Dear HKU students,

Warm greetings! As we reflect on the previous academic year, it has come to our attention that certain concerns have emerged, impacting individuals and their financial well-being- undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. It is crucial that you take the time to read this email carefully and familiarize yourself with the following tips to stay alert and protect yourselves from potential dangers.  If you find yourself caught in a situation that you perceive as abusive or exploitative, then please share with trusted friends, your family and if necessary, reach out to CEDARS. (email: cedars@hku.hk or call us at 3917-2305)

1. Phone Scams: Telephone deception, email scams, online romance scams, investment frauds, online employment/ shopping traps are alarmingly common nowadays.  Before disclosing any personal information or making any financial commitments, please conduct a thorough "fact-check" to ensure the legitimacy of the situation.  Please download the Scameter+ app - one-stop scam and pitfall search engine created by HK Police Force. 
2. Ban on dangerous drugs and Cannabidiol (CBD) products: From 1 February, 2023, CBD has been listed as a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO). Under the DDO, trafficking (including importing and exporting) and sales of substances in contravention of the law will be subject to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.  Possession and consumption of substances in contravention of the DDO will be subject to a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of $1 million.  Please refer to The Dangerous Drug Ordinance for narcotics offences.  Always stay away from any drugs when participating in social and leisure activities.
3. SMS Sender Registration: In order to help members of the public verify the identities of SMS senders, all companies or organisations participating in the SMS Sender Registration Scheme ("Scheme") have started using "Registered SMS Sender IDs" with prefix "#" to send SMS to local subscribers of mobile services in Hong Kong.  If you received an SMS without prefix “#”, you have to verify the identity of SMS sender!
4. Smoke free campus (no vaping) and ban on alternative smoking products: Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited on campus (including student residences), both indoors and outdoors.  The government has implemented a ban on alternative smoking products, including smoking products, heated tobacco products, and herbal cigarettes, in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong.
5. Be cautious of high-pressure groups/ cults, no brainwashing!: If someone approaches you on campus and tries to push you into a conversation or activity that makes you uncomfortable, remember that you have the right to say "No" and reject their cult-like and manipulative behaviour.
6. Corruption on campus: Corruption can occur in any setting, and our campus is not exempt from this risk. Corruption involves individuals abusing their authority for personal gain, often at the expense of others. It is important to be aware of this risk and remain vigilant.
7. Pyramid scheme: Beware of pyramid schemes that aim to deceive and scam individuals out of their money. Stay cautious of manipulative tactics used by fraudsters who often disguise their sales plans as multi-level marketing, even mentioning established companies to make their schemes look legitimate.
8. Immigration Formalities: Non-resident students in Hong Kong must apply for a student visa from the Immigration Department. Studying without a valid student visa is illegal. You are required to leave Hong Kong within 4 weeks of completing your studies or when your visa expires, depending on which comes first. To determine your work eligibility, please check the letter issued by the Immigration Department.

重要資訊

各位同學：

歡迎您們成為香港大學一份子！在過去的一年，我們留意到有幾項跟香港法例及其他重要事情須要提醒各本科生及研究生：

1. 詐騙電話:當你接到自稱是某局或某大型機構的陌生人來電時，最好的做法是選擇直接忽視。也可進入網站 https://cyberdefender.hk/ ，並輸入陌生來電者的電話號碼，該網站會顯示該號碼的風險等級。若仍無法確定是否為詐騙電話，請直接向警方報案，致電 18222 (24小時諮詢熱線)與警方聯繫。請下載由警方推出的「Scameter+」手機應用程式：一站式詐騙陷阱搜尋器「防騙視伏器」.
2. 禁止危險藥物及大麻二酚產品（CBD）: 由2023年2月1日起，CBD已被列為《危險藥物條例》（《條例》）下的危險藥物。根據《條例》，非法販運（包括進口及出口）及售賣受管制物質的最高刑罰為終身監禁及罰款500萬元。違反《條例》管有及服用受管制物質的最高刑罰為監禁七年及罰款100萬元。請瀏覽網 危險藥物條例關於毒品罪行的刑罰。同學在社交消遣時切記遠離毒品！
3. 短訊發送人登記制: 為協助市民識別短訊發送人的身分，所有已登記參與「短訊發送人登記制」的公司或機構，會使用其以「#」號開頭的「已登記的短訊發送人名稱」發出短訊予本地流動服務用戶。若您收到短訊不㫕人以「#」號開頭，您需要識別發送人身分！
4. 無煙校園（包括電子煙）以及「另類吸煙產品」禁令：整個校園範圍無論室內及室外（包括學生宿舍）均嚴禁吸煙或吸食電子煙 。根據政府控煙法例，由2022年4月30日起，任何人不得進口、推廣、製造、售賣或為商業目的而管有另類吸煙產品，包括電子煙、加熱煙產品及草本煙。
5. 異教團體 : 若有人在校園嘗試不斷跟您攀談並且令您感到有壓力，請記著您絕對有權利說「不」並拒絕這一類異教團體的高壓行為。
6. 貪污賄賂: 貪污是指有人利用不正當手法去謀取個人私利，從而引致他人利益受損。貪污賄賂在任何環境均有可能發生，校園亦不例外。同學需要提高警剔並避免誤墮法網。
7. 層壓式騙案: 層壓式推銷是騙徒常用的手法去欺騙金錢，包括香港在內，很多國家和地區早已將這種銷售手法列為非法行為。同學須要留意騙徒的慣常技倆，騙徒常常把他們的產品銷售計劃說成是傳銷計劃，又會搬出一些傳銷公司，以證明自己的經營手法合法。
8. 學生簽證申請: 非本地生必須向入境事務處申請學生簽證，同學沒有有效學生簽證實屬違法。若您已畢業或簽證已過期(以較早期為準)，您必須要於四星期內離開香港。如您希望確認留港工作資格，您需要參閱由入境處發出的信件。

如果您發現自己身處一種您認為是被剝削或不安的環境中，那麼請與您信任的朋友和家人分享。如有必要，請與 CEDARS 聯繫。 (電子郵件：cedars@hku.hk 或致電 3917-2305)。