The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
 
     This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 80th meeting, held in November 2018:
 
Revisions to the Code of Practice on Verification of the Addresses of Potential Customers for Mobile Telecommunications Services
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     Taking into account views and comments received from the industry and relevant stakeholders, the CA approved the revisions to the Code of Practice on Verification of the Addresses of Potential Customers for Mobile Telecommunications Services (the revised CoP). The revised CoP provides practical guidance to mobile service providers in respect of the verification of the addresses of potential customers when they enter into commercial arrangements with the service providers for use of mobile services and the documents that are considered to be acceptable proof of address from the customers. The revised CoP contains enhancements to cater for the evolving industry practices such as online transactions for mobile service subscriptions.
 
     The revised CoP should be observed and complied with by all providers of mobile telecommunications services, including holders of the unified carrier licence, services-based operator licence, and class licence for offer of telecommunications services under section 8(1)(aa) of the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106).
 
     The revised CoP is available from the CA's website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/479/cop201805e.pdf) and will be brought into effect one month from the date of the issue, i.e. on December 29, 2018.
 
Renewal of other licensable television programme service (other licensable TV) licences
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     The CA approved the applications of Kowloon Panda Hotel Limited, Gala Hotels Limited, Shangri-La Hotel (Kowloon) Limited, Bauhinia Hotels Limited and Sheraton International (Hong Kong) Limited for renewal of their respective other licensable TV licences for the provision of television programme services to hotel rooms in Hong Kong for a period of 12 years. Including the five licensees mentioned above, there are 22 other licensable TV licensees providing services to more than 70 hotels in Hong Kong.

     The outdoor "Concert in the Park 2018" will be held on Sunday (December 2) from 1.30pm to 7pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, featuring performances by 11 music groups. Members of the public are welcome to attend and admission is free.
 
     Filipino DJs Michael Vincent Benares and Jun "Tita Kerry" Paragas will serve as programme hosts. The line-up features Boogie Wonder Band, Boys Bro Band, Da Hiking Boys, Edwin Gutierrez Band, Hard Luck Kings, HKMU Assembly, Jane Engelmann and the Unsung Heroes, LAGABLAB Band, Rockin Chicken, Sound Bytes and THE 852. They will entertain the audience with different types of music including pop, soul, rock, jazz and folk.
 
     "Concert in the Park 2018" is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Philippine Consulate General in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with the co-operation of the Hong Kong Musicians Union. It aims to promote cultural exchange between the Filipino community and local citizens.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2591 1340 (LCSD) or 2823 8536 (Philippine Consulate General), or visit the website of the LCSD: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/territoryevents/concertinthepark/cp2018.html.

     The owners of Speedy Motor Service on Ka Shin Street and Lee Tak Motors Repairer on Lok Kwan Street in Tai Kok Tsui illegally handled spent lubricating oil and were fined a total of $49,000 by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (November 29) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) conducted a blitz inspection in May this year and found that Speedy Motor Service and Lee Tak Motors Repairer arbitrarily placed the spent lubricating oil, which is classified as chemical waste, inside their garages after replacing lubricating oil for their customers. The spent lubricating oil was not labelled or stored in a proper leakproof device as stipulated by the law. Upon investigation, the EPD confirmed that the aforementioned owners of the repair garages did not register with the department as chemical waste producers. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the two owners concerned for contravening the Regulation.

     An EPD spokesman explained that spent lubricating oil generated from vehicle maintenance is classified as chemical waste and contains various toxic chemicals. Improper handling of such waste will cause the spent lubricating oil to leak into nearby drains and soil, which pollutes the environment and causes harm to public health.

     The spokesman reminded all repair garage operators and workers engaged in the vehicle repair business that they should register as chemical waste producers with the EPD in accordance with the above Regulation. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, and has to be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for treatment. In addition, for replacement of lubricating oil or batteries, vehicle owners should engage the services of vehicle repair garages or companies that have registered with the EPD.

     Under the Regulation, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled "Occupational health for office workers" on December 6 (Thursday). In order to enhance occupational health awareness of office workers, the talk will cover factors affecting occupational health of office workers and their preventive measures. Demonstration and practice of workplace exercise will also be included.
      
