CE to lead delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a business delegation to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on May 31 to strengthen exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Central Asia in areas including finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology (I&T), and green development. The visit also aims to create new trade corridors and explore emerging market opportunities.
Mr Lee said that Central Asia enjoys rapid economic development, abundant natural resources, and immense market potential, offering a vast scope for collaboration with Hong Kong. Kazakhstan is a major economy in Central Asia. It is an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe, accounting for around 60 per cent of the region's Gross Domestic Product, and is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia. Uzbekistan is located at the heart of Central Asia, bordering all Central Asian states and is the most populous country in the region. It is not only an important economic powerhouse, but also a key partner for Hong Kong in expanding its presence in the Central Asian market.
Mr Lee noted that this delegation is the largest of its kind in the current term of the Government, covering the largest number of participants and the broadest range of sectors, and would further deepen international exchanges and co-operation. The delegation comprises over 40 Hong Kong business and professional representatives and about 30 representatives of Mainland enterprises, covering such sectors as industry and business, finance, legal services, construction and engineering, logistics, I&T, advanced manufacturing, and the automotive industry. The delegation will further harness Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle in connecting the Mainland and the world, support Mainland enterprises in going global, and capitalise on complementary strengths. It will actively promote Hong Kong's advantages and investment opportunities to local business sectors, so as to attract Central Asian enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's platform for business expansion and better utilise Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder".
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials joining the delegation include the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, among others.
Mr Lee will start his visit in Kazakhstan, before proceeding to Uzbekistan on June 3. During the visit, Mr Lee will meet with senior government officials of the two countries to enhance government-to-government and high-level communication, lead the delegation in connecting with local business sectors, introduce Hong Kong's advantages, expand business networks, and visit enterprises and facilities to understand the latest developments and explore co-operation opportunities.
Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on June 6. In his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH clamps down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) carried out surprise inspections in Kwun Tong today (May 30) and issued a total of threefixed penalty notices (FPNs) in an effort to clamp down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas.
During the operation codenamed "Smokeshield", officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) carried out inspections and enforcement action at one cigar retail shop in Kwun Tong, and issued a total of three FPNs to persons smoking cigars illegally at the premises. TACO's investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the cigar retail shop who are suspected of aiding and abetting smoking offences.
Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Ordinance), smoking in a statutory no-smoking area (including indoor areas of shops) is prohibited. Any person who smokes in a statutory no-smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000. Venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender to cease the act. If the offender is not co-operative, the manager of the no-smoking area may contact the Police for assistance.
Moreover, where smoking products (including cigars) are sold, whether in cigar retail shops or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000.
In addition, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the same offence.
"From January 2025 to date, the DH has conducted over 42 inspections of cigar shops regarding illegal smoking activities, and issued a total of eight FPNs for illegal smoking in these premises. The DH will continue to closely monitor and rigorously enforce the law against smoking in no-smoking areas, as well as the illegal sale and promotion of smoking products," said the Head of TACO, Dr Manny Lam.
He cautioned that cigar smoking is just as harmful to health as other smoking products, and urged smokers to quit as early as possible for their own health and that of their family and friends. In support of the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day on May 31 each year, the DH is launching the 'Quit in June' campaign. Free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs are being distributed at over 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses and DH clinics, while free Chinese medicine ear points patches are available at over 200 designated Chinese medicine clinics to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. The DH has collaborated with the School of Nursing of the University of Hong Kong to launch a pilot AI-assisted smoking cessation counselling service - "Chat to Quit" this year. The AI provides accurate and appropriate smoking cessation information instantly, and offers personalised smoking cessation counselling according to users' smoking history and quitting preferences. It can also provide emotional support.
The DH also operates an integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (1833 183) to answer enquiries about smoking cessation, and provide professional counselling and referral services. Members of the public can visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on smoking cessation and related support tools and services. They can also download the "Quit Smoking App" to keep track of their quitting progress and obtain tips on fighting cravings to maintain a tobacco-free life.
Source: AI-found images
DH clamps down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH clamps down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
