Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Scout Association of Hong Kong was fined $20,000 at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts today (May 10) for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
 
     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on August 26, 2018 at a single-storey hostel at a scout activity centre in Tai Po. A worker fell from a foldable wooden ladder to the ground while he was carrying out air-conditioner replacement work at the hostel. He was admitted to hospital but passed away the following day. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:        The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (May 10) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at end-April 2019.&… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending the public hearing of the Legislative Council Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today (May 10):

Reporter: Secretary, I’ll ask two questions. First of all, is the Government considering a series of measures to tighten the sale of first-hand properties? And secondly, just now in the PAC meeting some lawmakers questioned why the Government didn’t do anything about the shortage of parking spaces in 2014 when the ratio fell to 1:1.19. Can you tell us why?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: As regard the sale of first-hand residential property, as you may realise, the Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Authority has tightened its supervision of the sale of first-hand residential property in terms of information availability, transparency, and is also trying to make sure that the sales and purchase process is transparent and fair to those who are going to buy properties. We are going to keep a very close watch to the market on what is going on, and make sure that property buyers will be treated fairly and squarely.

     As I have explained in the PAC meeting (public hearing of the Legislative Council PAC) this morning, we have been making every endeavour to enhance the supply of car parks, mostly for commercial vehicles. If there is availability of space and flexibility, we’ll also enhance the supply of private car parking spaces as well. As regard to what has been done in the past, I think we have explained very clearly in the hearing. What we are now focusing on is how to enhance the supply in future and I have explained very clearly the measures that we are going to take in the years to come.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), after obtaining consent of the Secretary for Justice, has accepted written undertakings made under the civil compliance-based mechanism of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) by a skincare product importer and a beauty centre suspected of applying false trade descriptions to goods and supplying goods with false trade descriptions in the course of trade.

     The C&ED earlier received a complaint against a beauty centre for supplying a skincare product with a suspected false organic authentication logo. After investigation, it was confirmed that the beauty centre procured from an importer the skincare product with the relevant logo without authorisation.

     The traders were co-operative in the course of the investigation and proposed to undertake in writing not to continue or repeat the conduct and will take remedial actions. Having fully assessed the traders’ proposals, the C&ED accepted the undertaking for a period of two years under the TDO upon obtaining the consent from the Secretary for Justice. The C&ED today (May 10) uploaded the undertaking to the Customs homepage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/customs_notices/undertake/index.html).

     A C&ED spokesman stressed that if the trader breaches any terms of the undertaking, the C&ED might withdraw the acceptance of the undertaking pursuant to the TDO, to be followed by investigation and legal proceedings.

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Under Section 30L of the TDO, a civil compliance-based mechanism has been put in place to encourage compliance by traders and to settle matters concerned expeditiously. The C&ED, having regard to the nature, actual circumstances of the case and relevant factors, may accept an undertaking from the traders involved after obtaining written consent from the Secretary for Justice.

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

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 10) raided an unlicensed cold store on Ping Che Road, Fanling.

     During the operation, FEHD officers found about 6 300 kilograms of chilled poultry and game with official health certificates on the premises. In addition, about 210kg of chilled chicken feet, goose wings and poultry offal without official health certificates were seized for disposal. A 48-year-old man was arrested and charged with operating an unlicensed cold store.

     Under the Food Business Regulation, the maximum penalty for operating an unlicensed cold store is a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     “We will continue our stringent enforcement action against unlicensed food business to safeguard food safety and public health,” an FEHD spokesman said.

     “Members of the public can report any suspected illegal food business activities by calling the FEHD hotline 2868 0000.”