Author Archives: hksar gov

     IBI Limited, the renovation works contractor of Eaton Hotel Hong Kong at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, caused dust dispersion when loading and unloading construction waste into a skip near the hotel. The contractor was convicted at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (October 11) for contravening the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation. The works contractor and its sub-contractor were also convicted on October 4 for the illegal installation of a signboard using powered mechanical equipment during night-time, which contravened the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO). The contractor and its sub-contractor were fined a total of $40,000 for these two cases.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a complaint in March this year that several skips were placed at the roadside near the hotel for loading of construction waste generated by the renovation works of the hotel, which caused dust dispersion and affected pedestrians and nearby residents. EPD enforcement officers conducted an investigation on-site and found that the contractor concerned had not taken any precautionary measures to control the spread of dust when loading and unloading construction waste, causing dust dispersion. During the same period of time, the contractor and its sub-contractor were also found to install a signboard using an electric drill after 7pm and caused noise nuisance to nearby residents. The contractor concerned did not apply for the relevant construction noise permit (CNP) before the commencement of the works. Upon investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD subsequently prosecuted the contractor and its sub-contractor accordingly.

     The spokesman said that renovation works contractors should comply with the Regulation and the NCO to avoid affecting nearby residents and the environment. Anyone who violates the Regulation is liable to a fine of $25,000 for the first offence, while first-time offenders who violate the NCO are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions. read more

     The post of the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is open for applications from tomorrow (October 12).

     The advertisement for the post, which sets out details of requirements for potential candidates, will be published in newspapers tomorrow. Applicants should be Hong Kong permanent residents and have:

(a) a good general education;

(b) a strong commitment to promoting equal opportunities and building an inclusive, barrier-free and harmonious society;

(c) at least 15 years of relevant experience in public administration, professional practice or private sector management at a senior level; experience in leading and managing a sizable public or private organisation would be an advantage;

(d) clear vision, impeccable integrity, good leadership qualities particularly in steering a diverse governing board, management skills, mature personality;

(e) a solid track record in public or community service in Hong Kong; and

(f) strong language and communication skills, including good command of Chinese and English.

     All applications should be submitted to Korn/Ferry International (HK) Limited (15/F, St George’s Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong), the agency for this recruitment exercise, by November 2.  

     The term of office of the incumbent EOC Chairperson, Professor Alfred Chan, will expire on April 10, 2019. Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, the appointment authority for the EOC Chairperson rests with the Chief Executive. A Selection Board will recommend the most suitable candidate to the Chief Executive for appointment. The Board is chaired by Mr Bernard Chan, and its members comprise Dr Lam Ching Choi, Ms Shalini Mahtani, Professor Daniel Shek, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

     The EOC is an independent statutory body established under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance. Its functions include working towards the elimination of discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and harmony, working towards elimination of harassment and vilification, handling complaints, assisting persons aggrieved by discrimination by way of conciliation and other assistance, and issuing and revising codes of practice, under the four existing anti-discrimination ordinances in the areas of sex, disability, family status and race. read more

     A Pakistani illegal worker holding a recognisance form was jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (October 10).

     During operation “Twilight” on August 6, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a loading area of an industrial building in Tuen Mun. A male Pakistani illegal worker, aged 35, was arrested. When intercepted he was conveying goods. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

     The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment.

     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases.

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening on vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more

     Diamond Light Construction & Metal Works Co, Kai Cheung Engineering and Yih Ding Investment Company Limited illegally carried out demolition of asbestos building structures or hired non-registered contractor to carry out removal works. They were convicted from Monday (October 8) to today (October 11) at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts, Fanling Magistrates’ Courts and Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts respectively for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) and were fined a total of $38,000.

     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that complaints were received from members of the public from March to May this year about the illegal demolition of asbestos building structures at the back alley of a ground floor shop at Po Shing Mansion in Tsuen Wan; a ground floor shop at Tsui Yuen Mansion at Waterloo Road in Mong Kok; and a village house at Ho King Terrace in Peng Chau. The EPD conducted investigations and found that the asbestos removal works at all three locations were not carried out in accordance with the statutory requirements, as no registered asbestos contractors were hired to conduct the removal works and the EPD had not been notified prior to the commencement of the works. After evidence collection, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the contractors and the property owners under the APCO.

