Hong Kong Week|New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme announced, with a threshold of HK$30 million

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Christopher Hui, announced the "New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme" on the 19th. Under the Scheme, the applicant must have absolute beneficial net assets of not less than HK$30 million and invest at least HK$30 million in permissible investment assets, including at least HK$27 million in permissible financial assets and non-residential real estate, within the two years preceding the application. Permissible investment assets include equities, debt securities, certificates of deposit, subordinated debts, qualifying collective investment schemes and limited partnership funds, and non-residential real estate.

In addition, applicants under the new scheme are required to contribute HK$3 million to the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme Portfolio to support the innovation and technology industry and other key industries that will contribute to the long-term development of Hong Kong's economy. The scheme aims to be launched and open for application by the middle of next year.

Pledges from various sectors in Hong Kong have been made to support the earthquake-stricken areas in Qinghai, Gansu Province

On December 18, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Jishishan County, Linxia Prefecture, Gansu Province, causing heavy casualties and infrastructure damage in Gansu and Qinghai. It was a cold winter, and the rescue work was being carried out in an intense and orderly manner. Over the past few days, the well-being of the people in the disaster-stricken areas has touched the hearts of Hong Kong compatriots, and people, institutions and organizations from all walks of life in Hong Kong have actively donated money to the mainland through the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Hong Kong to support the earthquake relief work.

Among them, the Li Ka Shing Foundation donated HK$20 million, the Hong Kong Jockey Club donated HK$20 million, Sino Group donated HK$2 million in the name of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, the Hong Kong Provincial Committee Members Association donated HK$2 million, the Friends of Hong Kong Association donated HK$1 million, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions donated HK$300,000, the Hong Kong Gansu Friendship Association donated HK$100,000, and President Zhao Dongping donated RMB200,000 and $200,000 in his personal name.

Li Ka-shing expressed his hope that he would do his best to meet the needs of the disaster-stricken areas and wish the people in the disaster-stricken areas an early recovery of their beautiful homes. The Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said that he hoped to help the people in the affected areas tide over the difficulties and return to normal life as soon as possible through emergency relief. A number of associations and individuals have expressed their concern and condolences to the compatriots in the disaster area when making donations.

The trial of the Hong Kong National Security Bill involving Jimmy Lai, an anti-China and destabilizing element in Hong Kong, officially began

On December 18, the case of Jimmy Lai, the founder of Hong Kong's "Next Digital" and an anti-China and destabilizing element in Hong Kong, was officially tried in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong, and the trial process is expected to take 80 days.

Jimmy Lai was tried on three counts, including two counts of conspiracy to collude with a foreign or external force to endanger national security, and one count of conspiracy to print, publish, offer for sale, distribute, display or reproduce seditious publications. Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Company Limited and Apple Daily Internet Limited were charged with one count of conspiracy to collude with a foreign or external force to endanger national security and one count of conspiracy to print, publish, offer for sale, distribute, display or reproduce a seditious publication. The case was heard by three judges designated by the National Security Law.

The Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said that during the trial, the Police will step up patrols in and around the courthouse, and all those who enter the court will be subject to inspection.

Hong Kong director Pang Fa declared bankruptcy and owed 2 million Hong Kong dollars for his wife's treatment

On December 20, 58-year-old Hong Kong director Peng Fa announced his bankruptcy in an interview. Peng Fa revealed that in recent years, he has spent all his savings because of his wife's treatment of cancer, and in the past year, he has borrowed money to raise money everywhere, but because he can't receive the filming project, he has accumulated nearly 2 million Hong Kong dollars in arrears and is unable to repay.

Peng Fa's wife suffered from breast cancer more than 10 years ago, but she successfully recovered under Peng Fa's meticulous care. In February this year, she was again diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and is in serious condition. It is reported that Peng Fa's wife is receiving targeted treatment, starting at 80,000 Hong Kong dollars per month, half of which is subsidized by the government, plus the cost of medicine and living expenses, at least 100,000 Hong Kong dollars a month.

