Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) is supporting the screening of five Hong Kong films at the 37th Brussels International Fantasy, Fantastic, Thriller and Science Fiction Film Festival (BIFFF), which is taking place in Brussels, Belgium, from April 9 to 21 (Brussels time).

     The five Hong Kong films being screened at the 37th BIFFF are “Bodies at Rest” by Renny Harlin, “Chasing the Dragon” by Wong Jing and Jason Kwan, “Golden Job” by Chin Kar-lok, “The Golden Monk” by Billy Chung and Wong Jing and “Kung Fu Monster” by Andrew Lau. Among them, “Kung Fu Monster” was chosen as the festival’s special screening for schoolchildren aged 9 to 12, introducing the younger generation to fantasy films.
 
     A reception hosted by HKETO, Brussels was held on April 17 (Brussels time) to highlight the participation of Hong Kong films in the BIFFF. The reception was followed by a screening of “Bodies at Rest”.
 
     Speaking at the reception, the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, said Hong Kong has one of the largest and most dynamic entertainment industries in the world, with 53 locally produced films released in 2018. She said Hong Kong films are the strongest testimony of the vibrant creativity and unique culture of the city. 

     The BIFFF is the most important festival of its kind in Europe. Some 100 films from the fantasy, horror, thriller and science-fiction genres are being screened at the BIFFF this year. The BIFFF is also known for its enthusiastic audience participation and attracts huge media coverage.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees will hold 11 open meetings and a closed meeting during the week from April 22 to 27 April in the LegCo Comp… read more

     The latest test results of the opening-up investigation in the second stage of the holistic assessment strategy for the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project (as at April 18) are now available at the Highways Department’s website for the SCL project (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/railway_projects/scl/index.html) for reference by the public. read more

     A female owner cum salesperson of a beauty parlour was sentenced to a 12-month probation order today (April 18) after the conviction for engaging in misleading omission, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), on March 28 at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts. She was also ordered to pay compensation of $936 in total to the two victims.

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a female owner cum salesperson of a beauty parlour in Ngau Tau Kok had engaged in unfair trade practices in the supply of beauty service.

     After investigation, it was revealed that the female owner cum salesperson hid the material information that the procured beauty treatment package could not be used during Chinese New Year. She also provided the material information in an unclear or untimely manner, namely she had not informed the consumers that the facial treatment administered to them was not the treatment they had procured in the package. The owner as a result requested the two customers to pay extra fees.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information or provides material information in a manner that is unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision 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 violation of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

     The owner of a vehicle repair workshop, Wah Kee Motor Car Service Co. in Shek Mun, Sha Tin, was convicted at Fanling Magistrates’ Court today (April 18) for failing to comply with Environmental Protection Department (EPD) officers’ instructions under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) to provide relevant documents during officers’ investigation of the illegal collection of waste vehicle batteries. In the same case, an unlicensed collector and the owner of another vehicle repair workshop, Man Shing Motors Car Service Co., who were involved in illegal collection and handling of waste vehicle batteries, had been convicted for contravening the WDO and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation earlier on February 19. The three persons were fined a total of $38,000.

     The EPD conducted an enforcement operation in July last year, and found that an unlicensed collector illegally collected waste lead acid batteries (WLABs), which are classified as chemical waste, from a vehicle repair workshop in Shek Mun. During the operation, the EPD officers found that the two workshops, Man Shing and Wah Kee, were providing vehicle repair services at the above location. After gathering evidence, the officers found that Man Shing had illegally passed the WLABs to the unlicensed collector concerned, while the owner of Wah Kee failed to comply with the EPD officers’ instruction to provide relevant documents for investigation and caused obstruction to the officers in the performance of their duties. The EPD subsequently initiated prosecutions against the three persons concerned in accordance with the WDO and the Regulation.

     A spokesperson for the EPD said, “WLABs contain sulphuric acid, lead and lead compound, which are corrosive, toxic and classified as chemical waste. Improper handling or disposal will pollute the environment and pose risks to public health.”

     The spokesperson reminded all workshop operators and workers engaged in the vehicle repair business that EPD officers, during enforcement, can require the persons involved to provide relevant documents or to offer assistance, in accordance with the WDO. Anyone who fails to comply with any requirement without reasonable excuse commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. In addition, the trade should register as chemical waste producers with the EPD in accordance with the above Regulation. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, and has to be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for treatment. Moreover, for replacement of lubricating oil or batteries, vehicle owners should engage the services of vehicle repair garages or companies that have registered with the EPD. Anyone engaged in the illegal collection, storage and disposal of chemical waste will be prosecuted. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD’s website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html. read more