     It will be held at 3pm at Activity Room 1, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.
      
     The LD will hold another talk entitled "Occupational stress" on December 10 (Monday). The talk will introduce the symptoms and health impacts of occupational stress, and explain some effective stress-coping strategies through case illustrations.
      
     It will be held at 3pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
      
     Both talks will be given by the LD's occupational health nurse in Cantonese. Admission is free. For enquiries or registration, please call 2852 4040.

     The children's playground in Tuen Mun Park under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has been converted into an innovative inclusive playground and will be opened for public use next Monday (December 3). The new playground is the first barrier-free play space for children in Hong Kong incorporating two natural elements, water and sand, in its design. It provides diversified inclusive play facilities for children of different ages and abilities to play together in a harmonious and happy environment.

     The inclusive playground is composed of two portions, namely the Southern Portion and the Northern Portion, with seven play zones. The overall layout of the playground and its play components are specifically designed for children with different physical abilities, including wheelchair users.

     The Northern Portion is designed as a Water Lily Park with three zones: the Flower Dew Plaza, the Contour Play Zone and the Musical Zone. The Flower Dew Plaza is a water play area with a light and shadow effect, providing flower-shaped splash pads and water cascade facilities for children to enjoy the fun of playing with water in the park freely. Equipped with balancing facilities like spinning plates and a trampoline, the undulating Contour Play Zone gives challenges to children to practise their balancing skills. The Musical Zone, where giant musical instruments such as chimes and drums are installed, can stimulate the sense of hearing of the children.

     The Southern Portion comprises four zones under the design concept of "Reptile Fun" as inspired by the Reptile House in the park. The four zones are the Egg Hunter area, the Reptile Paradise, the Spinning Zone and the Sensory Zone. A sand pit and a sand play table have been set up at the Egg Hunter area where children can play egg-hunting, with a view to encouraging children's creativity and social interaction. In the Reptile Paradise, children can enjoy challenges on the climbing tower and nets with different heights and difficulty levels, as well as have fun on different types of slides. While in the Spinning Zone and the Sensory Zone, various types of swaying and spinning play equipment, sensory walls and other tactile movable parts can appeal to children's senses of sight and touch.

     A swing area is also provided adjacent to the Southern Portion of the playground, featuring two sets of swings including a nest swing, a swing seat and a parent-child swing to cater for the needs of different users. It will be fun for parents to ride with their kids face-to-face on the parent-child swing.

     A spokesman for the LCSD said, "Through sand, water, swaying and rotating play equipment, a climbing tower and movable parts for knocking and touching in the playground, children of different ages and abilities can all enjoy the fun of playing while acquiring different skills which foster balanced development of their body and mind."

     The inclusive playground in Tuen Mun Park was built under a pilot scheme adopting the winning concepts of the Inclusive Play Space Design Ideas Competition with the collaboration of the LCSD and the Architectural Services Department. The LCSD will evaluate public feedback on the pilot scheme, consolidate experiences and continue to heed the views of relevant concern groups, organisations and District Councils so as to make continuous enhancements to the facilities of children's playgrounds.

     Meanwhile, the LCSD has assisted the Playright Children's Play Association and relevant non-governmental organisations to roll out a three-year Community Build Playground (CBP) project at four major LCSD parks from September 2017 to August 2020 in order to enhance the play experience of children. CBP is a new concept that enables children to partner with their parents, by using simple tools, to create their own playground and to explore through imagination and co-operation in the parks. The project has earlier been conducted in Tai Po Waterfront Park and is now being conducted in Lai Chi Kok Park, while the remaining two CBP activities will be held in parks on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories in the next two years.

     Apart from outdoor children's play facilities, a total of 38 indoor children's play rooms are also provided in the LCSD's sports centres. Featuring various themes like ocean world, sailing space adventure, adventure of mining and candy house, the children's play rooms provide colourful play mats and facilities which enable children to play and learn different skills together with a view to enhancing their physical and psychological development.

     For details on the children's play rooms and other inclusive play facilities under the LCSD, please visit the department's website.