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     An exhibition entitled “Photo Exhibition Celebrating Thirty Years of China’s World Cultural Heritage” will open tomorrow (May 30) at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. The exhibition will introduce China’s world heritage sites which have been inscribed on the World Heritage List through valuable photos, enabling visitors to learn about the sites’ cultural value.
      
     In 1972, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The aim of the Convention was to protect cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. China has been one of the State Parties of the Convention since 1985. China has had 52 items inscribed on the World Heritage List over the past 30 years, starting with the inclusion of its first batch of six heritage sites on the List in 1987, and these have included 36 items of cultural heritage and four items of mixed cultural and natural heritage.
      
     The exhibition will showcase these items of cultural heritage and mixed cultural and natural heritage, such as the Great Wall, Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Beijing, Mogao Caves, Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains, Old Town of Lijiang, Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun, Longmen Grottoes, Fujian Tulou, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces and Kulangsu – a Historic International Settlement, featuring heritage sites, architectural clusters, cultural landscapes and historic towns and cities.
      
     Officiating at the opening ceremony today (May 29) were the Deputy Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr Liu Shuguang; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; the Commissioner for Heritage of the Development Bureau, Mr Jose Yam; and the Executive Secretary of the Antiquities and Monuments Office, Ms Susanna Siu.
      
     The exhibition, which has free admission and will run until August 12, is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Chinese National Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and organised by the Antiquities and Monuments Office. For details of the exhibition, please visit the Antiquities and Monuments Office’s website at www.amo.gov.hk, or call 2208 4400.
      
     The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is located in Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

      

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 29) announced that the monthly ovitrap index for Aedes albopictus for April rose to 1 per cent from 0.1 per cent in March, indicating that the infestation of … read more

     Two recycling sites and a responsible person of another recycling site were convicted for illegal collection, storage and handling of hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), which is classified as chemical waste. They were fined a total of $92,500 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on May 15 and today (May 29) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) continues to combat illegal handling of hazardous e-waste at recycling sites. EPD staff conducted blitz inspections between last July and October at three open recycling sites in North District, Shan Ha Tsuen and Kung Um Road in Yuen Long in the New Territories. Some 30 bags of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste, were found, weighing about 9 tonnes and with a total market value of approximately $0.9 million. Upon in-depth investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the operating companies and responsible persons of these recycling sites.

     The EPD spokesman said, “One of the defendants denied his role as a responsible person of the recycling site. After the court hearing, that defendant was convicted as an on-site responsible person who possesses the chemical waste concerned.” The operators and responsible persons of recycling sites should ensure that the collection, storage and handling of chemical wastes at recycling sites comply with the law, otherwise they might be prosecuted, the spokesman added.

     The spokesman said that dismantled or destroyed PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste and are regulated under the existing laws on chemical waste disposal. To protect the environment, the EPD is committed to combating the illegal collection, storage and handling of hazardous e-waste by recycling sites, and strictly controls the illegal import and export activities of hazardous waste.

     The EPD reminded the operators of recycling sites to strictly comply with the relevant controls on chemical waste. They should register with the EPD in accordance with the law if they produce chemical waste. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, as well as collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for disposal. First-time offenders of the above legislations are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD’s website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 is 100 (up 0.3 against yesterday’s index). read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 28) seized about 850 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million and a duty potential of about $1.6 million at Shenzhen Bay Control Point. &nbsp… read more