SFST to Visit Laos and Malaysia for Gold Cooperation Talks

SFST to visit Laos and Malaysia

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, will depart this afternoon (July 19) for his visit to Vientiane, Laos, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

During the visit, Mr Hui will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on gold market co-operation with the Ministry of Finance of Laos. He will also witness the signing of MOUs by financial regulators and an enterprise with Lao and Malaysian counterparts. He will also call on government financial officials of the two countries, meet with representatives from the business sectors and visit a number of financial institutions.

Mr Hui will be back to Hong Kong on July 23. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will act as the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

Hong Kong Customs seizes live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 18) seized 11 live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species at Hong Kong International Airport, with an estimated market value of about $205,000.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted a parcel declared to contain pet chew stick imported from Australia to Hong Kong yesterday. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species mix-loaded with pet products and concealed in multiple metal boxes in the parcel.

The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).