The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, visited Southern District this afternoon (October 15) to exchange views with local District Council members on environmental issues. He also visited the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired, and called at Cyberport to learn about the latest developments of green startups.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Southern District Council (SDC), Mr Chu Ching-hong, and the District Officer (Southern), Mrs Dorothy Ma, Mr Wong began his visit by meeting members of the SDC to listen to their views on the Government's environmental policies and learn more about their concerns on district environmental issues.

     Mr Wong then departed for the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired and toured its campus. He also chatted with students and alumni there to learn more about their studies and green activities at the school, and tried out some of the environmental products produced by them. He encouraged the students to practise energy saving and waste reduction in their daily lives to help foster a low-carbon future.

     Before concluding his itinerary, Mr Wong visited Cyberport to observe the operation of green startups and the application of technologies to waste management, energy saving and electric vehicle charging equipment. He said that moving towards low-carbon living is a dominant trend, and the integration of green industry and innovation technology will play a decisive role in promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong. He said he looked forward to seeing more innovative enterprises in the market to jointly combat climate change and make Hong Kong even more environmentally friendly and livable.

     KCW & Associates Pty Limited and its director and responsible officer were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay an employee wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). All the three defendants pleaded guilty at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (October 15) and were fined a total of $130,000 (the company and the director were fined $50,000 each and the responsible officer was fined $30,000).

     The company failed to pay to an employee wages totalling $80,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment as required by the EO. Also, the company failed to pay the employee the awarded sum of about $90,000 within 14 days after the specified payment date of the LT award. The director and responsible officer were convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and other responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees wages within the time limit in accordance with the EO and awarded sums according to the terms of the awards issued by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board" a spokesman for the LD said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 15) investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Tin Shui Wai, and hence reminded the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene against AGE.

     The outbreak involves 10 boys and 10 girls aged 3 to 5 who developed diarrhoea and vomiting since October 4. Eighteen of them sought medical attention. Among them, two required hospitalisation and were discharged after treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition.
 
     Upon laboratory testing, the stool specimen of one affected child tested positive for norovirus and sapovirus while the stool specimen of another affected child tested positive for norovirus.

     Officers of the CHP conducted a site visit and provided health advice to the staff of the school concerning proper and thorough disinfection, proper disposal of vomitus, and personal and environmental hygiene. The school has been put under medical surveillance.
 
     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis:
 

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, after using the toilet or after changing diapers;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faecal matter, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water). Wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Pay attention to food hygiene;
• Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Do not patronise unlicensed food premises or food stalls.

     
     The public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information.

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (October 15) that it registered 16 lease modifications and three land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter ending September 2018, of which 11 were modifications of a technical nature involving nil premium.

     Among these 19 land transactions, 11 are located on Hong Kong Island, five are in Kowloon and three are in the New Territories. The transactions exclude Small House cases.

     A further two lots were granted by private treaty during the period. One was granted to the Hong Kong Housing Authority for Home Ownership Scheme development in Ma On Shan and the other was granted to the Urban Renewal Authority for residential development in Sham Shui Po.

     The above land transactions realised a total land premium of $1,599.1756 million.

     Transaction records of the lease modifications, land exchanges and private treaty grants, including those registered recently, are uploaded to the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk) on a monthly basis. Details of the transactions may be obtained by searching the registered documents in the Land Registry.

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 DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.