     â€‹The spokesman said that to safeguard public health, asbestos abatement works at commercial and industrial buildings or residential buildings must be carried out by a registered asbestos contractor in accordance with the statutory requirements and the code of practice on asbestos control to prevent the release of asbestos fibres from affecting the workers and public health. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. Anyone failing to give not less than 28 days’ written notice to the EPD of the commencement date of the asbestos abatement work is also liable to a maximum fine of $200,000.
      
     The spokesman urged members of the public to report to the department if they witness any illegal asbestos abatement works. They can call the EPD departmental hotline at 2838 3111 to help combat illegal behaviour. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 11) announced that starting from the 2019/20 school year, eligible female primary school students of suitable ages will be provided with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) to prevent cervical cancer.
 
     The new initiative is launched on the recommendations jointly made by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) and the Scientific Committee on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SCAS) under the CHP to incorporate HPV vaccine into the HKCIP.
 
     “After reviewing the latest scientific evidence on effectiveness and safety, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommendations, overseas practices, local studies on acceptability and cost-benefit analyses, the two scientific committees reached a consensus to recommend that HPV vaccination be included in the HKCIP as a public health programme for cervical cancer prevention for girls of suitable ages before sexual debut,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     The recommended vaccination schedule consists of two doses of HPV vaccines. Starting from the 2019/20 school year, the first dose of HPV vaccine will be given via outreach by the DH’s School Immunisation Teams to Primary Five female students at their schools, and a second dose will be given to the girls when they reach Primary Six in the following school year. This mode of delivery has all along achieved a high coverage of vaccines under the HKCIP.
 
     Nine-valent HPV vaccine will be provided under the programme. It is estimated that this vaccine, which covers major genotypes accounting for cervical cancer cases in Hong Kong, could potentially offer protection against around 90 per cent of cervical cancer in Hong Kong.
 
     “We are working out the implementation details of the vaccination programme,” the spokesman said.
 
     Persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV through sexual contact can cause cervical cancer. In 2015, cervical cancer was the seventh most common cancer among females in Hong Kong with 500 new cases recorded, accounting for 3.3 per cent of all new cancer cases in females. In 2016, cervical cancer was the ninth leading cause of female cancer death, with 151 deaths recorded and accounting for 2.6 per cent of all cancer deaths in females.
 
     In recent years, there has been increasing scientific evidence showing that HPV vaccines are safe and efficacious in preventing infection with HPV genotypes covered by the vaccines, which account for the majority of cervical cancer cases. The WHO recommends that HPV vaccine be included in national immunisation programmes as part of a co-ordinated and comprehensive strategy to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by HPV.
 
     The Government commissioned the University of Hong Kong to conduct a cost-benefit study on HPV vaccination in the prevention of cervical cancer, which was completed in mid-2018. The study concluded that routine HPV vaccination of female adolescents in Hong Kong is highly likely to be cost-beneficial and cost-effective.
 
     The spokesman reminded the public that HPV vaccination cannot provide a 100 per cent protection against cervical cancer and should not be used to replace cervical cancer screening. Hence, regular cervical cancer screening remains an important measure for prevention of cervical cancer.
 
     Under the HKCIP, eligible children can currently receive different types of free vaccines and boosters for the prevention of 11 types of infectious diseases, namely chickenpox, diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal infection, rubella, tetanus and tuberculosis. Vaccines are first given to newborn babies in hospitals. During their pre-school period, children will receive such vaccines and boosters at recommended ages of vaccination at the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres. As for primary school children, vaccination is provided at schools by the DH’s outreaching School Immunisation Teams.
 
     The summary of the consensus recommendations has been uploaded to the webpages of the SCVPD and SCAS. For more information, please visit the relevant webpages on the HKCIP and cervical cancer. read more