Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 3), in anticipation of Hand Hygiene Day on May 5, appealed to the public to practise proper hand hygiene and reminded people that maintaining hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent the spread of infection.
 
     The CHP adopted “Don’t Pass on the Bugs. Wash or Rub with 7 steps for 20 seconds is a MUST” as the slogan for the promotional campaign for Hand Hygiene Day 2019, to remind the public to wash or rub their hands covering seven areas for at least 20 seconds.
 
     A new poster and a WhatsApp sticker pack with original cartoon character designed by a local artist were produced to remind the public of the key health message.
 
     Since 2005, Hong Kong has pledged support for the World Health Organization’s advocacy, “Clean Care is Safer Care”, by actively promoting hand hygiene in both health-care settings and in the community.
 
     The public may visit the CHP’s Hand Hygiene Day 2019 webpage (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/101481.html) for more information on hand hygiene. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:        The Legislative Council (LegCo) Bills Committee on National Anthem Bill will hold a meeting at 9am tomorrow (May 4) in Conference Room 2 of… read more

     The Transport Department today (May 3) announced that two auctions of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on May 18 (Saturday) and 19 (Sunday), in Meeting Room S421, L4 Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, respectively.

     “A total of 320 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public sale at each auction. The lists of marks have been posted at the department’s website, www.td.gov.hk,” a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(a) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:

(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” or “The Government of the HKSAR”. (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(b) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(c) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(d) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(e) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department’s website, www.td.gov.hk. read more

     The Government intends to construct public landing steps at the pedestrian footbridge of Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade to provide landing facilities for the public and emergency use. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (May 3).

     The proposed works include the demolition of part of the existing pedestrian footbridge and railing and construction of public landing steps. The proposed works are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2019 for completion by the second quarter of 2020.

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);

* Yau Tsim Mong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Yau Tsim Mong District Office (G/F, Mong Kok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon); and

* Lands Department’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before July 3. The notice of such objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected. read more

     Two Bangladeshi illegal workers were jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (May 2).

     During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Powerplayer” on March 18, enforcement officers raided a recycling site in Pat Heung. Two male Bangladeshi illegal workers, aged 37 and 38 respectively, were arrested. When intercepted, they were working as recycling workers. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants.

     The two illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.

     The ImmD 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.

     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 on 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. read more