk/event/en-mid-autumn-lantern-carnivals-2023-1.

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites, login screens or emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.