Government to hand out thank-you card, roll out activities and offer free admission to facilities on polling day to encourage voters to cast votes
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced today (November 26) that, to express gratitude for the public's support in the Legislative Council General Election and for casting their valuable votes on polling day, a thoughtfully designed thank-you card will be produced and presented to voters after they have cast their votes on polling day.
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Government to hand out thank-you card, roll out activities and offer free admission to facilities on polling day to encourage voters to cast votes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The theme of the thank-you card is "Together We Create a Better Future", symbolising the collective effort of various sectors of society and the general public to jointly forge a better future for Hong Kong. The cover of the card features a futuristic design, with the election mascots, the Ballot Box Family (namely "Blue Ballot", "Red Ballot" and "Grandpa Ballot"), expressing their thanks to citizens. The card was designed by a team at the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) and produced by the Information Services Department and the Government Logistics Department.
A Government spokesman said, "The Government has in recent years bolstered its efforts to promote artificial intelligence (AI) as a core industry for Hong Kong's development, implementing a series of measures to foster a thriving AI ecosystem. HKGAI, funded by InnoHK, a major innovation and technology initiative of the Government, specialises in the research and development of generative AI technology, with the goal of building Hong Kong's self-developed AI foundation models and ecosystem. The use of generative AI by HKGAI for this design resonates perfectly with the election's theme of 'creating the future together.'"
On December 6, the day before the election, the Government will host an Election Fun Day with a series of activities across Hong Kong to welcome the election. These include:
The "Let's Vote, Together We Create the Future Gala" will be held at Wonderland of the West Kowloon Cultural District that evening, featuring performances by artists, magicianand dancers;
The Government will organise carnivals in various locations, such as a civic education carnival at Tai Po Waterfront Park, as well as land and water experience activities along the Wan Chai and North Point waterfronts, etc;
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold "Fun in Sports & LegCo Election" carnival activities at six venues, i.e. Southorn Playground in Wan Chai, Kowloon Park, Kowloon Walled City Park, Hong Kong Velodrome Park, Fanling Playground, and Pak Tai Temple Playground in Cheung Chau;
Various policy bureaux and departments will organise exhibitions and interactive experience activities. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will hold a roving interactive exhibition at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill; while the Environment and Ecology Bureau, in collaboration with Kowloon Motor Bus, will display vintage buses and electric buses at the Yue Lun Street Depot in Lai Chi Kok; and
Eight disciplinary forces under the Security Bureau will host activities or open their facilities to the public. The Police Force will hold an event at the Urban Council Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui;while open days will be held at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O; the Customs Headquarters Building in North Point; the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum in Stanley; the Civil Aid Service Headquarters in Yau Ma Tei; the Auxiliary Medical Service Headquarters in Ho Man Tin; the Tsing Yi Fire Station; and the Government Flying Service helipads in Sai Kung, Tai Mei Tuk and Tai Mo Shan.
To further enhance the ambience of the election to be held on December 7 and public awareness of the election, as well as to remind voters to fulfil their civic responsibility and strengthen their civic consciousness, various government departments have arranged for various facilities to be open to all citizens for free on December 6 and 7 or to provide souvenirs or special offers, including:
Free admission to the Hong Kong Wetland Park under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, as well as public swimming pools, and the fee-charging exhibitions of the Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Museum of Art under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on these two days;
The Environmental Protection Department will offer double GREEN$ Points to the public who recycle at its community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY;
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will hold activities to promote the election and hand out souvenirs to citizens at certain public markets;
At designated shopping centres, markets and Domain in Yau Tong under the Hong Kong Housing Authority, members of the public will enjoy extra free parking offers upon consumption of acertain amount; and
The 14 projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme will provide different offers, including free guided tours and consumption discount. Additionally, citizens can enrol for the free guided tours, organised by the declared monumentKingYinLei on Saturdays and Sundays, starting from December 6 onwards.
Members of the public can learn about various activities of the Election Fun Day by clicking here, and know more details regarding free admission to government facilities and special offers arranged by government departments by accessing the link here. The Government is also pleased to note that quite a number of private enterprises, merchants and restaurants are taking the initiative to provide various offers on polling day. Members of the public are advised to watch out for information concerned.
Government to hand out thank-you card, roll out activities and offer free admission to facilities on polling day to encourage voters to cast votes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.1 million at airport
Hong Kong Customs today (May 25) detected a drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport. About 1.9 kilograms of suspected heroin, with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million, and one duty-not-paid cigarette were seized.
A 46-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today. During customs clearance, Customs officer found the batch of suspected heroin concealed in a wooden box, and the duty-not-paid cigarette in his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service the possession of dutiable goods. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (May 26).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.1 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.1 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