Peng Fa and his twin brother Peng Shun are well-known "Pang Brothers" in the Hong Kong film industry, and the two have worked hard in the film industry for many years and have jointly created many classic works such as "Seeing Ghosts" and "Ghost Domain". At the same time, Peng Fa is also an excellent editor, and the "Infernal Affairs" trilogy is all from him, and he has won the Best Editing Award at the Academy Awards twice for "The Heroes of the Storm" and "Infernal Affairs".

More than 30 enterprises in key industries have settled in Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee said in his speech at the Beijing-Hong Kong Innovation and Development Forum on the 20th that the Hong Kong SAR government has invested more than 200 billion Hong Kong dollars in recent years to support Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology hub, so that innovation and technology will become the core driving force of Hong Kong's economic growth.

Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government has vigorously attracted key enterprises to settle in Hong Kong for development, contributing to the healthy development of Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem. So far, more than 30 enterprises in key industries have set up R&D centres or regional business headquarters in Hong Kong. These companies include life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, financial technology, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology. Hong Kong will go all out to become an international innovation and technology hub with global influence.

John Lee welcomes the central government's promulgation of the Qianhai General Plan and the Hengqin Master Plan

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee, welcomed the announcement by the Central Government on the 21st of the "Overall Development Plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone" ("Qianhai Master Plan") and the "Master Development Plan for the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin" ("Hengqin Master Plan"). He said that the HKSAR Government will lead all sectors of the community to seize the new opportunities brought about by the development of Qianhai and Hengqin, give full play to Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, and jointly promote the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Li Jiachao said that the "Qianhai Master Plan" has pointed out the direction for the opening up and development of Qianhai. The HKSAR Government would like to thank the Central Government for incorporating a number of policy measures in the Qianhai Master Plan that benefit Hong Kong and the development of the Greater Bay Area and the country, especially in areas such as financial services, legal services, professional services, technology services, as well as facilitation for Hong Kong and Macao residents to start businesses, work and live in Qianhai, as well as facilitation for foreign Hong Kong residents to travel to and from the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, which will greatly expand the development space for Hong Kong's talents and enterprises.

During the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays, the Hong Kong Express Rail Link was added, with more than 200 trains running every day

During this year's Christmas and New Year's Day holidays (i.e. 22 to 26 December 2023 and 29 December to 1 January 2024), the Hong Kong Immigration Department expects that about 9.03 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will enter and leave Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points. About 83.5% of the visitors, or about 7.54 million, will enter and leave Hong Kong through land boundary control points. The busiest day for land departures is expected to be on 23 December (Saturday), with about 549,000 departures, while the peak for arrivals is 26 December (Tuesday), with about 626,000 arrivals.

In order to meet the travel needs of passengers and facilitate the travel between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, from December 22 to 26 and from December 29 to January 1, 22 EMU trains to and from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station will be added to Shenzhen every day, including 2 trains from Shenzhen North Station and 20 trains from Futian Station. At that time, there will be more than 200 round-trip EMU trains between Shenzhen and Hong Kong every day.

The first batch of 10 Hong Kong civil servants went to Shenzhen for three months

The launching ceremony of the Civil Service Exchange and Collaboration Programme jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was held in Shenzhen on 18 December, marking the official start of the first batch of HKSAR civil servants in Shenzhen for about three months.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for the Civil Service of the HKSAR Government, Ms Ho Ho Pui-yan, said that the HKSAR Government has always attached great importance to the training and exchange of Hong Kong civil servants in the Mainland, so as to enable them to have a deeper understanding of the country's policies, development situation, history and culture, consolidate the national sense and patriotic spirit of civil servants, and exchange experience and learn from each other with civil servants in Mainland cities, with a view to applying their valuable experience and experience to Hong Kong's work in the future, so as to ensure the steady and successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems".

The 10 middle and senior civil servants from eight departments and grades, including Administrative Officer Grade, Executive Officer Grade, Environmental Protection Department, Highways Department, Innovation and Technology Commission, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Planning Department and Transport Department, participated in the exchange. The exchange officers were stationed in different government units in Futian and Qianhai to conduct in-depth exchanges on areas such as regional governance, scientific and technological development, urban planning, transportation and environmental protection.

[Finishing] Southern + reporter Wu Binbin Chen Yu

【Poster】Liu Yujie

【Authors】 Wu Binbin;

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