image_pdfimage_print

Author Archives: hksar gov

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected etomidate worth about $4.2 million (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 19) seized about four kilograms of suspected etomidate (the main ingredient of “space oil”), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, with an estimated market value of about $4.2 million in Tsuen Wan.
      
     Through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigations, Customs officers yesterday afternoon intercepted a 32-year-old local man at a hotel in Tsuen Wan and seized about 2kg of suspected etomidate inside a plastic bag carried by him. He was subsequently arrested. Customs officers later escorted him to his rented hotel room for a search and further seized about 2kg of suspected etomidate and a batch of suspected packaging paraphernalia.
      
     The arrestee has been charged for possession of Part 1 poison and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 21).
      
     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

Photo  
read more

Appointments to Rehabilitation Advisory Committee announced

     The Government announced today (December 20) the appointment of three new members and the reappointment of four incumbent members to the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2025.
 
     The three new members are Mr Lau Min, Mr Dannuel Leung Po-chung and Dr Woo Chi-wood. Mr Lau is the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Direction Association for the Handicapped. Mr Leung is a certified public accountant and a member of the Guardianship Board. Dr Woo is the Chief Executive Officer of the Fu Hong Society.
 
     The four reappointed incumbent members are Mr Raymond Lai Kwan-ho, Ms Lee Po-chun, Ms Perina Li Siu-fan and Ms Yang Elizabeth Ling.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, welcomed the appointments. He said, “The RAC has been playing an important role in advising the Government on the development of Hong Kong’s rehabilitation services. As set out in ‘The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address’, the number of representatives of persons with disabilities and their carers in the new term of the RAC in 2025 will be increased to 11 to better gauge their needs. I look forward to members’ valuable advice on rehabilitation services, with a view to strengthening support for persons with disabilities and building a caring and inclusive community.”
 
     In addition, Mr Sun thanked the outgoing members, Mr Edwin Lam Man-wing, Ms Jennifer Liu Wai-fun and Dr William Lo Tak-lam, for their valuable contributions to the RAC during their tenure.
 
     The RAC was set up in 1977 as the principal advisory body of the Government on matters pertaining to the well-being of persons with disabilities as well as the development and implementation of rehabilitation policies and services. The RAC also assists the Government in promoting and monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong.
 
     The membership list of the RAC from January 1, 2025, is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Mr Fung Pak-yan
 
Vice-chairman
—————-
Dr Kevin Lau Kin-wah
 
Non-official Members
———————–
Mr Arthur Cheung Man-to
Mr Thomas Chu Sai-ming
Miss Jody Kwok Fu-yung
Mr Raymond Lai Kwan-ho
Dr Freddy Lam Man-hin
Mr Lam Yiu-kwok
Mr Lau Min
Ms Lee Po-chun
Mr Dannuel Leung Po-chung
Ms Leung Tsui-han
Ms Reginia Leung Wun-kam
Ms Perina Li Siu-fan
Dr Lui Wai-cheung
Professor Ming Wai-kit
Mr Alvin Miu
Ms Ada Ng Ka-lai
Mr So Wing-tung
Mr Eddie Suen Kwok-tung
Mr Sze Yan-kit
Ms Mandy Tang Hoi-man
Professor Frances Wong Kam-yuet
Dr Ryan Wong Man-yeung
Mr Wong Yu-tung
Dr Woo Chi-wood
Ms Julia Yan Yuming
Ms Yang Elizabeth Ling
Mr Nelson Yip Siu-hong
Mr Emil Yu Chen-on read more

EPD to launch 2024-25 Natural Christmas Trees Recycling Programme

     To encourage recycling and upcycling of yard waste in the community, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 20) called on members of the public and commercial and industrial (C&I) organisations to recycle their natural Christmas trees waste (NCTs) intended for disposal under the 2024-25 NCTs Recycling Programme. The NCTs collected will be processed at Y·PARK and turned into different recycled products, such as mulch and sawdust for planting and gardening, etc. The Programme arrangements are as follows:

Collection period: January 3 to 7, 2025 (five days)
Collection points: The following Central Collection Point and District Collection Points
 

Central Collection Point (CCP) Address Telephone Collection time
Y·PARK EcoPark, 133 Lung Mun Road, Tuen Mun Area 38 5743 9221/
9728 9341
9am to 6pm
District Collection Points (DCPs)
(including the EPD’s Recycling Stations and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Public Refuse Collection Points (RCPs))
Address Telephone Collection time
(Only household NCTs 2 metres tall or below will be accepted)
Hong Kong Island
1. GREEN@EASTERN 30 Oi Shun Road, Shau Kei Wan 2778 2330 8am to 8pm
2. GREEN@WAN CHAI 6 Wan Shing Street, Wan Chai 2811 1567
3. Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building RCP Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building, 8 Hung Shing Street, Ap Lei Chau Not applicable 7am to 11:30pm
4. Arbuthnot Road RCP Junction of Arbuthnot Road and Caine Road, Central 6.30am to 5pm
5. Paterson Street RCP Junction of Paterson Street and Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay 6.30am to 11.30pm
Kowloon
6. GREEN@KWUN TONG 27 Sheung Yee Road, Kowloon Bay 2776 5700 8am to 8pm
7. GREEN@SHAM SHUI PO 339 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po 2522 4388
8. Sai Yee Street (Flower Market Road) RCP 188 Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok Not applicable 6.30am to 11pm
New Territories
9. GREEN@SHA TIN 10 On Ping Street, Shek Mun 2285 9433 8am to 8pm
10. GREEN@YUEN LONG 65 Tin Wah Road, Tin Shui Wai 2617 0117
11. GREEN@TUEN MUN 9 Tuen Yee Street, Tuen Mun 2496 4288
12. GREEN@KWAI TSING 12 Tam Kon Shan Road, Tsing Yi 3905 4840
13. GREEN@TAI PO 25 Dai Wah Street, Tai Po 3468 8073
14. GREEN@ISLANDS 1 Chung Mun Road, Tung Chung 2499 2308
15. GREEN@SAI KUNG 3 Po Lam Lane, Tseung Kwan O 2727 7330
Note: If members of the public and C&I organisations have to recycle NCTs before January 3 or during January 8 to 20, 2025, please deliver them to Y·PARK during its operating hours (9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays).

     An EPD spokesman said that the Programme is limited to the recycling of NCTs, and all lighting, plastic stands, decorations and tape on the NCTs should be removed before delivery to facilitate the subsequent recycling processes. Artificial Christmas trees and other festival decorations can be kept for reuse to help reduce waste and conserve resources, while small potted plants such as poinsettias can be replanted.

     An e-certificate will be issued to the participants who deliver NCTs to the CCP or the Recycling Stations for recycling. Participants will also receive a gift upon delivery of NCTs to the Recycling Stations while stocks last. For details of the NCTs Recycling Programme, please visit the Hong Kong Waste Reduction website at www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/article/2024-25-natural-christmas-trees-recycling-programme.

     The EPD also welcomes other organisations and associations to provide recycling services for NCTs to help the public and C&I organisations to participate and enhance waste reduction efforts for all. read more