Information Services Department signs MOU with Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
The Information Services Department (ISD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation (MOU) today (August 22) to strengthen collaboration and exchanges on matters related to media and communication, and to bring the good stories of Hong Kong to the global stage.
The MOU was signed by the Director of Information Services, Mr John Tse, and ABU Secretary-General Mr Ahmed Nadeem. Under the agreement, both parties will seek to establish a dedicated communication mechanism for the exchange of views on media and communication co-operation; collaborate on hosting and supporting joint events in Hong Kong; leverage ABU platforms to present compelling stories of Hong Kong to global audiences; and facilitate and support visits by media professionals from ABU member organisations to Hong Kong to promote reciprocal dialogue and mutual understanding.
This is the first such MOU that the ISD has signed with a regional broadcasting union.
Mr Tse said that the expansive global footprint of the ABU aligns closely with the ISD's objective of engaging regional and international media, and the ISD can support the reporting of ABU members by sharing Hong Kong's accurate and up-to-date news stories and materials, paving the way for a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership.
"Upon signing the MOU, the ISD will immediately initiate discussions on the arrangements for inviting senior and mid-level editorial staff from ABU member organisations to visit Hong Kong at the end of this year to learn about the city's latest developments. We will also support the ABU in hosting media events in Hong Kong next year," Mr Tse said.
"As we prepare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region next year, we will also make good use of the ABU's international network and platforms to share information on Hong Kong's celebratory activities and achievements over the past three decades with wide audiences around the world. It will also help global audiences to keep abreast of the latest developments in Hong Kong, and learn about the emerging opportunities in areas ranging from business and investment, to education, arts, culture and much more."
Established in 1964, the ABU is a not-for-profit, non-governmental professional association dedicated to advancing broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific, promoting the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters, and facilitating regional and international media co-operation. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it is demographically and geographically the world's largest broadcasting union, encompassing more than 220 member organisations across 66 countries and serving more than half the world's population.
The Information Services Department and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation today (August 22) to strengthen collaboration and exchanges on matters related to media and communication. Photo shows the Director of Information Services, Mr John Tse (right), and ABU Secretary-General Mr Ahmed Nadeem (left) at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Information Services Department and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation today (August 22) to strengthen collaboration and exchanges on matters related to media and communication. Photo shows the Director of Information Services, Mr John Tse (right), and ABU Secretary-General Mr Ahmed Nadeem (left) signing the agreement. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from September 17 to 21
The Transport Department (TD) today (September 2) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on September 17 (Thursday) to noon on September 21 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
A spokesman for the TD said, "A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with 'HK' or 'XX' as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged."
Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by "iAM Smart+" equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered "iAM Smart" users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not "iAM Smart" users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using "iAM Smart+" or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
- completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
- making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.
(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries.
Source: AI-found images
