The Community Oral History Theatre Project – Sai Kung District co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Chung Ying Theatre Company, Caritas Hong Kong and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC… read more
​Compass Technology Company Limited, located at Chiaphua Industries Building in Siu Lek Yuen, Sha Tin, discharged sub-standard industrial wastewater into a communal sewer. The company was fined $15,000 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (June 19) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).
Environmental Protection Department (EPD) staff conducted a blitz inspection at Compass Technology Company Limited last December to check its electronic component manufacturing factory and its wastewater treatment facility located at Chiaphua Industries Building. A wastewater sample was taken for analysis by the department’s enforcement team and the result showed that the concentration of copper exceeded the WPCO licence by 4.3 times. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the company in accordance with the WPCO.
The EPD spokesman explained that electronic component manufacturing factories must install appropriate wastewater treatment facilities and maintain their effective operation to ensure that the effluent discharge meets the discharge standards as set out in the wastewater discharge licence before discharging into communal sewers. If its heavy metals concentration exceeds the standards, it will affect the operation and effectiveness of microbial treatment processes in sewage treatment plants, which will pollute the environment.
The spokesman reminded all WPCO licensees that they should strictly adhere to the discharge standards of all pollutants as stipulated in the licence, and ensure proper operation of their wastewater treatment facilities. Anyone who discharges wastewater which exceeds the standard of the discharge licence commits an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. read more
The 7th Hong Kong Games (HKG), including an inter-district sports competition and a series of community participation programmes, will be held in 2018 and 2019. The inter-district sports competition will be held from April 28 to June 2 next year, and the 18 District Councils (DCs) are set to begin the open selection of athletes from next month until January 2019. To tie in with the HKG’s slogan of “Our City, Our Games”, members of the public are encouraged to participate and represent their districts to compete in the Games.
The Chairman of the 7th HKG Organising Committee, Mr Yip Wing-shing, announced details of the HKG in a launching event held at Kowloon Park Sports Centre today (June 19). The Organising Committee’s Executive Adviser, Mr William Tong; its Vice Chairman, Dr Patrick Yung; and the Assistant Director (Leisure Services) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Ms Rebecca Lou, also attended and officiated at the launching ceremony.
Noting that the HKG is a biennial major multi-sport event with the 18 DCs as participating units, Mr Yip said that the event aims at encouraging the public to proactively participate in sports events, as well as promoting the “Sport for All” culture. In addition, the HKG can also enhance communication among districts and strengthen the public’s sense of belonging to their districts and community cohesion.
The 7th HKG will continue to hold eight sports competitions, namely athletics, badminton, basketball, futsal, swimming, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Apart from the eight sports, Mr Yip announced that rugby sevens will be included as a new demonstration sport in the 7th HKG and sport-related fun games, namely Fun for All@Hong Kong Games, will be arranged for the audience to enjoy while cheering for the district athletes during the final competitions.
Two new events will also be held during the 7th HKG to boost city-wide participation. Through taking part in fitness tests of the Sports Legacy – Exercise to Get Super Fit programme jointly organised with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), members of the public will be able to identify their potential in sports and keep practising afterwards. The popular Vitality Run will continue to be organised, and primary and secondary schools will also be invited to arrange a Hong Kong Games 7-minute School Vitality Run at their athletic meets for students, teachers and parents to enjoy running under the HKG theme song, so as to extend the excitement to schools.
Other major community participation activities of the 7th HKG will include Elite Athletes’ Demonstration and Exchange Programmes as well as a Sports Seminar that will be held between July and November this year. The well-received Vitality Run will be held in March 2019 with a larger quota for public participation. The 18 Districts’ Pledging cum Cheering Team Competition, a photo contest and voting and guessing activities will also be held.
Eight Sports Ambassadors for the 7th HKG have been appointed by the Organising Committee to assist in promoting the Games. They are Cecilia Yeung (athletics), Yuen Sin-ying (badminton), Leung Shiu-wah (basketball), Liu Yik-shing (futsal), Chan Kin-lok (swimming), Doo Hoi-kem (table tennis), Cody Wong (tennis) and Helen Ip (volleyball). A new TV Announcement in the Public Interest with the participation of Yeung, who took part in the 3rd HKG, and elite badminton athlete Lee Cheuk-yiu has been produced to appeal to the public for their active participation in the athlete selection. A variety of publicity measures will be launched to promote the HKG, with enhanced publicity through online and social media platforms.
