Author Archives: hksar gov

     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

     â€‹Two property owners were convicted and fined over $220,000 in total at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts early this month for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The case involved five unauthorised structures, each with an area ranging from about 5.5 to 80 square metres, on the flat roofs of three units in a composite building at Tai Wing Lane, Tai Po. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), removal orders were served on the owners under section 24(1) of the BO.

     Failing to comply with the removal orders, the owners were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $222,920 in total, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on December 3. One owner holding two units was fined $153,280, of which $113,280 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, while the other owner holding one unit was fined $69,640, of which $56,640 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (December 20), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building safety.”

     Failing to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. read more

     The Government announced today (December 20) the reappointment of Mr Kelvin Au Wai-kuen, Ms Helen Hui, Mr Bernie Ting Wai-cheung and Ms Winnie Wong Chi-shun as members of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECI… read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (December 20) led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation to attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Macao’s Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Mr Lee congratulated Mr Sam Hou-fai on assuming office as the sixth-term Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the inauguration of the sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
      
     “As the country’s special administrative regions, both Hong Kong and Macao enjoy the advantages of ‘one country, two systems’. The two places share a strong bond with frequent exchanges and years of seamless co-operation in such areas as economy, cross-border infrastructure, tourism, and culture, laying a solid foundation. Hong Kong will continue to work with Macao to achieve complementarity, jointly contributing to and promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and striving to build a world-class bay area,” Mr Lee said.
      
     “I wish Mr Sam and the sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region to lead Macao to scale new heights of development. I will work with Mr Sam to further enhance exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao, leveraging the cities’ strengths to serve the country’s needs, demonstrating the vitality and superiority of ‘one country, two systems’, and making new and greater contributions to building a great country and moving towards national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation.” read more

     The Government announced today (December 20) appointments to the Insurance Authority (IA) with effect from December 28, 2024.
 
     The Chief Executive (CE), pursuant to the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41), has reappointed Mr Stephen Yiu Kin-wah as the Chairman of IA. The Financial Secretary under the authority delegated by the CE, has also reappointed nine incumbent Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), namely, Dr Clement Chen Cheng-jen, Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han, Ms Agnes Choi Heung-kwan, Mr Lam Wai-kong, Mr Terry Lo Kin-wing, Ms Theresa Ng Choi-yuk, Dr Derrick Pang Yat-bond, Mr Anson Wong Man-kit, SC, and Mr Kenneth Wong Wing-yan; and appointed Professor Darwin Choi, Mr Andrew Fung Hau-chung, and Dr Fung Hong as NEDs.
 
     Announcing the appointments, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “Mr Yiu has demonstrated strong leadership over the past three years as IA Chairman. Under his steer, the IA has successfully navigated a rapidly evolving market environment and promoted the sustainable growth of the insurance industry, including the implementation of a risk-based capital regime to strengthen the financial soundness of insurers in Hong Kong and enhance protection for policy holders. I am confident that Mr Yiu will continue to lead the IA to achieve greater progress on various fronts.”
 
     Mr Hui further stated, “With the addition of three newly appointed members, the IA will continue to comprise distinguished professionals from a wide range of sectors, including insurance, actuarial science, accountancy, banking, business, labour and welfare/consumer affairs, legal, and medical and health. This diversified membership will enhance the IA’s ability to address community needs and further solidify Hong Kong’s position as a leading international risk management centre.”
 
     Mr Hui also expressed his gratitude to the three outgoing NEDs, namely, Dr Evelyn Lam Ho-yi, Dr Ares Leung Kwok-ling and Professor Anna Wong Wai-kwan, for their contributions to the IA during their terms of office. 
 
     The membership list of the IA with effect from December 28, 2024, is as follows:
 
Chairman (who is an NED) (appointment for a term of three years)
————————————————————————–
Mr Stephen Yiu Kin-wah
 
Non-Executive Directors
————————— 
Appointment for a term of three years:
 
Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han
Professor Darwin Choi*
Mr Andrew Fung Hau-chung*
Dr Fung Hong*
Mr Lam Wai-kong
Mr Terry Lo Kin-wing
Dr Derrick Pang Yat-bond
Mr Anson Wong Man-kit, SC
Mr Kenneth Wong Wing-yan
 
Appointment for a term of two years:
 
Dr Clement Chen Cheng-jen
Ms Agnes Choi Heung-kwan
Ms Theresa Ng Choi-yuk
 
Executive Directors
———————
Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching
Mr Clement Lau Chung-kin
Mr Lee Moung-mo
Mr Marty Lui Yu-kwok
 
* New appointees read more