Former CUHK vice chancellor wins Nobel Prize

Professor Charles Kao, former vice chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), recently was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics.

“The Nobel Prize in Physics is the highest honor in the field of science. Hong Kong people and I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Kao on receiving the honor,” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. “An outstanding scientist aside, Professor Kao is a true gentleman and a committed educator. We are immensely proud to have such an eminent figure in Hong Kong.”

Professor Kao was CUHK vice chancellor from 1987 to 1996.

17 land transactions recorded in third quarter

The Hong Kong Lands Department notched 15 lease modifications and two land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter that ended in September. Eight were modifications of a technical nature that involved zero premium.  

Of the 17 land transactions, seven are on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and five in the New Territories. The transactions exclude Small House cases.

Another two lots were granted by private treaty during the period. One was for an electricity substation in Kowloon and the other was granted to the Hong Kong Housing Authority for an existing public housing development.

A spokesman for the Lands Department said the transactions realized a total land premium of approximately US$98.92 million.

Transaction records of the lease modifications, land exchanges and private treaty grants are uploaded onto the Lands Department's Web site [www.landsd.gov.hk] on a monthly basis.  Further case details also may be obtained by searching the registered documents in the Land Registry.

HKU Council chairman appointed

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, in his capacity as chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), recently appointed Dr. Leong Che-hung as HKU Council chairman for a term of three years. He will begin November 7.
The council is the executive body of HKU.

Customs officials meet in Hong Kong

Representatives of 19 Customs administrations from the Asia Pacific region gathered in Hong Kong October 20-22 for the 21st Administrative Meeting of the National Contact Points of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) Asia Pacific.

Representatives from various international organizations, including RILO Commonwealth of Independent States, RILO Middle East, RILO Western Europe, the Oceania Customs Organization and the United Nations Environment Program also participated in the meeting.

Hosted by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the three-day meeting covered regional enforcement issues such as action against drug trafficking, tobacco smuggling, environmental crimes and commercial fraud. The meeting also endorsed an action plan for regional cooperation to tackle the related crimes.

At the welcome reception, the Commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise Richard Yuen commended the accomplishments made by RILO Asia Pacific, highlighting the importance of Customs cooperation in combating transnational crimes.

RILO Asia Pacific is a body of the WCO Global RILO Network that gathers and analyses information on customs risks of high importance at the regional level.