Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 5) seized about 100 kilograms of suspected scheduled dried shark fins of endangered species and about 220 kilograms of unmanifested dried sea cucumbers from a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. The estimated market value of the seizure was about $350,000.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a container declared to contain dried shark fins arriving in Hong Kong from the United Arab Emirates. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the suspected scheduled dried shark fins and dried sea cucumbers in the container.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for ten years.

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

  

     As the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate precautions to prevent heat stroke when working in a hot or humid environment.
 
     Heat stroke could occur if an employee works in a hot or humid environment for prolonged periods of time, as the body may fail to regulate its temperature by effective heat dissipation through sweating.
 
     The early symptoms of heat stroke include feeling thirsty, fatigue, nausea and headache. Later, the victim may experience shortness of breath, rapid and weak pulse, dizziness, confusion or even loss of consciousness and convulsion.
 
     For example, construction workers, cleaning workers, kitchen workers and porters are more prone to heat stroke when working for long hours in such an environment, especially if appropriate preventive measures have not been taken.
 
     The LD reminds employers to arrange for a suitable assessment of the risk of heat stress in the work environment and take appropriate preventive measures. The LD has produced two leaflets entitled "Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Construction Sites" and "Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Outdoor Cleansing Workplaces" respectively. Employers engaged in construction or outdoor cleaning work are advised to refer to these checklists in assessing the risk of heat stress at their workplaces. As for heat stress assessment at a workplace in general, employers can refer to a booklet entitled "Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" produced by the LD.
 
     The LD also reminds employers and employees to take the following precautions to prevent heat stroke:
 
Employers
———
(1) Take heed of the weather report and adopt shift work arrangements for employees to reduce their exposure to the hot environment, or arrange appropriate rest breaks for them during very hot periods;
(2) Avoid working under direct sunlight and set up temporary sunshade wherever possible;
(3) Provide cool potable water for employees at all times during work. If necessary, provide drinks containing minerals for employees to replenish loss of electrolytes during profuse sweating;
(4) Minimise physical demands by using tools or mechanical aids at work;
(5) Increase air flow by enhancing ventilation or air-conditioning as appropriate;
(6) Isolate heat-generating facilities at the workplace and use insulating materials to minimise heat dissipation to the other work areas; and
(7) Provide relevant information and training for employees on heat stroke such as preventive measures and first aid treatment.
 
Employees
———
(1) Wear clothing made of suitable materials (for example, cotton) that is loose-fitting and light-coloured to help heat dissipation, minimise heat absorption and allow sweat evaporation;
(2) Wear a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors;
(3) Drink plenty of water or other appropriate beverages to replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost through sweating; and
(4) Whenever there are any symptoms of heat stroke, inform supervisors and take appropriate actions immediately.
 
     Some employees may have difficulty in adapting to a hot working environment owing to their own health conditions. Employers should take this into account and consider the recommendations of their doctors when assigning work to these employees.
 
     In addition to the publications on risk assessment, the LD has produced a leaflet entitled "Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment" for the public. The publications can be obtained free of charge from the offices of the Occupational Health Service of the LD, or downloaded from the department's webpage at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm.
 
     The LD organises occupational health talks in public places and at its own training venues regularly to raise employers' and employees' awareness of occupational health. Details of health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in a hot environment in July to September are as follows:
 
(A)
Dates: July 9 and 24; August 2, 13 and 30; and September 13 and 24 (am)
July 20 and 30; August 8 and 22; and September 5, 20 and 27 (pm)
Time: Half-day
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department, 13/F, Kolour·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
 
(B)
Dates: July 13 and 27 and August 10 and 20
Time: Half-day, morning
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong
(MTR Kwun Tong Station Exit A1)
 
(C)
Date: August 13
Time: 3pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit E)
 
(D)
Date: July 16 and September 14
Time: 3pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Activity Room I, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(Opposite Victoria Park, MTR Tin Hau Station Exit B)
 
     For enrolment or enquiries about these occupational health talks, please call 2852 4040 or 2361 8240 (for talks organised at the Occupational Safety and Health Centre). Moreover, the LD also provides an outreach health education service and occupational health nurses will, on invitation, disseminate occupational health information at workplaces at a convenient time. Please contact the nursing officer at 2852 4062 for details. All these health talks are free of charge.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (July 6) announced that confirmation was received from the Medical Council of Hong Kong on the approval of two new and three renewal applications of non-local doctors for practice with Limited Registration in public hospitals to help relieve the frontline workload. The five doctors will be deployed to serve in emergency medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, family medicine and radiology departments.

