Two men and a woman were fined from $5,000 to $9,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 10) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in September last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs). 

     During the investigation in one of the clubs on Nathan Road, the OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Also, the club's staff failed to show a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment and the registered drawing upon the OLA officers' request. Moreover, the CoC or its certified true copy was not displayed at a prominent position at the club. Conditions 2, 10, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached. The two men, being the manager and the CoC holder of the club, were charged with contravening section 21(1) (a) or section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     The other club on Nathan Road also served non-members. Also, the club was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawing. Conditions 3 and 19 of the CoC were breached. The woman, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

     A woman was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 10) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in September last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Nathan Road in Kowloon. The OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.

     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for operating the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.

     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (April 10) announced the launch of Tao Arts – Community Arts Scheme, which will be implemented in Sai Kung and Wan Chai Districts this year as a pilot scheme and will be extended to other districts from next year.
 
     Through enhanced collaboration between the LCSD, the District Councils, district non-government organisations and local professional arts groups, the scheme aims to encourage community participation and engagement in arts activities so as to develop sustainable arts projects in different districts.
 
     The LCSD was allocated additional funding of $51 million in the 2019-20 Budget for organising enhanced community arts activities with the 18 District Councils for a period of five years. The LCSD will match the additional funding with the allocation by individual District Councils at a one-to-one ratio to tailor-make the Tao Arts – Community Arts Scheme for the participation of district citizens.
 
     Tao Arts Sai Kung – Community Arts Scheme (CAS) will launch two workshops organised by ArtsArea Management that are specially designed for children and young people from late April. The workshops are free of charge and open for enrolment now. Details are as follows:
 
– Workshop on Cantonese Opera for Youngsters
Instructors: Cheung Po-wah and Pui Jun-hin
(Love and Faith Cantonese Opera Laboratory)
Date: Late April to December
 
– Workshop on Puppetry for Youths and Workshop on Shadow Puppet-making for Youths
Instructor: Wong Fai (Hong Kong Puppet and Shadow Art Center)
Date: May until December
 
     In addition, a dance and movement workshop will be specially held for the elderly to develop their physical and mental ability. Details are as follows:
 
– "Body in Time" workshop
Organiser: Unlock Dancing Plaza
Date: Late April to March 2020
 
     Apart from workshops, there will be various activities such as performance showcases, post-performance experience sessions, joint rehearsals and more to provide further training and performance opportunities for the programme participants. A grand finale will be held in late February next year for participants from Sai Kung District to demonstrate their achievements to the public. Details of the CAS programmes of Wan Chai District will be announced later.
 
     Tao Arts Sai Kung – Community Arts Scheme is sponsored by the Sai Kung District Council and supported by the Sai Kung Cultural Centre and Haven of Hope Christian Service. For enquiries on the CAS, please call 2591 1340 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/taoarts/sk.html. For enquiries on enrolment for the Cantonese opera and shadow puppetry workshops, please call 5943 1323 or email artsareamgt@gmail.com (ArtsArea Management). For enquiries on the "Body in Time" workshop, please call 2778 3488 (Unlock Dancing Plaza).

      

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (April 10) visited Tuen Mun District, where he exchanged views with Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) members and young people, and learnt about the escort service for the elderly in the district.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the TMDC, Mr Leung Kin-man, and the District Officer (Tuen Mun), Ms Aubrey Fung, Mr Law met with TMDC members and exchanged views on issues that concern them.

     Mr Law then proceeded to the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service-Hong Kong to learn about its stairs climbing service for people with decreased mobility living in old buildings. This service is to help these elderly people participate in social and leisure activities and improve their quality of life.

     Mr Law later visited the Tuen Mun District Council Yan Oi Tong Youth Space and met with participants of activities organised by the Youth Space to listen to their learning experience. The Youth Space provides training and workshops for local young people with a view to encouraging them to serve the community in innovative ways.

      

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 10) that a fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that a fresh beef sample taken from a stall in Java Road Market, North Point, was detected with sulphur dioxide, the CFS took another fresh beef sample from the same stall for testing during follow-up investigation. A similar irregularity was detected with the test result showing that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 80 parts per million."

     According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.

     The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the above-mentioned irregularity. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

     Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried fruits, pickled vegetables and meat products such as sausages and grilled burgers, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Nonetheless, individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. This preservative is of low toxicity. As it is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or fresh provision shops. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action.