Author Archives: hksar gov

     Two Mainland visitors were convicted of making false representation to Immigration Officers and jailed at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on January 11 and today (January 18).
 
     The two Mainland visitors comprised one man and one woman aged 28 and 21 respectively. They were arrested in an operation codenamed “Breakshadow” by the Immigration Department (ImmD) on January 9. The operation tackled abuses by Mainland visitors of the existing transit arrangement for holders of People’s Republic of China (PRC) passports. Upon arrival for immigration clearance at Lo Wu Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Control Point respectively, the two Mainland visitors falsely told Immigration Officers that they were transiting through Hong Kong to other countries. The ImmD officer found that their onward flight tickets were invalid and therefore arrested them. Upon further investigation, they admitted that their actual purpose of visit was not to transit via Hong Kong to other countries but sightseeing in Hong Kong.
 
     The two arrested Mainland visitors were charged with making false representation to Immigration Officers. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to three months’ and four months’ imprisonment respectively.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to an Immigration Officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. In addition, if Mainland visitors abuse the existing transit arrangement for holders of PRC passports by not departing for other countries or territories according to their original itinerary, relevant information will be recorded by the ImmD. Upon their next arrival, ImmD officers at control points will conduct detailed examination before a decision to grant or refuse permission to land is made. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 18) said that following further investigation on the incident of prepackaged smoked salmon imported from New Zealand suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, it was found that the importer concerned had imported another batch of affected smoked salmon based on the latest information. The CFS urged the public not to consume the product concerned and the trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.
      
     Details of the product are as follows:
 
Product name: Beech Wood Smoked Slices
Brand: Regal New Zealand King Salmon
Place of origin: New Zealand
Manufacturer: The New Zealand King Salmon Co Ltd
Importer: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Net weight: 100 grams per pack
Batch code: M362D
Expiry date: February 1, 2019
 
　　”The CFS announced yesterday (January 17) that a batch of the above product was to be recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The CFS’ follow-up investigation found that the importer concerned had also imported 240 packs of the same kind of affected product but with a different expiry date and some of it was sold. The CFS has instructed the importer to also stop sale of the above-mentioned product and remove it from shelves, and initiated a recall. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer’s hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours,” a spokesman for the CFS said.
 
　　”Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns,” the spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought it. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.
 
     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing. read more

     A woman was fined $10,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (January 18) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in August 2017, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Chatham Road South in Tsim Sha Tsui. During the inspection, 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 managing 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”. read more

     An organisation which sold a dog without a one-off permit was convicted at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today (January 18) for violating the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance (Cap 139).

     A spokesman of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that AFCD staff had received a complaint about suspected illegal trading of dogs advertised on the Internet in April last year. The organisation provided a pure-breed puppy to the complainant, in the name of “adoption”, at an industrial building in Tuen Mun on April 12, 2018. The organisation charged the complainant $6,600 purportedly for the medical costs of the dog and $1,500 as a deposit to ensure that the dog would be neutered within a year.

     Subsequent to follow-up investigations by the AFCD, the organisation was charged for selling a dog without a one-off permit. The organisation was convicted today and fined $5,500.

     According to the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Trading and Breeding) Regulations (Regulations) (Cap. 139B), any person or organisation who sells a dog must obtain a suitable type of licence or permit. “Selling” is defined as any exchange or transfer of an animal in return for a consideration, which includes charging an “adoption” fee. 

     There are three types of licence and one type of permit under the Regulations, namely the Animal Trader Licence and Dog Breeder Licence Category A and Category B, and a one-off permit for dog owners. Those who sell animals or birds without a proper licence or permit are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000, whereas the maximum penalty for contravention of a condition attached to a licence or permit is a fine of $50,000. Persons conducting genuine rehoming activities for animal welfare purposes on a non-profit-making basis may submit an application for exemption from the requirement to obtain an Animal Trader Licence, subject to meeting relevant criteria.

     Since the amended Regulations came into effect, 42 cases of selling of animals (40 cases involving dogs and two cases involving other animals) without a licence or permit have been successfully prosecuted. Offenders were fined between $1,500 and $10,000. A further 20 cases are currently under investigation.

     The spokesperson reminded the public that since the amended Regulations came into force, all animal traders and dog breeders and those who sell their own dogs should obtain a suitable type of licence or permit, and follow the licence conditions and codes of practice to ensure the welfare of animals. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution. For more details of the regulations and the application procedure for a licence or permit, please visit www.pets.gov.hk or call the AFCD at 1823. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees will hold 16 open meetings and a public hearing during the week from January 21 to 25 in … read more