     The spokesperson said that currently there are 12 non-local doctors working in public hospitals under Limited Registration to relieve manpower pressure and alleviate the workload pressure of frontline doctors in the specialties of anesthesia, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine and radiology.   

     "The HA will continue to exhaust every effort to attract fully registered local doctors and retain public doctors. Meanwhile, we would like to express appreciation to all doctors for their commitment and contributions in serving the public under manpower constraints," the spokesperson said.

     The Government today (July 6) published in the Gazette the Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation (the Regulation), which requires all vessels to use compliant fuel within the waters of Hong Kong so as to reduce their emissions and improve air quality.

     The Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (July 11). If approved by the Council, the Regulation will take effect on January 1, 2019.

     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said that the Government has been implementing the Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation (the Fuel at Berth Regulation) (Cap. 311AA) since July 1, 2015, requiring ocean-going vessels (OGVs) to switch to compliant fuel while berthing in Hong Kong to reduce their emissions. The Regulation seeks to extend the mandatory use of compliant fuel in OGVs while at berth to all vessels (including OGVs and non-OGVs) within the waters of Hong Kong, irrespective of whether they are sailing or berthing. Compliant fuel required by the Regulation includes low-sulphur marine fuel (sulphur content not exceeding 0.5 per cent), liquefied natural gas or any other fuel approved by the Director of Environmental Protection, which has the same requirements as set out in the current Fuel at Berth Regulation.

     "The type of vessels affected by the Regulation is mainly OGVs that are using heavy fuel oil (with an average sulphur content of 2.6 per cent). Other non-OGVs (including river trade and local vessels) normally use locally supplied marine light diesel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.05 per cent and therefore are not affected by the Regulation.

     "When the Regulation comes into effect, OGVs that are using heavy fuel oil are required to switch to compliant fuel before entering Hong Kong waters. The owner and master of an OGV are required to record the date and time of fuel switching and keep the relevant records for three years. If an OGV uses technology that can achieve the same or less emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) when compared with using low-sulphur marine fuel, the OGV may be exempted from using compliant fuel. As the Regulation will cover the scope of control under the current Fuel at Berth Regulation, upon the commencement of the Regulation, the Fuel at Berth Regulation will be repealed," the spokesman added.

     When the Regulation comes into effect, except for specified vessel types as set out in the Regulation, the master and owner concerned of any vessel using non-compliant fuel within the waters of Hong Kong will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months. Shipmasters and ship owners of OGVs who fail to record or keep the required particulars will also be liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for three months.

     It is anticipated that implementing the Regulation will reduce about 6,340 tonnes of SO2 and 710 tonnes of respirable suspended particulates from marine vessels in 2020 as compared with 2015 emission levels. This will help improve air quality and reduce health risks for the population. The implementation of the Regulation will also enhance regional collaboration with the Mainland on the establishment of a domestic emission control area in the Pearl River Delta.

     A property owner was fined $56,200 for failing to comply with a removal order under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123) (BO) at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts last month.

     The order involved illegal structures erected over the rear yard on every floor from ground floor to the top floor of a four-storey domestic building at Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei, in Kowloon. The aggregate size of the unauthorised building works (UBWs) is around 75 square metres and the height is around 15 metres. As the UBWs were erected without prior approval from the Buildings Department (BD), contravening the BO, a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.

     As the owner failed to remove the UBWs upon the expiry of the removal order, he was prosecuted by the BD. The owner was convicted in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on June 12.

     "UBWs may adversely affect the structural and fire safety of a building, leading to serious consequences. Owners should seek professional advice before carrying out any building works in their premises," a spokesman for the BD said today (July 6).

     Pursuant to section 40(1BA) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order served on him under section 24(1) of the BO, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued.