Dr. Choi Celebrates China's 75th Anniversary and Promotes Education Development in Beijing

SED attends activity in Beijing in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China

​The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (September 30) attended an activity in Beijing in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. She also called on the Ministry of Education to exchange views on education issues.

Dr Choi attended the National Day reception at the Great Hall of the People. She said that the country is forging ahead with Chinese-style modernisation in full force, and continuously deepening reform and opening up, striving to build a strong nation and achieve national rejuvenation. The Education Bureau (EDB) will continue to map out the education development plan from a holistic perspective and take long-term needs into account to build Hong Kong into an international education hub, cultivate and attract outstanding talent, enhance Hong Kong's development momentum, promote high-quality development, and contribute to the building of a leading country in education and technology.

In addition, Dr Choi met officials of the Ministry of Education to exchange views on education issues of mutual concern. She also visited the Institute of Applied Linguistics and met its Director, Mr Liu Pengjian, to discuss promotion of the Test of Proficiency in Putonghua conducted by the State Language Commission in Hong Kong. She said that the EDB launched the Sponsorship Scheme for Teachers Taking the National Putonghua Proficiency Test in June this year to encourage teachers to raise their Putonghua proficiency level. Qualified serving and prospective teachers of primary and secondary schools are fully sponsored by the Language Fund to take the test once. She said she looks forward to more teachers taking the test.

Dr Choi will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (October 1).

SED attends activity in Beijing in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SED attends activity in Beijing in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SED attends activity in Beijing in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs extends FTA Scheme to Myanmar and Honduras

Hong Kong Customs today (October 1) extended the Free Trade Agreement Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (FTA Scheme) to cover transshipment cargoes from the Mainland to Myanmar via Hong Kong, and from Honduras via Hong Kong to the Mainland.

The scope of service of the FTA Scheme originally covers cargoes of 69 economies under 21 trade agreements signed between the Mainland and its trading partners to be transshipped northbound via Hong Kong to the Mainland, and the Mainland transshipment cargoes heading southbound via Hong Kong for Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Nicaragua and Australia under eight trade agreements signed.

Upon the extension, local traders starting from today can apply to Hong Kong Customs for a Certificate of Non-manipulation for the purpose of claiming a preferential tariff under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Co-operation between the Association of South East Asian Nations and the People's Republic of China or the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and the Early Harvest Arrangement of the China-Honduras Free Trade Agreement, for cargoes from the Mainland transshipped to Myanmar via Hong Kong, and those from Honduras transshipped to the Mainland via Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Customs will make persistent efforts to extend the coverage of the FTA Scheme to enable more goods passing through Hong Kong to enjoy tariff concessions provided under relevant trade agreements, assist enterprises to tap into new markets, and reinforce Hong Kong's leading status as a logistics hub.

Hong Kong Customs has implemented the FTA Scheme since December 20, 2015, to provide traders with Customs supervision service and issue the Certificate of Non-manipulation to certify transshipment cargoes that have not undergone any further processing during their stay in Hong Kong. For applications, please visit www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/trade-facilitation/fta/procedure/index.html.