Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The responsible persons of two recycling sites in Ping Che in North District and Shek Wu Wai in Yuen Long, who illegally stored hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), were convicted and fined a total of $50,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (September 18) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that during operations in January and March, EPD officers raided two recycling sites that illegally stored printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste. The recycling sites were located in Ping Che in North District and Shek Wu Wai in Yuen Long and used to collect, store, dismantle, import and export hazardous e-waste. The recycling sites concerned illegally stored PCBs at the open spaces with some PCBs chaotically scattered on the ground. A total of 2.5 tonnes of PCBs were found during the two operations with a total market value of $250,000. Upon investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the recycling sites’ responsible persons in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
      
     The spokesman stressed that dismantled or destroyed PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste. Chemical waste is hazardous by nature and, if not properly controlled, will pollute the environment and pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. The EPD has all along been committed to combating the illegal collection, storage, handling and import and export activities of hazardous e-waste. Anyone who violates the above laws shall be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment for the first conviction. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment.

     For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD’s website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

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     Hongkong Post announced today (September 18) that, as advised by the postal administration of Macao, due to the impact of Typhoon Mangkhut, mail delivery services in Macao have been suspended. Hongkong Post has suspended p… read more

     The Committee on Elder Academy Development Foundation (EADF) is inviting a new round of funding applications from school-sponsoring bodies of primary and secondary schools as well as post-secondary institutions interested in setting… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Members of the public are invited to attend the Hospital Authority (HA) Board Meeting to be held on September 20 (Thursday) at 3.45pm. 
 
     The HA Board Meeting has been open to members of the public since 1998 to demonstrate the continuous efforts of the Authority to enhance its transparency and public accountability. The HA Board holds meetings at regular intervals to discuss major health policy issues which have an impact on the public.
 
     Through these open meetings, the community is able to understand more about the role and functions of the HA Board as well as the operation and services of the HA and its hospitals.

     The HA Board will discuss the following agenda items in the coming meeting:

• Hospital Authority Annual Report 2017-18;
• 2017 Patient Experience Survey on Inpatient Service;
• HA Chief Executive’s Progress Report on Strategic Priorities; and
• Cluster Presentation Programme – Hong Kong East Cluster: The First Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Centre in the HA.

 
     The meeting agenda and papers will be made available to the public at the meeting. Members of the public are reminded that they may attend the Board Meeting only as observers and will not be participating in the meeting discussions.
 
     Members of the public who are interested in attending the coming Board Meeting have to make advance booking by contacting the Secretariat of the HA Board at 2300 6797 during office hours. To facilitate booking arrangements, members of the public are advised to provide their name and contact telephone number. In view of the limited seating available in the Public Gallery of the meeting venue, seating will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (September 18) appealed to the public to keep places clean and tidy and not to burn wax or fly sky lanterns when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
 
     “To provide a better environment for members of the public to enjoy the festive occasion, we appeal to them not to burn or melt wax. They should not sprinkle or pour liquids onto hot wax. Metal cans or non-flammable containers should be used to collect melted wax for easy disposal into litter bins after the containers cool down,” a spokesman for the LCSD said.
 
     “Moreover, members of the public should not throw glow sticks or other objects onto trees, as doing so may cause damage to the trees and affect the cleanliness of venues. Furthermore, they should not fly sky lanterns as it might cause injuries or damage to property.”
 
     Noting that a new set of television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) has been launched to make similar public appeals, the spokesman said patrols will also be stepped up at the department’s venues including parks, public beaches and barbecue sites on September 23 and 24. About 1 000 staff will be deployed to take enforcement action against littering, wax burning, throwing objects onto trees and flying sky lanterns on these two nights.
 
     Members of the public may call the LCSD’s hotline on 2414 5555 to report any wax burning or flying sky lantern cases, or other irregularities found at LCSD venues.
 
     According to the Pleasure Grounds Regulation, no person shall, in any pleasure ground, melt or burn any wax; sprinkle or pour any liquid onto any hot wax; damage any part of any tree, shrub or plant; or fly kites, model aircraft, balloons, sky lanterns or other devices. According to the Bathing Beaches Regulation, no person shall, on any bathing beach, do any act which is likely to endanger or obstruct any other person using the beach, or damage, deface or pollute the beach or anything situated thereon. Any person who is convicted is liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and 14 days’ imprisonment.
 
      Littering offenders will be issued with a fixed penalty notice with a fine of $1,500, while those who burn wax, throw objects onto trees or fly sky lanterns might be prosecuted. read more