Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited the Labour Department (LD) Headquarters this afternoon (September 6) to take a closer look at its work.

     Accompanied by the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Carlson Chan, he first met with the directorate staff to get an update on the LD’s work and challenges. He said that with colleagues’ professional and proactive attitude, various policy initiatives on improving employees’ welfare as well as occupational safety and health have been moving forward. He encouraged colleagues to maintain a good partnership with employee and employer stakeholders to respond to the new trends of the labour market.

     Dr Law then proceeded to the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) Division and was updated on the work of the Division in overseeing the implementation of the SMW and providing secretariat support for the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC). In accordance with the Minimum Wage Ordinance, the MWC is conducting a new round of review on the SMW rate, and will submit a report on its recommendation to the Chief Executive in Council by end-October.

     He also went to the Labour Inspection Division (LID) and was briefed on inspections of workplaces in various trades conducted by labour inspectors and investigations into cases of suspected breaches of labour laws for prosecution of law-infringing employers. In addition to district offices, three Special Enforcement Teams in the LID are tasked with monitoring government service contractors’ compliance with relevant labour legislation and terms of the employment contract to safeguard the rights of non-skilled workers, conduct labour inspections relating to the Supplementary Labour Scheme to protect imported workers, and inspect construction sites.

     He also visited the Occupational Health Service and was introduced to its daily work by occupational hygienists, including the use of different instruments to assess the hazards affecting employees’ health in the workplace, such as detecting toxic gases, asbestos and thermal stress. He expressed concern about the safety of workers working in confined spaces, such as manholes, underground sewers and tunnels. He reminded persons in charge of construction works to carry out risk assessment in advance, while workers should take all safety precautions.

     Noting that a number of fatal industrial accidents which occurred in recent years involved workers falling from height, Dr Law also visited the Safety Promotion Division to hear about the LD’s stepped up education and publicity on safety for working at height.

      

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (September 6) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department’s enquiries hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
      
     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
Waiting Lobby, 3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
Multi-purpose Room, 1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate,
Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
Hall, G/F, 45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
      
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 21 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 6) announced that a popsicle sample of mango pomelo coconut cream flavour was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.
      
     Details of the product are as follows:
      
Product: Mango Pomelo Coconut Cream Ice Pop
Product brand: Nice Pops Hong Kong
Manufacturer/packer: Nice Company HK, Limited
Net volume: 82 millilitres
Best-before date: December 23, 2018
      
     A spokesman for the CFS said, “Subsequent to announcing earlier that a honeydew berry sorbet popsicle sample taken from the premises of a frozen confection factory in Ap Lei Chau was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, the CFS has enhanced surveillance on the products of the premises and has detected from the above-mentioned sample coliform bacteria of 140 per gram, exceeding the legal limit. The results for pathogen tests were satisfactory.”
      
     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
      
     “The CFS has informed the manufacturer concerned of the irregularity and the premises of its factory has temporarily stopped production and sale of all kinds of popsicles according to the CFS’ instructions until completion of improvement measures. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the staff of the premises concerned again, and requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection,” the spokesman said.
      
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. read more

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has approved from the Disaster Relief Fund a grant of $0.537 million to the Amity Foundation, Hong Kong, for providing relief to typhoon victims in Shandong Province in t… read more

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (September 6) visited Eastern District to learn more about secondary school students’ campus life at the start of a new school year and young people participating in community activities. He also exchanged views with members of Eastern District Council (EDC).
      
     Accompanied by the District Officer (Eastern), Mr Simon Chan, and the EDC Chairman, Mr Wong Kin-pan, Mr Yeung first called at CNEC Lau Wing Sang Secondary School in Chai Wan, where he was briefed by the school principal and teachers on the school development plan.
      
     Next year will mark the school’s 20th anniversary. Its work targets for the 2018/19 school year include creating a reading atmosphere for developing students’ reading abilities and interest, enriching English learning and teaching, and helping students develop a sense of responsibility, resilience and leadership.
      
     Mr Yeung toured the school’s English café, reference library for teachers and school library for students to learn more about the teaching and learning arrangements. At the school activity centre he chatted with student leaders and activity ambassadors, and listened to their reflections on daily school life.
      
     Mr Yeung also visited the Jockey Club Shaukiwan Youth S.P.O.T. of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. He toured different facilities and also took the opportunity to enjoy a musical instrument performance and art works presentation by youths, and listened to their views. Mr Yeung was pleased that the young people could connect with their peers, relax and develop their own interests in such a cozy place. He encouraged them to continue to explore their potential, equip themselves well and realise their dreams in the future.
      
     Mr Yeung then went to the EDC to exchange views with EDC members on education and other district issues. read more