The Labour Department called for enrolment for a seminar on the Employment Ordinance to be held at 10am on February 20 (Wednesday) at Hall, 1/F, Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre, 60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.
      
     The main provisions of the Employment Ordinance (including wages, leave and termination of contract) and amendments to the Employment Ordinance will be introduced. In addition, the seminar will also cover the Minimum Wage Ordinance and points to note on the employment of foreign domestic helpers.
      
     The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the enrolment deadline is February 13 (Wednesday). The enrolment form can be downloaded from the department's website (www.labour.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call 2399 2386.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate of medical wards in public hospitals.  Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
 

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 (January 18) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Hong Kong Customs today (January 17) conducted an operation to combat the sale of counterfeit health product drink. A total of about 250 boxes of suspected counterfeit health product drink and 100 pieces of other suspected counterfeit goods including proprietary Chinese medicines and skin care products with an estimated market value of about $25,000 were seized. 

     Customs earlier received information alleging the sale of suspected counterfeit health product drink at shops in the retail market. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of trademark owner, Customs officers today raided 7 shops in Mong Kok, Tuen Mun, Tai Po and Sheung Shui and seized the batch of suspected counterfeit goods.

     During the operation, nine men and two women were arrested, including three persons-in-charge and eight salespersons, aged between 23 and 49.  

     Investigations are ongoing.

     Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to combat the sale of counterfeit goods.

     Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     Customs also reminds traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal liability.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark 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 infringing activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) announced today (January 17) that the number of clearance points under the Single E-lock Scheme (the Scheme) in Guangdong Province increased from 32 last year to 51 this month, including the first customs clearance point set up in Zhuhai. The Scheme enhances cargo clearance efficiency and also benefits cargo shipments that are transhipped through Hong Kong using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB).

     The Scheme was launched in March 2016 targeting intermodal transhipment cargoes between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Such transhipment cargoes include foreign goods arriving in Hong Kong by air which will be transhipped to the Mainland by land and vice versa. The two customs administrations make use of single e-lock technology and GPS devices to monitor the condition of goods during transportation. Accordingly, duplicated inspections of shipments by the respective customs authorities at the land control points can be reduced, resulting in streamlined clearance processing and speedy cargo flow.

     The Scheme is operating smoothly and has been well received by the industry. Last year, more than 6 million cargo shipments were handled under the Scheme.

     To cope with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Bay Area), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively exploring with the Mainland authorities the extension of the Scheme to more parts of the Bay Area. Clearance points under the Scheme in Guangdong Province increased from 32 to 51 this month, covering various cities in the province, seven of which are in the Bay Area.

     A spokesman for the C&ED said, "We welcome the expansion of the customs clearance points in Guangdong Province under the Single E-lock Scheme, including the first customs clearance point set up in Zhuhai. Expansion of the Scheme not only facilitates the industry, but also ties in with the logistics industry to make use of the new HZMB.

     "Today we saw the first truck on the HZMB carrying goods from Guangzhou to Hong Kong International Airport.

     "The level of cargo clearance facilitation for transhipment cargo between Hong Kong and the Mainland will be further promoted with the extension of the Scheme. The growth of the logistics and trade industries in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao not only promotes the economic development of the Bay Area, but also strengthens Hong Kong's position as a trading and logistics hub and enhances the city’s competitiveness."

     Looking forward, the C&ED will continue to explore actively with its Mainland counterparts for an extension of the Scheme to cover more parts of the Bay Area. It will also further encourage the logistics industry to participate in the Scheme to explore more business opportunities in the context of Bay Area development and the opening of the HZMB.