Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 2) held the 8th Friends of EcoPark Award Presentation Ceremony to commend over 200 organisations from both the public and private sectors in recognition of their support for EcoPark tenants and to encourage further collaboration to enhance the development of the local recycling industry.

     Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that the number of awardees this year had reached a record high. He thanked all the awardees for their support for the EcoPark tenants and the recycling industry. In addition to reducing waste at source, he said that upcycling is also a key component in the circular economy. With the Mainland’s progressive tightening of import requirements on recyclables, it is of utmost importance to foster the sustainable development of the local recycling industry with support from various sectors of the community. Mr Wong appealed to the awardees to continue working with the recycling industry and encouraged more trade stakeholders to become “Friends of EcoPark”.

     Launched by the EPD in 2010, the Friends of EcoPark scheme aims at helping EcoPark tenants to extend their sourcing of recyclables and the collection network, and to promote their recycled products by fostering partnerships between the private and public sectors and EcoPark tenants. The number of participating companies and organisations is on an increasing trend, comprising a wide range of business groups such as hotels, catering, construction, logistics, retail, cleaning and property management, as well as various public utilities and organisations from the public sector.

     The EPD will continue to encourage more partnership initiatives between enterprises and tenants through the scheme to promote the sustainable development of recycling operations. For more information about the Friends of EcoPark scheme or collaboration opportunities with EcoPark tenants, please visit the EcoPark’s website at www.ecopark.com.hk or call its hotline on 2496 7633.

     Also officiating at today’s ceremony were the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs, Ms Tanya Chan and Dr Junius Ho; the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund, Mr Jimmy Kwok; and the Chairman of Tuen Mun District Council, Mr Leung Kin-man. read more

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (October 2) visited the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and met with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and exchange views on matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law first met with the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, and directorate staff to get an update on the Department’s work in safeguarding community health through promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, as well as the challenges confronting them.

     Mr Law then toured the Central Notification Office and the Outbreak Teams under the Communicable Disease Division of the Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch. He was briefed by colleagues about their work in monitoring intelligence related to communicable diseases in Hong Kong collected through the notification mechanism, as well as work related to epidemiological investigation and control of communicable diseases.

     Mr Law later proceeded to the Emergency Hotline Centre of the Public Health Nursing Division to learn more about its health related enquiry service during a public health emergency. He also visited the simulation ward of the Infection Control Branch, which was purpose-built for providing infection control training to health care professionals.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concern them. He encouraged colleagues to continue maintaining vigilance and to always be prepared for a public health emergency so as to safeguard the health of Hong Kong people.

  

     Two illegal workers, comprising an Indian and a Vietnamese, were jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on September 28 and 29.

     During an anti-illegal worker operation mounted on July 24, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a restaurant in Tung Chung. One female Indian illegal worker, aged 28, was arrested. When intercepted, she was working as a waitress. Upon identity checking she produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits her from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that she was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

     Furthermore, ImmD investigators received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate an illegal employment case in September. Enforcement officers arrested a male Vietnamese worker, aged 28, who was found working as an odd-job worker in a recycling depot in Tin Shui Wai. 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.
 
     The two illegal workers were respectively charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on September 28 and 29 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. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to 15 months and two weeks’ and 15 months’ imprisonment respectively. In addition, the male Vietnamese was also charged with remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director and was sentenced to eight months and eighteen days’ imprisonment. All sentences are to run concurrently, making a total of 15 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

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (October 2).      The value of total retail sales in August 2018, provisionally estimated at $38.2 billion, increase… read more

     Hong Kong Customs seized a batch of suspected endangered species including 881 live lizards, 39 live turtles and 36 live snakes with an estimated market value of about $150,000 at Man Kam To Control Point on September 27.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing lorry at Man Kam To Control Point for inspection in the afternoon on September 27 and seized the batch of suspected endangered species in the cargo compartment.

     The 64-year-old male driver was arrested. Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for ten years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).