The Department of Health's (DH) Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office today (December 21) said that it will strengthen inspections and enforcement actions during the Christmas and New Year period against the illegal sale of alcohol to minors and smoking offences in pubs and bars.
 
​     A spokesman for the DH said that in addition to routine enforcement actions, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will carry out tobacco and alcohol control publicity and enforcement operations in places with more festive activities, especially Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mong Kok.
 
​     The operations include conducting inspections at venues such as pubs and bars as well as convenience stores. Leaflets will be distributed to staff members and customers to remind them that no smoking is allowed in statutory no-smoking areas. Venue managers are also urged to implement the smoking ban in indoor public areas and comply with the law against the sale of alcohol to minors to safeguard the health of their staff and customers.
 
​     The spokesman reminded the public that if they are found smoking in statutory no-smoking areas, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute offenders without prior warning. Offenders will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. The spokesman also reminded traders that the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 commenced on November 30 this year. The maximum fine for selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to a minor, or selling intoxicating liquor via vending machines, is $50,000 on summary conviction. Those who obstruct inspectors during enforcement are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 on summary conviction.
 
​     "If alcohol is sold or supplied via face-to-face distribution such as in premises or stores like supermarkets, liquor stores and convenience stores, a sign containing both the Chinese and English versions of the prescribed notice must be displayed in a prominent location easily seen by the public. If alcohol is sold or supplied via remote distribution such as SMS, group messages, websites and telephone or mail order, the prescribed notice must be displayed in a reasonably legible manner, or its contents must be read out or played as a sound recording. The maximum fine for non-compliance with the prescribed notice requirement is $25,000 on summary conviction," the spokesman added.
 
​     The new legislation aims to prevent access by young people to alcohol. The DH reminds the public and stakeholders to comply with the new law. The DH also urges everyone, especially young people, to adopt an alcohol-free healthy lifestyle.
 
​     After the new legislation came into operation, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors have inspected over 410 locations and found 142 cases which failed to properly display the prescribed notice. The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office has explained the requirements to venue managers concerned and provided samples of the notice. In addition, in the first 10 months this year, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office conducted more than 28 100 statutory no-smoking area inspections and issued fixed penalty notices or summonses to more than 7 700 smoking offenders.
 
​     For enquiries or complaints, please call the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office's hotline 2961 8823 or 1823.

        

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (December 21) that the Fanling Highway Bus-Bus Interchange (BBI) located on the Fanling Highway southbound will be commissioned at 5am this Sunday (December 23).

     A total of 11 bus routes will start calling at the BBI upon its commissioning, including six whole-day bus services and five peak-only bus services. These routes include:
 
Whole-day bus service
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* KMB route 73B (Tai Po Hospital – Sheung Shui (Circular))
* KMB route 270A (Sheung Shui – Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road))
* KMB route 277E (Sheung Shui (Tin Ping) – Lam Tin Station)
* KMB route 277X (Luen Wo Hui – Lam Tin Station)
* KMB route 278X (Sheung Shui – Tsuen Wan (Nina Tower))
* KMB route 673 (Sheung Shui – Central (Hong Kong Station Public Transport Interchange))
 
Peak-only bus service
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* KMB route 270B (Sheung Shui – Sham Shui Po)
* KMB route 270P (Sheung Shui – Kowloon Station)
* KMB route 274 (Sheung Shui (Tai Ping) – Wu Kai Sha Station)
* KMB route 277P (Sheung Shui (Tin Ping) – Lam Tin Station)
* KMB route 673P (Sheung Shui – Central (Rumsey Street))
 
     Passengers interchanging these bus routes at the BBI will only be charged the fare difference between the routes concerned, such that the total fare will be the same as the route of the higher fare.

     Shelters, seats and display panels with estimated time of arrival for buses are provided at the BBI for passengers.

     The TD will closely monitor the operation of the BBI with the bus company upon its commissioning.

  

     The Highways Department (HyD) today (December 21) invited tenders for "Provision of Universal Accessibility Facilities at Footbridges, Elevated Walkways and Subways – Package 4 Contract 1" (Contract No. HY/2018/12).
      
