Appeal for information on missing man in Tseung Kwan O (with photo)

     Police today (September 14) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tseung Kwan O.

     Tam Ching-kwok, aged 41, went missing after he left his residence on Tong Tak Street on September 8 morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.68 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short straight black hair. He was last seen wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, blue jeans, pink shoes and a pair of black-framed glasses.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or 9020 2746, or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

     

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“Violin and Piano Duo Concert by Janine Jansen and Alexander Gavrylyuk” cancelled

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (September 14) that "Violin and Piano Duo Concert by Janine Jansen and Alexander Gavrylyuk", scheduled for September 23 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall, has been cancelled due to violinist Janine Jansen's health reasons.
 
     Ticket holders should produce the original tickets intact for refund. Details will be announced later on the website of the Cultural Presentations Section of the LCSD at www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2268 7321 during office hours.




Government to sell two sites by public tender

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (September 14) that two residential sites in the 2018-19 Land Sale Programme will be disposed of by public tender.

     The two sites are Lot No. 2883 in Demarcation District No. 130 at Fuk Hang Tsuen Lane, Lam Tei, Tuen Mun, New Territories, and New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6574 at Kai Tak Area 4B Site 3, Kai Tak, Kowloon. The tender invitation for Lot No. 2883 in Demarcation District No. 130 will commence on September 21 and close on October 19. The tender invitation for New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6574 will commence on September 21 and close on November 2.

     Lot No. 2883 in Demarcation District No. 130 has a site area of about 1,748 square metres and is designated for private residential purposes. The minimum gross floor area and the maximum gross floor area are 566.4 sq m and 943.9 sq m respectively.

     New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6574 has a site area of about 9,706 sq m and is designated for private residential purposes. The minimum gross floor area and the maximum gross floor area are 32,030 sq m and 53,383 sq m respectively.

     Land sale documents including the Forms of Tender, the Tender Notices, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plans of the two lots will be available for downloading from the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk), and the sale plans will be available for distribution and inspection by the public from September 21, when the particulars of the tenders will also be gazetted.




Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices by education centre

     Hong Kong Customs today (September 14) arrested a male director of an education centre suspected of having applied a false trade description to the service supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that an education centre arranged a travel tour bound for Thailand and claimed that it would be undertaken by a designated travel agent.

     After investigation, it was found that the tour was not undertaken by the travel agent. Customs officers today arrested a 39-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 services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a customer 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 Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).




Fifteen immigration offenders arrested

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including an operation codenamed "Twilight" and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed "Champion" from September 10 to 13. A total of 11 illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested.
 
     During operation "Twilight", ImmD Task Force officers raided 25 target locations including a billiard room, car parks, a commercial building, an industrial building, massage parlours, restaurants, shops and a warehouse. Five illegal workers and an employer were arrested. The illegal workers comprised two men and three women, aged 22 to 41. Meanwhile, a woman, aged 51, was suspected of employing the illegal workers.
 
     In addition, during operation "Champion", enforcement officers raided 59 target locations in Kowloon East districts and Mong Kok including a beauty centre, commercial buildings, guesthouse, industrial flats, a nightclub, a residential flat, restaurants and shops. Four illegal workers and two employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised three men and a woman, aged 36 to 51. Among them, a woman was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. Meanwhile, a man and a woman, aged 46 and 57, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
 
     Furthermore, during a joint operation between the ImmD and another law enforcement agency, enforcement officers raided a frozen meat company in Tuen Mun. Two illegal workers and an employer were arrested. The illegal workers comprised two men, aged 36 and 66. Among them, a man was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits him from taking any employment. Meanwhile, a man, aged 51, was suspected of employing the illegal workers.
 
     "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," an ImmD spokesman said.
 
     The 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 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 of 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.