The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, began his itinerary in Sichuan today (August 14). Upon his arrival in the afternoon, Mr Wong departed for the Hetaoping base of the China Conserva… read more
A man and a woman were fined $8,000 and $15,000 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (August 14) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The courts heard that in December last year and February this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected two suspected unlicensed guesthouses on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and Argyle Street in Mong Kok. During the inspections, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented rooms in these guesthouses on a daily basis.
According to the OLA’s records, these guesthouses did not possess licences under the Ordinance on the days of inspection. The man and woman responsible for managing the premises were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”. read more
The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (August 14) for people in need of the service.
The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Districts:
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Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate
Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
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Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 20 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 14) investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, and hence reminded the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene against intestinal infections.
The case involves an 8-year-old girl with good past health, who has presented with diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever since July 23. She was admitted to a private hospital on July 24 and was discharged on July 26. The patient has been in a stable condition all along.
Her stool specimen grew STEC upon laboratory testing.
The CHP’s initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Investigations are ongoing.
“Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains, however, such as STEC, can produce powerful toxins and cause severe food-borne disease. The most recognised serogroup of STEC is E. coli O157:H7,” a spokesman for the CHP explained.
Preventive measures for STEC infection are similar to those recommended for other food-borne diseases. The public is advised to observe good personal and food hygiene:
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Tai Tong Forest Nursery of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in Yuen Long today (August 14) to learn more about the work of front-line colleagues and meet with staff of various grades to exchange views on matters of concern. Joining the visit were two participants of the “Be a Government Official for a Day” programme.
Mr Law first met with the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Dr Leung Siu-fai, and the directorate staff to get an update on their work in facilitating agricultural and fisheries production and conserving the natural environment as well as the challenges confronting them.
Mr Law then toured the Tai Tong Forest Nursery to see how colleagues produce tree seedlings. He learnt that the nursery produced about 400 000 tree seedlings of more than 100 species for planting and increasing the biodiversity in country parks in 2018-19.
Mr Law also watched the production of wooden products by a specialised team at the Tai Tong Regional Workshop. He said he was pleased to know that the team produces more than 250 wooden products such as shelters, information boards, tables and benches, pai lau and children’s play equipment for various country parks on average every year, and turns ageing trees and dead wood into furnishings, making good use of natural resources and offering an enjoyable outdoor recreational experience for visitors.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concerned them. He praised colleagues for their efforts and encouraged them to continue to provide quality services to members of the public with dedication.
