Three Mainland men who used trawling gear to fish illegally on August 27 were convicted and sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment suspended for one year at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (August 29).
 
     The Marine Police found a trawler suspected to be trawling in the waters off Conic Island at about 7pm on August 27 and intercepted the vessel for an inspection. Two hundred catties of fish and some trawling apparatus were seized on board the vessel.
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) took over the case. Upon investigation, three Mainland men on the vessel were charged for contravening the Fisheries Protection Regulations by using prohibited fishing gear. They appeared at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts and were convicted and sentenced today. The fishing gear concerned was also forfeited.
 
     An AFCD spokesman reminded the public that the ban on trawling came into force on December 31, 2012. Under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, any person who contravenes the ban is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
 
     Trawling is a non-selective fishing operation which damages the seabed and marine ecosystems. A ban on trawling has brought this harmful depletion to an immediate halt, enabling marine ecosystems to be gradually rehabilitated to a sustainable level and be better conserved in the long run.
 
     The spokesman said, "The AFCD and the Police will continue to carry out joint enforcement operations to crack down on illegal fishing activities."

     Police today (August 29) laid a holding charge against a 53-year-old man with one count of murder.

     The man was arrested yesterday (August 28) in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Western Division in which a 53-year-old woman died.

     The case will be mentioned at Eastern Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 30).
     

Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is now in force, students of evening schools do not have to attend school tonight. Schools should keep their premises open and implement contingency measures to look after arriving students. Schools which are in session should continue until the end of school hours. They should ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, visited Sai Kung District this afternoon (August 29).

     Mr Lau first visited Area 67 in Tseung Kwan O, which is earmarked for construction of government joint-user buildings. He was briefed on the progress of the development plan by officers of the Government Property Agency.
 
     The Government plans to build four new buildings at the site for reprovisioning in phases offices in Immigration Tower, Revenue Tower and Wanchai Tower. The relocation will enable government departments to enhance services for better operational efficiency and service quality, while the existing site in Wan Chai will be reserved for convention, exhibition and commercial use.
 
     Mr Lau then proceeded to the Tseung Kwan O Integrated Social Service Centre of the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association, where he chatted with outreach social workers and a group of young people. He said he was pleased to learn how they have received soccer coach training and, with financial support from a start-up scheme of the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, started a sports club to provide soccer training to children from low-income families.
 
     After that, Mr Lau visited Heung To Secondary School (Tseung Kwan O) and was briefed on the school's STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) projects. He also watched a demonstration on how to operate a solar-powered vehicle. Mr Lau expressed his appreciation for the school's efforts in promoting STEM education and encouraged students to unleash their creative potential and attain all-round development.
 
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Lau met with members of the Sai Kung District Council to exchange views on a range of issues including practices in sales of insurance and investment products, the life annuity scheme and Mandatory Provident Fund schemes.

     A man who went missing in Sham Shui Po was located.

     Cheung Kang-por, aged 73, went missing after he left an elderly home on Tai Po Road on August 27 afternoon. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located in a park in So Uk Estate this afternoon (August 29). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.