The 18 DCs will start the selection of athletes shortly. Each participant can only enrol in the athlete selection of one district and compete in the HKG representing the district he or she lives in. An identity card and proof of place of residence must therefore be presented during enrolment. Pre-event training will be provided to selected athletes with a view to enhancing their skills and co-operation among team members.
There will be Champion, First Runner-up and Second Runner-up prizes awarded to athletes or teams in each individual competition, as well as Overall Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up and District with Impressive Progress prizes for winning districts in each of the eight sports competitions. The three districts accumulating the highest total scores from the eight sports competitions will be awarded the Overall Champion, Overall First Runner-up and Overall Second Runner-up prizes of the 7th HKG.
In addition, the 7th HKG will continue to present prizes including District with the Most Gold Medals, District with the Greatest Participation, District with the Best Progress, District with the Best Sportsmanship, District with the Strongest Cheering Squad, Online Voting for My Favourite Sporty District and Paper Voting for My Favourite Sporty District.
The 7th HKG is organised by the Sports Commission and co-ordinated by the Community Sports Committee, with the 18 DCs, the LCSD, the SF&OC and relevant National Sports Associations as co-organisers.
Details about HKG are available at the 7th HKG dedicated website (www.hongkonggames.hk). For enquiries, please call 2601 7671.
According to the latest labour force statistics (i.e. provisional figures for March – May 2018) released today (June 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.8% in March – May 2018, same as that in February – April 2018. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.0% in the two periods.
Comparing March – May 2018 with February – April 2018, movements in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) and underemployment rate in different industry sectors varied, but were all small in magnitude.
Total employment decreased by around 1 700 from 3 866 600 in February – April 2018 to 3 864 900 in March – May 2018. Over the same period, the labour force also decreased by around 2 300 from 3 979 500 to 3 977 200.
The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) decreased by around 600 from 112 900 in February – April 2018 to 112 300 in March – May 2018. The number of underemployed persons in March – May 2018 was 41 000, about the same as that in February – April 2018 (41 100).
Commentary
Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said, “Labour market remained tight in March – May 2018, with the unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) and underemployment rate staying unchanged at 2.8% and 1.0% respectively. Total employment registered further solid growth on a year-on-year basis.”
“While changes in sectoral jobless rates were minimal compared to the preceding three-month period, the unemployment situation in most of the major service sectors continued to show notable improvement compared to a year ago. In particular, on the back of strong global demand and buoyant inbound tourism, visible year-on-year declines in unemployment rates were seen in the trade- and tourism-related industries such as import and export trade, retail, and accommodation services.”
Looking ahead, Dr Law said, “Under the generally favourable economic situation, the labour market will likely stay tight in the near term. Yet, we will continue to monitor closely the various external uncertainties and developments in the local labour market.”
He noted that the Labour Department (LD) assists young people to find jobs through the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) which provides comprehensive training and employment support to young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below. To encourage employers in hiring young people and providing them with on-the-job training, the LD plans to increase the on-the-job training allowance under YETP this year. The maximum amount of monthly training allowance payable to employers who engage young people and provide them with on-the-job training will be increased from the current $3,000 to $4,000, payable for a period of six to 12 months.
On large-scale job fairs, the LD will co-organise the Hong Kong International Airport Career Expo 2018 with the Airport Authority Hong Kong from June 29 to July 1 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. About 50 companies will participate, offering over 4 000 vacancies involving the aviation industry and airport operation. Moreover, a dedicated job expo for elderly care and rehabilitation services will be held on July 18 and 19 at MacPherson Stadium, Mong Kok. In addition, industry-based or district-based job fairs are regularly organised at the LD’s recruitment centres and job centres located across the territory.
Further Information
The unemployment and underemployment statistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey.
The survey for March – May 2018 covered a sample of some 25 000 households or 75 000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.
Data on labour force characteristics were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the sampled households.
In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organization.
Detailed analysis of labour force characteristics is given in the “Quarterly Report on General Household Survey” which is published four times a year. The latest issue of the publication contains statistics for the quarter January – March 2018 while the next issue covering the quarter April – June 2018 will be available by end August 2018. Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp200.jsp?productCode=B1050001).
For enquiries about labour force statistics, please contact the Household Statistics Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk). read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 19) the preliminary figures of chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by economic activity for the first quarter of 2018. &… read more