Author Archives: hksar gov

     Spanish filmgoers are being introduced to Hong Kong movies, thanks in part to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), which is supporting the 16th Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic, Spain, that began on July 15 and will run until July 21 (Vic time). 
      
     The Asian Summer Film Festival features 32 films this year, of which six are Hong Kong productions or co-productions.
      
     Officiating at the Night of Hong Kong Film on July 17 (Vic time), the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Mr Sam Hui, thanked the organisers for their efforts in bringing Hong Kong films to Spanish audiences.   
      
     Mr Hui said Hong Kong has one of the largest and most dynamic film entertainment industries in the world. In 2018, more than 50 locally produced films were released in Hong Kong, some of which are co-productions with Mainland China. The Hong Kong film industry can continue to flourish because of Hong Kong’s diverse and international culture, its strong protection of freedom of expression and a solid legal system that protects the intellectual property rights of artists and producers. 
      
     The Night of Hong Kong Film featured the screening of Lee Chiu’s documentary, “I am the White Tiger”, about English stuntman Mark Houghton, who is a martial arts legend in the Hong Kong film industry. This was followed by a screening of Pang Ho-cheung’s film “Missbehavior”. The evening concluded with an outdoor Cantonese dinner followed by the international premiere, at the Festival and on the online Movistar+ platform, of Yan Jia’s film “The Knight of the Shadows, Between Yin and Yang”.
      
     New this year at the festival is a “Sunday Marathon” on July 21, when a succession of movies will include two Hong Kong films, Kam Ka-wai’s “Big Brother” and Chin Kar-lok’s “Golden Job”. There will also be a special screening of Ringo Lam’s cult film “Full Contact” on July 19 (Vic time), as a tribute to the late director. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session at the lobby of the West Wing of the Central Government Offices this afternoon (July 18):
 
Reporter: Why do the MTR and the Government think that there is no need to demolish any parts of the flawed Hung Hom Station and rather the MTR decided to just use strengthening works to amend the flaws? Secondly, can you explain why the Government decides to open sooner than planned the mentioned parts of the section of Shatin to Central Link? Why not include other remaining stations?
 
Secretary for Transport and Housing: I must emphasise here that the acceptance of the reports by the Government is a very serious matter because the reports would have been agreed by our expert team who has tens of years of experience in structural and building works. Having scrutinised reports submitted by the MTRCL, the expert team had come to a conclusion that the facts, observation and judgement within the reports are actually valid, and there are scientific and factual justifications for that, so that’s the reason why we accepted the reports in the first place. The second place is why we consider not necessary to demolish it rather than reinforce it, right? As I have just mentioned, the reports were compiled by the MTRCL with their independent professionals, their own professional staff, and also scrutinised by the Government expert team and also our Highways Department colleagues, therefore, the vetting and scrutinisation has been done very rigorously. If there is any need for anything to be done, it won’t be left out in anyway. Therefore we are satisfied that by completion of these appropriate measures, we would be in a position to satisfy the necessary code of practice of the Buildings Department, as well as the contract requirements of the Shatin to Central Link project.
 
 (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Pat Heung today (July 18) in which a 65-year-old man died.      At about 2.20pm, a medium goods vehicle (MGV) driven by a 32-year-old man and a bus dri… read more

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened at a construction site in Tai Po today (July 18), in which an excavator toppled during operation and pressed against the male operator. The excavator operator was seriously injured and was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and has expressed its deepest sympathy to the victim’s family.
 
     A LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors suspending the use of excavators on the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken.”
 
     The spokesman added, “We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”

     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.

     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) is aware that there have been rumours on online discussion forums relating to alleged inadequacy of an arrangement on identity cards by ImmD recently. ImmD would like to reiterate that the arra… read more