Hong Kong Celebrates National Day with Open Days at Electoral Information Centre for Public Engagement and Education

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Electoral Information Centre (EIC) of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) (address: 7/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon) is holding National Day Open Days for three consecutive days from today (September 30), with a view to sharing the joy of National Day with the public and enhancing public understanding of the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, visited the EIC this afternoon and took part in a guided tour arranged for senior primary students. Mr Tsang hosted a question-and-answer session to deepen the students' understanding of both the country and the electoral system of the HKSAR in a light-hearted manner. He then participated in the mock polling session and interactive games with the students, enhancing their recognition of national identity and awareness of civic responsibilities, to deliver the important message of "Love our Country, Love Hong Kong, Love our Community". To embrace the festive ambience of National Day, Mr Tsang also took photos with the students and distributed the election-related souvenirs of the Ballot Box Family in the National Day special edition to them during the event.

A spokesman for the REO said, "Four interactive games have been set up in the EIC, namely "Say 'No' to Corrupted Flies" on clean elections; "Electors' Intersection" on voter registration; "Constructing an Election" on different stages of an election; and the motion sensing game "One-day Counting Assistant" on the counting process. Visitors can also access election-related information through the interactive information kiosks and electronic panels in the EIC. The REO has also launched the aforesaid National Day-themed special edition of souvenirs and WhatsApp stickers featuring the Ballot Box Family mascots to share the joy of National Day with members of the public."

For details of the aforesaid National Day Open Days, please visit the REO's website www.reo.gov.hk/en/service-desk/ecenter/openday.html or call the hotline at 2891 1001.

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

REO's Electoral Information Centre Open Days to celebrate National Day held for three days from today 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.