The Government proposes to commence the relevant provisions in the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance (Cap 478) and its subsidiary legislation on December 20, 2018, to implement the requirements under the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which will be officially extended to Hong Kong on the same day.
 
     Promulgated by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the MLC sets out a comprehensive set of global standards for the working and living conditions of seafarers and seeks to protect the welfare of seafarers. To prepare for the extension of the MLC to Hong Kong, various amendments to the Ordinance and its subsidiary legislations were enacted previously to incorporate the requirements of the MLC into the local legislation. With the ILO having announced that the MLC will come into force in Hong Kong on December 20, the relevant provisions in the local legislation to implement the MLC requirements have to be brought into operation.
 
     "Implementation of the MLC's requirements, which are already in force globally, not only helps ensure that the working and living conditions of seafarers on board Hong Kong ships are up to standard, but also helps assure overseas port state control that our fleet fully complies with the relevant international conventions," a spokesperson for the Transport and Housing Bureau said. 
 
     The trade has already been notified of the date of extension of the MLC to Hong Kong and the commencement of the relevant local legislation. All relevant ships should have already complied with the requirements of the MLC.
   
     The legislative proposal was gazetted today (October 19) and will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on October 24.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (October 18) concluded his visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and left for Hong Kong via Brisbane, Australia.

     This morning in Port Moresby, PNG, Mr Chan called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Treasury of PNG, Mr Charles Abel. Mr Chan gave him a brief introduction of Hong Kong's business environment, as well as the latest developments on infrastructure and communications.
 
     Mr Chan also pointed out that Hong Kong is a global financial centre and a hub for offshore Renminbi business. He encouraged PNG enterprises to leverage on the platform of Hong Kong to develop their businesses.

     Mr Chan arrived in Brisbane, Australia, in the late afternoon. At a dinner with representatives of the local business sector, he updated the participants on Hong Kong's economic outlook and latest developments on financial services and infrastructure, etc.
 
     Noting that Hong Kong and Australia have all along enjoyed close trade and economic ties with each other, he said that Hong Kong is actively participating in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's development. He expressed the hope that both places can further enhance collaboration to grasp the vast opportunities brought about by the Bay Area development initiative.  

     Mr Chan departed Brisbane in the evening and will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (October 19).

    

    The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved from the Disaster Relief Fund three grants totalling $8.265 million to three agencies for providing relief to flood victims in Kerala, India.
 
     Announcing the grants today (October 18), a spokesman for the Government said that endured heavy rain has increased the number of flood victims in Kerala to more than 5.4 million. The three grants – one of HK$1.786 million to Save the Children Hong Kong, one of HK$2.555 million to Plan International Hong Kong and one of HK$3.924 million to Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, will be used to provide hygiene, household and kitchen items as well as shelter kits and education kits, to benefit around 61 890 flood victims. As the targeted localities of the three relief agencies are different, there will be no overlapping of resources. The Committee hopes the grants will facilitate the provision of timely relief to the victims and help them restore their normal living. The grant, together with those approved earlier for this flooding in Kerala of India, will take the accumulative value of grants and number of beneficiaries to $23.986 million and 170 390 respectively.
 
     "To ensure that the money is used for the designated purposes, the relief agencies will be asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," the spokesman said.

     An opening ceremony for the Chinese Film Panorama – A Showcase of Co-production Films 2018 was held tonight (October 18) at Hong Kong City Hall, followed by the screening of the opening film "Where Has Time Gone?" (2017), a collaboration between Chinese director Jia Zhangke and filmmakers from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.
 
     Showcasing 12 outstanding films co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong or foreign countries, the programme is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the South China Film Industry Workers Union in association with Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd, Southern Film Co Ltd and the China Film Foundation. The films will be screened from today until November 30 at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall and the lecture halls of the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum.
 
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, noted that the co-production films have witnessed the continuing exchanges between China and the rest of the world and also signify the progress made by Chinese films to "go global". Through these films audiences can gain a better understanding of the cultural interactions between various places, he added.
 
     Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Deputy Director-General of the Publicity, Culture and Sports Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhu Ting; leader of the Chinese film delegation Mr Li Qiankuan; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Mr Ma Fung-kwok; the Chairman of the South China Film Industry Workers Union, Mr Yu Luen; and the Chairman of Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd, Mr Chen Yiqi.
 
     The opening film, "Where Has Time Gone?", is the first co-production involving the BRICS countries. It consists of five short films made by the five directors using different angles to present the passage of time. The film won the "Golden Silkroad" Media Honor Special Jury Award at the 4th Silk Road International Film Festival.
 
     Other selected films include "Pali Road" (2016) directed by Jonathan Lim, "Miss Granny" (2015) directed by Leste Chen, "Wolf Totem" (2015) directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, "The Nightingale" (2014) directed by Philippe Muyl, "A Wedding Invitation" (2013) directed by Oh Kihwan, "Aftershock" (2010) directed by Feng Xiaogang,"Hanoi, Hanoi" (2006) directed by Zhang Jing, Li Wei and Yan Junyong, "Zhou Yu's Train" (2003) directed by Sun Zhou,"Red Rose White Rose" (1994) directed by Stanley Kwan, "The Last Emperor" (1987) directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and "The Go Masters" (1982) directed by Duan Jishun and Junya Sato.
 
     "Where Has Time Gone?" is in Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, English and Putonghua; "Pali Road" and "The Last Emperor" are in English and Putonghua; "Hanoi, Hanoi" is in Vietnamese and Putonghua; "The Go Masters" is in Japanese and Putonghua while the other films are in Putonghua. All films have Chinese and English subtitles. "Red Rose White Rose" is classified as Category III, only persons aged 18 and above will be admitted.
      
     Tickets priced at $55 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/2018cfp/index.html.

    

     The Department of Health (DH) today (October 18) endorsed a licensed Chinese herbal medicine (Chm) wholesaler, Wong Chak Kee Limited, to voluntarily recall from the market a batch of Chm, Herba Pteridis Multifidae (batch number: 180408), as the Chm exceeded the limits for arsenic set out by the Chinese Medicines Board of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK). As a precautionary measure, Wong Chak Kee Limited is also voluntarily recalling other batches of Herba Pteridis Multifidae distributed by the company from the market.

     During the DH's market surveillance, a sample of the above Chm was collected for analysis. The test result from the Government Laboratory revealed that the decoction prepared from the above Chm contained, in terms of the maximum daily intake of the above Chm, about 2.6 times the maximum limit of arsenic set out by CMCHK.

     "Arsenic is a heavy metal. Long-term consumption of high levels of arsenic may cause adverse health effects. Major organs affected include the skin, the bladder and the lungs. So far, no adverse report related to the use of the above Chm has been received. Investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the DH said.

     According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), Herba Pteridis Multifidae is any or the whole part of Pteris multifida Poir. It is a Schedule 2 Chm of the Ordinance used to clear heat and dampness, disperse swelling and detoxify, as well as cool the blood, and is haemostatic.

     Wong Chak Kee Limited has set up a hotline (2857 3332) for related enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall.
 
     According to section 52 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), selling any drug not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser is liable to a maximum penalty of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment. Upon completion of investigation, the DH will work with the Department of Justice on prosecution matters and will also refer the case to the CMCHK for possible disciplinary action. 

     The DH urged members of the public who have purchased the above Chm to stop using it immediately and submit it to the Chinese Medicine Division of the DH on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal. Members of the public who have taken the above Chm and feel unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals.