Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (November 9) brought prosecutions against Eugene Engineering Company Limited (EECL), its general manager and one maintenance manager, in connection with a lift incident that led to the death of a woman at Paris Court in Sheung Shui Town Centre in the New Territories in May. The EECL was the registered lift contractor responsible for maintenance works on the lift concerned.

     The in-depth investigation by the EMSD revealed that the EECL and related personnel failed to carry out their statutory duties under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Cap 618) (the Ordinance) and the Lifts and Escalators (General) Regulation (Cap 618A) (the Regulation). After seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, the EMSD has decided to bring prosecutions against them with the following charges:

Eugene Engineering Company Limited:

(i) contravention of sections 16(1)(a) and 16(2) of the Ordinance, i.e. failing to ensure that the lift works were carried out properly; and
 
(ii) contravention of sections 4(1) and 4(4) of the Regulation, i.e. failing to notify in the specified form the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services of the subcontracting of the works not later than seven days before the first commencement day.

General Manager:

(i) contravention of sections 141(1), 16(1)(a) and 16(2) of the Ordinance, i.e. failing to ensure that the lift works were carried out properly, which was committed with the consent or connivance, or to be attributable to the neglect or omission on the part of General Manager of a registered lift contractor; and
 
(ii) contravention of section 141(1) of the Ordinance, and sections 4(1) and 4(4) of the Regulation, i.e. failing to notify in the specified form the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services of the subcontracting of the works not later than seven days before the first commencement day, which was committed with the consent or connivance, or to be attributable to the neglect or omission on the part of General Manager of a registered lift contractor.

Maintenance Manager:
 
– contravention of sections 141(1), 16(1)(a) and 16(2) of the Ordinance, i.e. failing to ensure that the lift works were carried out properly, which was committed with the consent or connivance, or to be attributable to the neglect or omission on the part of Maintenance Manager of a registered lift contractor.

     Summonses have been served to the above defendants. The case will be heard in Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on December 10. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:        The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation… read more

     A company was fined $1,500 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today (November 9) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in March this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club in Wo Shang Wai in Yuen Long which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).
      
     An OLA officer posed as a customer and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show her membership status or being invited to join the club as member. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
      
     The company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
      
     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations. read more

     A 49-year-old man was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment at the District Court today (November 9) following his conviction for drug trafficking and dealing with property known or believed to be crime proceeds (money laundering) on November 5, in contravention of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO) and the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO).

     Customs officers intercepted the man in Yuen Long and found about 4 kilograms of cannabis in the plastic bag he was carrying and in his residential premises in March 2017. About $1 million in cash was also seized.

     Further investigation revealed that the man laundered about $5.4 million in total in 2016 and 2017.

     Under the DDO, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he deals with any property, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the DDO or OSCO to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (November 9) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at end-October 2… read more