Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 31) seized about 970 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $520,000 at Lok Ma Chau Control Point. Customs officers cond… read more
The Home Affairs Department will open 15 temporary night heat shelters tonight (June 1) 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 enquiry hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
The 15 temporary night heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Districts:
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Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern/Wan Chai –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
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, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
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:
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Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
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 read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (Ju… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 1) announced the arrangements to be made in public hospitals starting from this month to progressively substitute the anti-hypertensive drug Adalat Retard 20mg to ensure appropriate medication treatment for patients in need.
The spokesperson explained, “The HA was notified earlier by Bayer HealthCare Limited that the supply of Adalat Retard 20mg to Hong Kong will be discontinued upon the completion of the supply contract to the HA in September 2019. Meanwhile, the HA was also informed of unstable supply very soon.
“To ensure that patients’ medication treatment would not be affected, the HA convened an expert panel meeting to examine and recommend the substitution drugs with equivalent therapeutic effects. A co-ordinated approach to switch to alternative drug treatment was confirmed with the specialties concerned.
“The Clinical Co-ordinating Committees of the specialties concerned agreed to progressively start prescribing to patients other anti-hypertensive drugs in the HA Drug Formulary with equivalent therapeutic effects as those of Adalat Retard 20mg beginning this month.”
The spokesperson added that there are now 120 000 general outpatients, specialist outpatients and inpatients being prescribed with Adalat Retard 20mg. However, there is no immediate need for these patients to replace the drugs on hand. Doctors will prescribe the substitution drugs, such as amlodipine and felodipine, according to patients’ clinical conditions during their next consultation for continuous blood pressure control.
“The HA has informed front-line staff of the arrangements and prescription choices for their consideration. Currently, the supply and the stock of all other anti-hypertensive drugs remain normal and is sufficient to cover patient prescriptions,” the spokesperson remarked. read more
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including operations codenamed “Twilight” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed “Champion”, from May 28 to 31. A total of 28 illegal workers and eight suspected employers were arrested.
During operation “Twilight”, ImmD Task Force officers raided 18 target locations including restaurants, a bar, retail shops, a garage, a recycling shop, industrial buildings and residential flats. A total of 23 illegal workers and six employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised 17 men and six women, aged 25 to 55. Among them, two men and one woman were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. One man and one woman were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, four men and two women, aged 25 to 54, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
Furthermore, during operation “Champion”, enforcement officers raided 47 target locations in Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan and Tsuen Wan including restaurants, food stalls, warehouses and industrial buildings. Five illegal workers and two employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised three men and two women, aged 26 to 47. Among them, two men were holders of a recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Meanwhile, one man and one woman, aged 37 and 53, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
“Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties,” an ImmD spokesman said.
The spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more