Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 17) that due to big w… read more
Versatile music practitioner Dennis Wu will return to host the second edition of "Journeys through Music Lecture Series: Into Germany" from May to July to explore the lives of seven great German composers. The new edi… read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (April 17) reached an agreement with New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB) in opening up real-time arrival data of its bus routes.
NLB will release the real-time arrival data of all of its franchised bus routes in machine-readable formats via the Public Sector Information (PSI) Portal (data.gov.hk) managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer for free use by the public and the industry. The TD will pro-actively coordinate with relevant departments to assist NLB in their preparation work on opening up their real-time arrival data. The data are expected to be available at the PSI Portal in the third quarter of this year.
Opening up data is an important government policy initiative to promote innovation and technology. NLB has been displaying real-time arrival information via the TD’s mobile application “HKeMobility” to its users directly. Following New World First Bus Services Limited and Citybus Limited, NLB is the third public transport operator agreeing to open up real-time data via the PSI Portal for free use by the public in Hong Kong.
NLB’s continued support for the Government’s open data policy is recognised. The TD will continue to have discussions with other public transport operators such as railways and bus companies and appeal for their support to open up their real-time data as soon as possible to keep up with the prevailing trend of open data with a view to promoting smart city development and fostering “Smart Mobility”. read more
Two co-owners of a premises in Hung Hom were fined over $60,000 for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123) at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court early this month.
The order involved three illegal structures erected on a canopy and the flat roof of a domestic flat on the top floor of a composite building at Pak Kung Street. The original area of the premises is about 39 square metres whereas the total size of the illegal structures is about 36 square metres. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were erected without prior approval from the Buildings Department (BD), contravening the Buildings Ordinance (BO), a removal order was served on the co-owners of the premises under section 24(1) of the BO.
As the owners failed to remove the UBWs upon the expiry of the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD. They were convicted at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on April 3 and fined $62,600 in total.
“UBWs may adversely affect the structural and fire safety of a building, leading to serious consequences. Owners should seek professional advice before carrying out any building works in their premises. The BD will continue its enforcement action against UBWs,” a spokesman for the BD said today (April 17).
Pursuant to section 40(1BA) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order served on him under section 24(1) of the BO, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued. read more
Report No. 72 of the Director of Audit on the results of value for money audits was tabled in the Legislative Council this morning (April 17).
Value for money audit is an examination into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which any bureau of the Government Secretariat, department, agency or other public body has discharged its functions. Report No. 72 of the Director of Audit covers a variety of subjects on the administration of government programmes and provision of public services.
Report No. 72 comprises the following eight chapters:
Chapter Subject
——— ——–
1 Planning, provision and management of public parking spaces
2 Management of Greening Master Plans
3 Employment services provided by the Labour Department
4 Administration of the Civil Aid Service
5 Environment and Conservation Fund
6 Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited
7 Hospitality training provided by the Hotel and Tourism Institute, the Chinese Culinary Institute
and the International Culinary Institute
8 Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund and Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund
The Director of Audit’s Report No. 72 on the results of value for money audits is available on the Audit Commission’s website at www.aud.gov.hk. read more