Hong Kong Customs today (September 26) arrested a salesman of a medicine shop suspected to have applied a false trade description in the course of selling a proprietary medicine, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation at a medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui this afternoon. A salesman was suspected to have applied a false trade description on a brand of medicine by stating that it was a particular brand of medicine. Customs officers then arrested the 67-year-old man.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any person who in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any goods or services commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at a media session after officiating at the 16th Hong Kong Green School Award presentation ceremony this afternoon (September 26):

Reporter: Mr Wong, after the typhoon, our waste handling facilities are under severe strain. Was that a failure to prepare for the aftermath of the typhoon? Secondly, I'm sure you told the schoolchildren about the importance of waste reduction. When can we expect the legislation on that issue coming through the Legislative Council (LegCo)?

Secretary for the Environment: You have two questions. Firstly, we have to understand that it is a super typhoon, that the damage is substantial. While our refuse transfer stations (RTS) have certain spare capacities, but the extra waste, as compared with previous years, is about 30 to 40 per cent more than normal. There is a capacity limit for the RTS. Our colleagues have already made contingency arrangements to divert the yard waste to the Kai Tak temporary storage site to minimise the loading onto our existing RTS. Up to now, based on the latest reports, the RTS operations are almost back to a more acceptable standard. At the same time, we would like to promote to the public and more organisations to make the best use of the temporary-stored yard waste. Some of the wood could be suitable for adaptive reuse or upcycling, while other yard waste could also be used for composting. If they are interested, please contact our colleagues through the hotline so that it (the yard waste) can be for beneficial use.

     Your last question is about how to prepare for (municipal) solid waste charging. We have to reduce waste in Hong Kong. Our plan is to submit the bill to the LegCo upon their resumption after the summer recess.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Fortune Management Consulting Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay two employees' wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). Both the company and director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (September 26) and were fined $28,000 respectively, making a total of $56,000.

     The company failed to pay two employees wages to a total sum of $208,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods as required by the EO. The director concerned was convicted for her consent, connivance or neglect in the offence.

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees wages within the time limit in accordance with the EO," a spokesman for 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 Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, visited Wong Tai Sin District today (September 26). She called at a primary school and a youth centre and met with District Council members.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Wong Tai Sin District Council, Mr Li Tak-hong, and the District Officer (Wong Tai Sin), Ms Annie Kong, Ms Cheng visited the Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Service for Young People – Wong Tai Sin to learn about the operation and facilities of the centre.

     During the visit, Ms Cheng chatted with youth members in the centre. She learned that the centre encourages young people to develop their potential and cultivates their sense of responsibility for the promotion of mutual care and social integration through understanding, caring, participating and commitment.

     Ms Cheng then went to Islamic Dharwood Pau Memorial Primary School, and was briefed by the school principal and student ambassadors on its educational philosophy and characteristics. She also chatted with teachers and students to understand how the school promotes local and Islamic cultural exchanges and the challenges faced by ethnic minority students.

     Before concluding her visit, Ms Cheng met with members of the Wong Tai Sin District Council and exchanged views on issues of concern.

          

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, will leave for Beijing this Friday (September 28) afternoon to participate in the professional exchange activities of the National Day Delegation from the Educational Sector of Hong Kong 2018.

     More than 130 education workers will join the delegation this year, including representatives from professional education bodies and advisory bodies of the Education Bureau, as well as principals and teachers of kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. 

     The National Day Delegation from the Educational Sector of Hong Kong has been organised since 2006. To tie in with the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up of the country, a series of thematic visits and exchange activities are arranged to enhance Hong Kong education workers' understanding of the education developments of the country, as well as the history, culture and latest developments of the country, and to promote exchanges between the education workers in Hong Kong and on the Mainland to broaden their professional perspective.

     As in previous years’ National Day celebration and exchange activities, the delegates will be received by state leaders and officials from the Ministry of Education.

     Mr Yeung will return to Hong Kong on October 1. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.