Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki strengthens ties between Hong Kong and Hangzhou in visit.

CS begins visit to Hangzhou (with photos/video)

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, began his visit to Hangzhou this afternoon (August 12) to foster exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhejiang, and between Hong Kong and Hangzhou, in various aspects.

Mr Chan attended a welcome dinner for the Hangzhou study tour under the Strive and Rise Programme. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, he expressed gratitude to the Hangzhou Municipal Government for its strong support and co-ordination for the study tour. The tour is sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and co-organised by the Hong Kong Children & Youth Services, enabling more than 80 mentees to have exchanges in Hangzhou.

Addressing the dinner, Mr Chan thanked The Hong Kong Jockey Club for serving as Vice-chairperson of the Partners’ Board under the Strive and Rise Programme with contributions and commitments continuously made. Such contributions include provision of funding support for the programme’s implementation, nomination of staff to serve as mentors, and arrangements of distinctive group activities for mentees to broaden their horizons and enrich their knowledge.

Mr Chan added that Hong Kong athletes have excelled with their outstanding performances at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and the Paris Olympic Games this year. He was pleased to learn that Olympic-gold medal-winning Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong has joined the Hangzhou study tour to share with mentees of the Strive and Rise Programme her endeavours and success stories.

Mr Chan encouraged mentees of the Strive and Rise Programme to learn the Hong Kong spirit - the “strive-and-rise” and “never-give-up” spirit - of Hong Kong athletes, uphold positive thinking and endeavour to achieve their goals. He expressed his confidence that the mentees will give full play to their strengths and achieve their dreams.

Mr Chan will continue his visit to Hangzhou tomorrow (August 13). He will meet with leaders of Zhejiang and Hangzhou, as well as Hong Kong people and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises there, to discuss issues of mutual concern and strengthen exchanges and co-operation in various aspects.

CS begins visit to Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS begins visit to Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS begins visit to Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS begins visit to Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS begins visit to Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS begins visit to Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government sets up inter-departmental dedicated investigation team to investigate business suspension of chain fitness and beauty group

The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is highly concerned about the temporary business suspension announced by a chain fitness and beauty group on September 6. An inter-departmental dedicated investigation team has been set up with a view to handling the cases as soon as possible.

Hong Kong Customs and the Police will conduct intensive investigation into offences under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) with respect to the unfair trade practices and whether other criminal offences are involved respectively. Should there be any violation found, the authorities will take appropriate enforcement action.

As of 4pm today (September 10), Customs and the Police had received 733 and 19 complaints respectively regarding the chain group concerned.

Customs appeals to consumers who have purchased fitness or beauty services from the chain group to contact Customs as soon as possible.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).

Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Consumers are also reminded to procure services at reputable shops and consider prudently before making decisions for consumption with prepayment. 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 trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

In response to the above incident, the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Police has set up a task force to investigate into the fraud and false statement offences. The police urge members of the public to report any relevant information to the Police's 24-hour hotline 2860 5012.

Source: AI-generated images