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Chief Executive Donald Tsang has asked the US to grant visa-free access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.

The Road Cargo System, an electronic advance cargo information system for customs clearance of road cargo, will start on November 17 at all land boundary control points (LBCPs).      "ROCARS was officially rolled out on May 17, 2010. There has been an 18-month transition period in order to help industry players to adjust their mode of operation, train up their staff and get their information systems well prepared for the full implementation. On November 17, the transition period will expire and the submission of electronic cargo information in advance will then be made mandatory," a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said.      Starting from November 17, under the Import and Export (Electronic Cargo Information) Regulation, a shipper or freight forwarder will be required to provide a pre-defined set of cargo information to the C&ED electronically through ROCARS before the cargo consignment enters or leaves Hong Kong in a truck.      As an acknowledgement, the shipper or freight forwarder will be given the Customs Cargo Reference Number for passing on to the relevant truck driver together with the cargo description. The truck driver will then do the "bundling" work by providing to the C&ED through ROCARS the Customs Cargo Reference Number together with his vehicle's registration number. A truck driver will be required to "bundle" in not less than 30 minutes before the truck is due to pass through an LBCP.      The truck driver will be informed of whether his cargo has to be inspected through a visual display unit at the LBCP. A truck not selected for inspection may leave immediately after the truck driver has completed immigration clearance.      "With the imminent implementation of ROCARS, cross-boundary trucks using the system, except those selected for inspection, will enjoy seamless customs clearance at the LBCPs. ROCARS will also enable Hong Kong to align with international and regional developments in electronic customs clearance," the spokesman said.      For the migration to ROCARS, the C&ED has been launching numerous publicity measures over the past 18 months, including the broadcast of TV and radio announcements, distribution of promotional leaflets, the setting up of an enquiry hotline and organising seminars in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The department has also set up outreach teams to help individual companies to migrate to ROCARS early.      "There are only three days left before the mandatory implementation of ROCARS. Shippers, freight forwarders and cross-boundary truck drivers who have not registered with us are urged to take action without delay to register now and start using the system," the spokesman added.

The Customs and Excise Department reminded that import and export declarations for shipments on or after January 1, 2012, must be completed in accordance with the Hong Kong Imports and Exports Classification List 2012 Edition. The compilation of HKIECL is based on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, designed by the World Customs Organization. Hong Kong has adopted the system in full since 1992. In 2009, the WCO recommended 220 sets of amendments to the system.  To ensure that Hong Kong's classification system continues to be compatible with those of its major trading partners, Hong Kong will implement the amendments recommended by the WCO with effect from January 1, 2012. The amendments mainly relate to the categories of agriculture, chemical, paper, textiles, base metal and machinery. A summary of the changes to the HKIECL and the Hong Kong Harmonized System correlation tables can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/trader/declaration/index.jsp).

Property market players converged at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for MIPIM Asia 2011, a preeminent real estate event in the Asia-Pacific.

The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a light refreshment restaurant in Yau Ma Tei to suspend business for 14 days. The operator breached the Food Business Regulation by illegally extending his food business area and allowing staff to wash food utensils in an alley. The restaurant, located on the ground floor at 15 Temple Street, was ordered to suspend business from November 10 to November 23. "In September last year and August this year, two convictions on the breach were recorded against the food establishment," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said. "A total fine of $6,600 was levied by the court and 15 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day business suspension," he added. The licensee of the food premises also had a record of two convictions in June and September last year for illegal September last year for illegal extension of his food business. A total fine of $7,200 was levied and 30 demerit points were registered. The breaches led to business suspension for seven days from December 14 to 20 last year.

Low carbon construction initiatives have substantially reduced carbon emissions during the construction stage of a major public housing project by the Hong Kong Housing Authority  at Kai Tak.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department raided a fresh provision shop in Ngau Chi Wan, Wong Tai Sin, which has been complained of for selling chilled meatas fresh meat.

The city’s stock exchange approved the listing plan of billionaire Cheng Yu-tung’s Chow Tai Fook Group, and the luxury retailer aims to list in Hong Kong next month.

Site at Shek Mun was awarded to Fancy Luck Development while residential site near 35 South Bay Road was awarded to Ultra Well Group.

The smartphone delivers the world’s best mobile communications and social experiences.

Mandra Capital acquired 100,000,000 shares of COMG, holding 1.26% of the issued share Company’s capital.

The proceeds will be used for expanding its manufacturing facilities, supporting its product offerings, and enhancing its research and development of products currently in the pipeline.

The scheme’s popularity prompted total loan guarantee commitment to rise by $10bn.

The Department of Health has again appealed to members of the public not to buy or consume slimming products of unknown or doubtful composition as they may contain undeclared drug ingredients that are dangerous to health. The appeal followed the DH's receipt of notification from the Hospital Authority about two cases involving two women who had a history of consuming slimming products. The first case involved a 37-year-old woman who attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital for palpitation, dizziness, nausea and chest discomfort on November 4. The patient revealed that she had taken a slimming product called Super Fat Burning Bomb, which was purchased from an unknown source in Shenzhen, for about a week. The HA's laboratory test on the product remnant showed the presence of banned drug ingredients - sibutramine and phenolphthalein. "The DH is investigating whether the patient's symptoms are related to the consumption of the product. The patient is now in stable condition and no hospitalisation was required," a DH spokesman said.      The second case related to a 43-year-old woman who was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre for hepatitis on October 23. The patient said she had taken a slimming product in the form of greenish capsules, which was also purchased from an unknown source in Shenzhen, for five days. Laboratory testing on the product remnant conducted by the HA detected the banned drug ingredients sibutramine and phenolphthalein, as well as another Western drug, diclofenac. The DH's investigation showed that her hepatitis is not related to the consumption of the product. She is now in stable condition. Sale of products containing banned Western drug ingredients is not allowed in Hong Kong. Sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products is an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. The spokesman urged members of the public not to buy products of unknown or doubtful composition.

A spokesman for the Transport Department said that the Department was aware that staff members of certain designated car testing centres were being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in relation to a suspected corruption case. The spokesman said that it was inappropriate for the Department to comment on the case, while the investigation was underway. The Department would fully co-operate with the ICAC in the investigation, and would take follow-up action as necessary in the light of the investigation outcome. The spokesman reiterated that the Department placed great emphasis on vehicle safety, and motor vehicle examiners would continue to conduct irregular inspections and monitor the operations of car testing centres. The spokesman further said that all 22 designated car testing centres in Hong Kong continued to operate as usual. Vehicle owners could choose to take their private vehicles to any of the centres for vehicle examination.

Graff Diamonds Ltd.plans to raise about $1billion in an initial public offering in Hong Kong.