Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 19) said that the FEHD will continue to step up enforcement actions against the unauthorised display of easy-mount frames and other display fittings for business promotion in public places, and will prosecute the beneficiaries of such commercial publicity materials. Two telecommunications companies were fined for $150,000 and $200,000 respectively at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on June 18 for unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials.

     The spokesman said the FEHD has all along been concerned about the illegal activity of displaying commercial publicity materials on busy streets. FEHD officers stepped up enforcement actions in the vicinity of Fuk Wah Street, Shum Shui Po from December last year to January this year, and removed a total of 94 posters and their stands. Upon further investigations, the department issued 15 and 20 summonses respectively to two beneficiaries, i.e. the two telecommunications companies, for the unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials on Government land. The two companies were convicted yesterday and fined for a total of $150,000 and $200,000 respectively, with the maximum fine of $10,000 imposed for each offence.

     Under Section 104A(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), any person displaying or affixing a bill or poster on Government land without permission commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and a daily fine of $300 upon conviction. FEHD officers can also remove the commercial publicity materials and the display fittings and recover the removal costs from the persons concerned pursuant to the relevant legislation.

     The spokesman reminds street promoters and related commercial organisations to refrain from displaying commercial publicity materials illegally. The department will continue to carry out enforcement actions to curb such illegal activities and improve the district environment. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a male Psychiatry ward, the spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Easter… read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 18) conducted an operation and raided a repair workshop using counterfeit mobile phone parts with its storage centre in Tuen Mun. A total of about 3 900 items of suspected counterfeit mobile phones and parts with an estimated market value of about $940,000 were seized.

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a mobile phone repair workshop used counterfeit parts in the course of providing repair service. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of a trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the repair workshop and its storage centre inside an industrial building in the district where the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones and parts was seized.

     Preliminary investigation revealed that the workshop targeted overseas customers to provide mobile phone repair services using counterfeit parts and to sell counterfeit mobile phone parts.

     During the operation, a 47-year-old male director and a 24-year-old male manager of the workshop were arrested. 

     Investigation is ongoing.

     The Divisional Commander (Intellectual Property Transnational Investigation), Mr Szeto Chi-fai, said at a press conference today (July 19) that Customs will continue to step up enforcement to combat the sale and use of counterfeit mobile phone parts. He reminded consumers to repair their mobile phones at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     He also reminded traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the possession of counterfeit goods for any trade or business is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

     The Civil Service Bureau announced today (June 19) that the Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) has decided that civil service pay for 2019-20 should be adjusted as follows, taking retrospective effect from April 1 this year:

(a) a pay increase of 4.75 per cent for civil servants in the upper salary band and the directorate, subject to the pay points referred to in (i) and (ii) below the dollar values of which should be as specified:
 
(i) Master Pay Scale (MPS) 34 at $74,515 and MPS 35 at $75,265; and
 
(ii) General Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale (GDS(O)) 20 and Police Pay Scale (PPS) 36 at $74,390, and GDS(O) 21 and PPS 37 at $75,135; and
 
(b) a pay increase of 5.26 per cent for civil servants in the lower and middle salary bands.
 
     In arriving at this decision, the CE-in-Council has thoroughly considered the staff side’s response to the pay offers and all the relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including:
 
* the net pay trend indicators;
* the state of Hong Kong’s economy;
* changes in the cost of living;
* the Government’s fiscal position;
* the pay claims of the staff side; and
* civil service morale.
 
     The Government will submit the 2019-20 civil service pay adjustment proposal to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for consideration as soon as possible. read more

     The innovative circus-based show “À á»� Làng Phố” (meaning “from village to city”) will be staged from July 26 to 28 at Sha Tin Town Hall, depicting the rapid evolution of Vietnam’s rural existence into urban life. Produced by Lune Production of Vietnam, it is one of the highlights of the International Arts Carnival (IAC) presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
 
     The breathtaking production ingeniously employs super-sized rattan baskets and bamboo poles, and combines cultural metamorphosis, humour and dazzling artistry to display the local customs of Vietnam. Along with juggling, spinning and daring aerial displays, the electrifying acrobats turn themselves into Mekong River creatures, rapidly construct and deconstruct markets, and build moonlit homes before traditional scenes and sounds give way to contemporary city pursuits in the fast-developing country.
 
     “À á»� Làng Phố” immaculately merges acrobatics, contortionism, martial arts, hip hop, beatboxing and comic moments with Vietnamese folk opera and modern stage design. In doing so, its aesthetic vision of the Vietnamese circus genre simultaneously takes the creative form to new heights and wider audiences.
 
     The German Vietnamese director Tuan Le is the first solo artist of Vietnamese descent to have appeared in the world-famous Cirque du Soleil. The show has toured around the world and has been enthusiastically received in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan and New Zealand, among other countries.
 
     “À á»� Làng Phố” will be staged at 8pm on July 26 and 27 (Friday and Saturday) and at 3pm on July 28 (Sunday) at the Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium. There will also be audio description in Cantonese for the matinee on July 28 and a touch tour prior to the performance. Please call 2777 1771 for enquiries and registration.
 
     Tickets priced at $180, $280 and $380 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.hkiac.gov.hk/2019/en/pho.html.
 
     The IAC, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will run from July 5 to August 18.