The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, June 14, 2019 is 105.5 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (June 14) invited tenders for the contract for Fanling North New Development Area, Phase 1: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (Shung Him Tong to Kau Lung Hang) (Contract No. ND/2019/05).

     The works are scheduled to commence in December 2019 and will take about 54 months to complete. The works mainly comprise:
 

• construction of the approximately 2-kilometre-long dual two-lane Fanling Bypass Eastern Section between Shung Him Tong and Kau Lung Hang mainly on viaducts with two long-span overbridges across the existing East Rail Line;
• realignment of part of the existing Tai Wo Service Road East, Tai Wo Service Road West and the Fanling Highway;
• construction of approximately 2.4km-long noise barriers, and relocation of approximately 400-metre-long existing noise barriers along the Fanling Highway;
• alteration and addition works to the existing Ho Ka Yuen footbridge;
• reprovisioning of a bus-bus interchange at the Fanling Highway with a proposed public toilet and covered walkway; and
• associated slope works, ground investigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, retaining wall works, drainage works, waterworks, sewerage works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works.

     The CEDD has appointed AECOM Asia Company Limited as the consultant to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from the company at 8/F, Grand Central Plaza, Tower 2, 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin.

     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. The closing time for the tender is noon on September 13, 2019. 

     Details of the tender notice are available at the CEDD's website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender/contract/tender/index.html). For enquiries, please call AECOM Asia Company Limited at 3922 9000 during office hours.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight" from June 10 to 13. A total of 21 illegal workers, 10 suspected employers and one overstayer were arrested.
      
     During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 37 target locations including a bar, commercial buildings, companies, factories, industrial buildings, restaurants and shops. Twenty-one illegal workers and 10 employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised eight men and 13 women, aged 20 to 55. Among them, one woman was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. In addition, one man and four women were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, six men and four women, aged 36 to 66, were suspected of employing the illegal workers. Furthermore, a female overstayer, aged 40, was also arrested.
      
     "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," an ImmD spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment.
     
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.
 

    

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the lifesaving services at Cafeteria New Beach and Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District resumed today (June 14). The lifesaving services at the beaches were suspended earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 14) announced that the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for May rose to 11 per cent from 5.4 per cent in April, indicating that mosquito infestation was slightly more extensive in the areas surveyed. The FEHD reminded the public to carry out effective anti-mosquito measures as the hot and rainy weather of summer is favourable for massive mosquito breeding within a short period of time.
      
     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) and Zika virus. In view of the 29 local DF cases recorded in Hong Kong last year and the high prevalence of DF in neighbouring areas, and that Hong Kong is expecting an above-normal temperature and rainfall this summer which is favourable for proliferation of mosquitoes, the community must work with the Government to continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures."
      
     Among the 57 areas surveyed last month, the Area Ovitrap Index (AOI) in  six areas exceeded the alert level of 20 per cent. They were Wong Tai Sin Central (39.6 per cent), Tuen Mun West (32 per cent), Sheung Shui (29.3 per cent), Yau Tong (24.3 per cent), Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay (22.3 per cent) and Tin Shui Wai (22 per cent). As for the port areas, the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for May also rose to 1.7 per cent from 0.8 per cent in April.
      
     The spokesman said, "The FEHD is very concerned about mosquito infestation, and an inter-departmental anti-mosquito response mechanism has been activated in the above-mentioned areas for co-ordinating relevant departments and stakeholders to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Relevant departments have also individually notified the groups that had voluntarily subscribed to the ovitrap rapid alert system when the AOI reached the alert level of 20 per cent. Subscribers have been invited to post specially designed alert notices in the common parts of their premises to urge occupants and staff to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures promptly."
      
     The FEHD and relevant government departments have launched All-out Anti-mosquito Operations in April to carry out anti-mosquito work throughout the territory. The major measures include carrying out fogging in scrubby areas within a 100-metre radius around residences weekly to kill adult mosquitoes; carrying out inspection, removing stagnant water, applying insecticide and disposing of abandoned water containers weekly to prevent mosquito breeding; and trimming of grass to discourage resting of adult mosquitoes on the site. The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue the above mosquito prevention and control work in areas under their purview, particularly in the areas with AOI reaching the alert level, and strengthen publicity and education campaigns in the coming months.
      
     In addition, the FEHD is conducting the second phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign. The district offices of the FEHD have targeted at areas which have drawn particular concerns, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, and stepped up publicity at those places as well as mosquito prevention and control work at relevant public places. The FEHD will, after the second phase of the campaign, conduct territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control special operations to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign.
      
     The FEHD has also handled mosquito complaints promptly and taken out prosecutions under the relevant ordinance against mosquito breeding. The Pest Control Inspection Teams have stepped up inspection of construction sites and enforcement action against mosquito breeding. This year (as at June 9), the FEHD instituted 64 prosecutions for mosquito breeding found in relevant premises under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), comprising 58 cases involving construction sites and six cases involving other premises.
      
     In order to keep the public abreast of the latest situation of mosquito infestation and assist them to take timely mosquito prevention and control measures, the FEHD is releasing two additional phased AOI for Aedes albopictus before the announcement of the monthly AOI and the Monthly Ovitrap Index for Aedes albopictus. The FEHD will follow the established practice of notifying relevant government departments of the aforementioned indices so that they can carry out targeted mosquito prevention and control work promptly.
      
     The spokesman added that as Aedes albopictus breeds in small water bodies, members of the public should carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing all the water in vases and scrubbing the inner surface as well as removing the water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. He also advised the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
      
     In addition, rural areas and the vicinity of shrubby areas are the natural habitats for mosquitoes, other insects and animals. Members of the public living in rural areas may install mosquito screens on windows and doors if necessary. Those staying in the natural environment should take appropriate personal protective measures against mosquitoes, such as avoiding staying in the vicinity of shrubby areas for a long time, wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers, and applying DEET-containing insect repellent. Members of the public are reminded to make reports to the government departments via 1823 if mosquito problems are detected.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that effective mosquito prevention and control requires the sustained effort of all parties concerned. The community must work together with the Government to carry out effective anti-mosquito measures.
      
     The ovitrap indices for Aedes albopictus in different areas and information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department website at www.fehd.gov.hk.