Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (March 2).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island to facilitate grave sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety during Ching Ming Festival.

Chai Wan
——–

A. Road closure

Phase I

     Vehicles will be allowed to use Cape Collison Road east of Lin Shing Road from 7am to 6pm daily on March 3, 16, 23 and 30, April 13, 19, 20, 22 and 28, and May 1. Special traffic arrangements in Phase II may be implemented when necessary.

Phase II

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6.30pm daily on March 10, 17, 24 and 31, April 6, 14 and 21:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for green minibus (GMB) route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate; – Northbound Lin Shing Road, except for GMB route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

     Depending on traffic condition, taxis and public light buses (PLBs) may be allowed to enter Lin Shing Road and turn right to Cape Collinson Road.

     Special traffic arrangements in Phase III may be implemented when necessary.

Phase III

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 7pm daily on April 5 and 7:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

B. Traffic diversions

     In connection with the above road closures, the following roads will be re-routed:

– Cape Collinson Road between its slip road to Crematorium and Shek O Road will be re-routed one-way westbound; and
– Eastern section of Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. No parking

     No parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– Cape Collinson Road;
– Lin Shing Road;
– Shek O Road between Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre and Tai Tam Road;
– Wan Tsui Road;
– The lay-by along Shek O Road; and
– The lay-by along Tai Tam Road between Shek O Road and Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir.

     Taxis, PLBs and private cars cannot enter Lin Shing Road for Cape Collinson Road, except for vehicles gaining access to Wan Tsui Estate. They will be allowed to drop off passengers at the PLB stand on Fei Tsui Road near the junction with Wan Tsui Road.

     PLBs cannot pick up/set down passengers along Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Lin Shing Road.

     Depending on traffic conditions, PLBs may not be allowed to enter Tai Tam Road from Chai Wan Road.

Pok Fu Lam
———–
     
     Consort Rise between Victoria Road and Bisney Road will be re-routed one-way southbound from 7am to 5pm daily on March 23, 24, 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14.

Aberdeen
———

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14:

– Peel Rise in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery; and
– the slip road from Shek Pai Wan Road leading to the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the above areas may be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (March 3) to facilitate a public order event to be held in Kowloon.
     
Phase I (From 12.01am to 11.59pm)

A. Road closure

– Beech Street between Ivy Street and Fuk Tsun Street;
– Lime Street between Larch Street and Fuk Tsun Street;
– Pine Street between Ivy Street and Fuk Tsun Street;
– Oak Street between Ivy Street and Fuk Tsun Street; and
– Fuk Tsun Street between Fir Street and Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Services Building.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along southbound Fuk Tsun Street cannot turn right to the loading area of Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Services Building and leave via northbound Fuk Tsun Street;
– Traffic along northbound Larch Street cannot turn left to westbound Lime Street;
– Traffic along westbound Lime Street will be diverted via northbound Larch Street; and
– Traffic along westbound Ivy Street cannot turn right to northbound Pine Street and northbound Beech Street.

Phase II (From 9am to 11.59pm)

A. Road closure

– Fuk Tsun Street between Tai Kok Tsui Road and Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Services Building; and
– Walnut Street between Fuk Tsun Street and Larch Street.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along Tai Kok Tsui Road cannot enter Fuk Tsun Street.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including an operation codenamed "Twilight" and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" from February 25 to 28. A total of 23 illegal workers, seven suspected employers and two overstayers were arrested.

     During operation "Twilight", ImmD Task Force officers raided 36 target locations including a bar, companies, a construction site, an industrial building, learning centres, restaurants and a shop. Ten illegal workers and four employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised four men and six women, aged 36 to 62. Among them, one woman was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. In addition, two women were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, four women, aged 30 to 59, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.

     In addition, during operation "Champion", enforcement officers raided seven target locations in North Point, Chai Wan and Mong Kok including massage parlours and restaurants. Thirteen illegal workers and three employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised seven men and six women, aged 24 to 61. Among them, two men and three women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, four men and five women were suspected of using and being in possession of Hong Kong identity cards related to other persons. Meanwhile, three women, aged 31 to 48, were suspected of employing the illegal workers. Furthermore, one male overstayer and one female overstayer, aged 38 and 47, were arrested.

     "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," an ImmD spokesman said.

     The spokesman warned that it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment.

     The 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 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 of 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.

     The Government today (March 1) announced the appointment of Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok to succeed Dr Vincent Lo Hong-sui as Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) for two years from June 1, 2019, to May 31, 2021.

     Commenting on the appointment, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said, "With extensive commercial experience and active participation in public services, Dr Lam is well suited for taking up the HKTDC chairmanship. I am confident that he would lead the HKTDC to provide sterling support to enterprises to respond to uncertainties in the global trade environment and to explore new markets and opportunities."

     Mr Yau expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr Lo for his invaluable contribution in leading the HKTDC.

     "As Chairman of the HKTDC, Dr Lo is an outstanding ambassador for Hong Kong. Under his chairmanship, the HKTDC has fully leveraged on Hong Kong's advantages in enhancing Hong Kong's business profile in the Mainland and overseas markets, with outstanding achievements particularly in promoting Hong Kong's role in the pursuit of opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative," Mr Yau said.

     A brief biographical note of Dr Lam is set out below:

     Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok is the Chairman of Lai Sun Group. He is currently an ex-officio member of the HKTDC (as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board) and a member of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board.