Empowering minorities by inclusion
Funded by the Home Affairs Department, support service centres operated by non-profit organisations help ethnic minorities integrate into the community and access public services. One such facility, the HOPE Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities, offers a wide range of activities and services, including interpretation and translation support in seven languages.
News.gov.hk spoke to a beneficiary to learn about her experience of using the centre's services, and to a representative of its operating organisation, who outlined how it promotes social inclusion.
The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature from today (July 12) in text and video format.
Photo source: news.gov.hk
Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species
Hong Kong Customs seized four live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $40,000, at Hong Kong International Airport on July 10.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted a postal packet declared to contain plastic figurine toys and plastic home decorations imported from the United States to Hong Kong on July 10. Upon inspection, the batch of live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species was found wrapped by plastic tapes in a carton box of the postal packet.
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).
Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
