Hong Kong Customs and General Administration of Customs of People's Republic of China hold high-level meeting
A high-level meeting between Hong Kong Customs and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) was held in Hong Kong yesterday (November 18). The delegations from both sides were headed by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, and the Vice-Minister of the GACC, Mr Zhao Zenglian, respectively.
Mr Chan welcomed Mr Zhao's visit to Hong Kong Customs with his delegation. Witnessed by Mr Zhao and Mr Chan, the Assistant Commissioner (Boundary and Ports) of Customs and Excise, Ms Chiang Yi-lee, and the Deputy Director General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the GACC, Mr Zhang Xiaohui, signed the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) regarding the inspection and quarantine of air-to-land transhipment of fresh fruits to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong.
The signing of the MoC will enhance the efficient and smooth operation of the Air-Land Fresh Lane between the two customs authorities, deepen collaboration in clearance and quarantine, improve the efficiency and safety of the transhipment of fresh food products, and promote high-quality development of fresh food trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Afterwards, both sides discussed multiple co-operative issues, including combating smuggling, intelligence exchange, consumer product safety, trade facilitation measures, and personnel training.
On the same day, the delegations toured the Customs Radar Monitoring Command Centre at the Customs Marine Base on Stonecutters Island and took a ride on a sector patrol launch to visit sea-borne smuggling black spots to learn about the maritime enforcement work of Hong Kong Customs.
Hong Kong Customs and General Administration of Customs of People's Republic of China hold high-level meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and General Administration of Customs of People's Republic of China hold high-level meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