     The works are expected to commence in March 2019 and will take about 48 months to complete. The works will mainly include:

* construction of a total of 19 lifts for 11 footbridges, an elevated walkway and two subways in Eastern District, Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin;

* associated civil works, geotechnical works, electrical and mechanical works, modification works for existing structures, road and drainage works and landscaping works, etc; and

* site investigation works.

     The HyD has appointed WSP (Asia) Limited as the consultant to design and supervise the construction works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from WSP (Asia) Limited at 7/F, One Kowloon, 1 Wang Yuen Street, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.

     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. Submission of tenders will close at noon on February 1, 2019 (Friday). Tender submissions should be placed in the Government Secretariat Tender Box located at the lobby of the Public Entrance on G/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.
 
     For enquiries, please call the consultant at 2579 8899.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) today (December 21) announced that the Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic will resume services next Friday (December 28) at its original site at 600 Prince Edward Road East, San Po Kong, upon completion of renovation works. The service hours will remain unchanged (details below).
 
     The spokesperson said that, due to the earlier renovation works, day time service of the clinic had temporarily been relocated to East Kowloon General Out-patient Clinic and Wang Tau Hom Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic, while the evening, Sundays and public holidays' services had been relocated to Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Family Medicine Clinic since 18 January this year. Following the resumption of clinic service at its original site, the temporary service arrangements will end on December 28.
 
     Patients with chronic illnesses requiring regular follow-up have already been informed and arrangements have been made for them to attend follow-up appointments at the original clinic site. Patients with episodic illnesses can make appointments via the Telephone Appointment System (telephone number: 3157 0113) as usual.
 
     "KCC has already informed residents in the district about the service arrangement through various channels, including hoisting banners outside the renovating clinic and posting notices in the clinics with temporary service arrangements. The respective District Council has also been informed. A reminder message will also be added to the Telephone Appointment System of the Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic," the spokesperson added. 
 

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 21) reminded members of the public that with effect from January 2, 2019, the revised categorisation of First Registration Vehicle Status (vehicle status) will be implemented. By then, the vehicle status of all vehicles first registered will be categorised as follows on vehicle registration documents:
 
A – prior to importation into Hong Kong for sale, the vehicle has either never been registered outside Hong Kong, or was registered outside Hong Kong but in a manner that the vehicle was not permitted to be used on roads, with documentary proof.
B – prior to importation into Hong Kong for sale, the vehicle has never been registered outside Hong Kong as declared by the vehicle importer.
C1 – the vehicle has been registered outside Hong Kong prior to importation to Hong Kong for sale. The length of the period of such registration is shorter than 15 days as proved by supporting documents.
C2 – the vehicle has been registered outside Hong Kong prior to importation to Hong Kong for sale, other than vehicles categorised as C1.
D – the vehicle was imported by the registered owner into Hong Kong for own use.
E – the vehicle was assembled in Hong Kong with specified additions to the imported chassis/cab and chassis.
F – the vehicle was acquired through auction from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
 
     For vehicles registered before January 2, 2019, their status shown on the vehicle registration document will remain unchanged.
      
     "The revised vehicle status will provide a factual description on the vehicles upon first registration prior to importation to Hong Kong, e.g. whether the vehicle had been registered outside Hong Kong. It will neither indicate nor imply the condition of use of the vehicle or its level of wear and tear. This objective information will enable the public, in particular the vehicle owners and potential vehicle buyers, to know the actual status of the vehicles on their first registration and make an informed decision on vehicle purchase," the spokesman for the TD said.
      
     To complement the introduction of the revised categorisation of vehicle status, the TD will strengthen the verification process of the registration history of vehicles in overseas so as to ensure proper categorisation. Stakeholders have been informed of the relevant arrangement.
      
     For enquiries, please visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/licences_and_permits/vehicle_first_registration/index.html) or call the TD's Hong Kong Licensing Office at 2804 2634 or the enquiry hotline at 2804 2600.