The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: Hong Kong Monetary Authority Exchange Fund Bills Tender Results ***************************************************** Tender date : November 27, 2018 … read more
A local importer, Yee Chung Logistic Company Limited, illegally imported hazardous electronic waste (e-waste) from Indonesia and was fined $22,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (November 27) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO). The company had previously been convicted four times for importing hazardous e-waste from Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea, and the latest fine of $50,000 was handed down on November 6.
With the assistance of the Customs and Excise Department, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) staff intercepted an imported container from Indonesia at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals in May this year. The container was claimed to contain integrated circuits, but upon inspection it was found to be loaded with hazardous e-waste of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), with a total market value of about $500,000. The EPD immediately returned the intercepted container to its place of origin and notified the relevant local authority to follow-up. The department also instigated prosecution against the importer in accordance with the WDO.
An EPD spokesman stressed that waste PCBs are hazardous e-waste, containing various heavy metals and other toxic chemical substances. They are classified as chemical waste and are regulated under the existing laws on chemical waste disposal. To protect the environment, the EPD rigorously combats the illegal import and export activities of hazardous waste.
The spokesman reminded importers of the waste recycling trade not to illegally import (including import into or transshipment through Hong Kong) or export hazardous waste. According to the WDO, it is an offence for anyone to import or export hazardous waste without obtaining a valid permit beforehand. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ 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.
Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (November 28). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.
A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race
1. Road closure
Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.
2. Traffic diversions
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Vehicles from eastbound Queen’s Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen’s Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen’s Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen’s Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.
B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting
1. Road closure
The following roads will be closed from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:
– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen’s Road East.
In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.
2. Traffic diversions
The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:
– Eastbound Queen’s Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.
C. Learner drivers prohibition
Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:
– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.
D. Suspension of parking spaces
Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.
Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.
Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site. read more
​Two chain butchers’ shops operated by Tin Full Food Limited and Colchester Foods Company Limited located at Tong Mei Road in Mong Kok and Hop Choi Street in Yuen Long respectively and a vegetable chain stall operated by Ka Wo Farming Limited at San Chuen Street in Tsuen Wan caused noise nuisance to nearby residents by persistently playing promotional recordings using loudspeakers at their front doors. They were fined a total of $12,500 by Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on November 15 and Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on November 20 and today (November 27) respectively for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO). The director of Ka Wo Farming Limited was also convicted and held criminally liable for her stores’ repeated offences. She was fined $4,000.
An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that complaints were received from members of the public about the noise nuisance caused by some stalls at Tong Mei Road in Mong Kok, Hop Choi Street in Yuen Long and San Chuen Street in Tsuen Wan. The stalls used loudspeakers to play promotional recordings persistently and adversely affected nearby residents. The EPD conducted several inspections and enforcement actions and during the operations in May and June, it was found that the butchers’ shops and the vegetable stall concerned used loudspeakers and the noise generated annoyance. The department subsequently prosecuted the stalls in accordance with the NCO. Separately, three outlets operated by Ka Wo Farming Limited, which are located in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long and Kwun Tong, had been convicted a total of five times this year for contravening the NCO by causing noise nuisance to nearby residents by playing promotional recordings.
After a series of enforcement actions, the situation of the aforementioned stalls improved. The EPD will continue to closely monitor the situation and will prosecute the responsible person of the operating company for stalls with repeated contraventions.
The spokesman reminded persons responsible for retail shops and market stalls that when they play promotional recordings to sell goods, they should contain the noise level within their shop area and should not cause annoyance to other people outside their shops or nearby residents. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence, and offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000. For stores with repeated contraventions, the operator himself will also be criminally liable for the offence once convicted. read more
​A McDonald’s restaurant located at Wealthy Shopping Arcade on Texaco Road in Tsuen Wan did not comply with the requirements of a statutory notice issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to properly treat its cooking fume emissions, causing environmental nuisance to nearby residents. The restaurant was today (November 27) convicted and fined $10,000 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).
The EPD enforcement officers received a complaint from a resident in January this year and found that the restaurant concerned was emitting excessive cooking fumes which affected nearby pedestrian and residents. The EPD then issued a statutory notice under the APCO requesting the restaurant to take remedial measures by the deadline. The EPD officers conducted on-site inspection after the specified date and found that the restaurant continued to emit visible cooking fumes, which violated the requirements of the statutory notice. The EPD then prosecuted the restaurant in accordance with the law. It was subsequently noted that the restaurant’s air pollution control equipment was not in operation at that time.
An EPD spokesman reminded food business operators that the responsible persons should properly install and operate effective air pollution control equipment in the kitchens of food premises. They should also hire experienced technicians to clean, check and repair the equipment regularly to avoid causing air pollution. According to the APCO, restaurant operators should adopt effective remedial measures to abate excessive cooking fume emissions within a specified time limit upon receipt of a statutory notice. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions. read more