Author Archives: hksar gov

     Tobacco and Alcohol Control officers of the Department of Health (DH) conducted a special operation in shopping malls across the territory for three consecutive days (December 16 to 18), stepping up enforcement against illegal smoking in statutory no smoking areas (NSAs) of shopping malls and prosecution of smoking offenders, as well as enhancing public education through the distribution of leaflets. The officers conducted a total of 155 inspections and issued 36 fixed penalty notices to offenders during the operation.
      
     “To protect public health, it is the Government’s tobacco control policy to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimise the impact of second-hand smoke on the public. Stepped-up enforcement actions against smoking offences in shopping malls aim at further protecting the public from the harm of second-hand smoke,” a spokesman for the DH said.
                        
     Any person who commits an act of smoking in NSAs or in public transport carriers will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute smoking offenders without prior warning.
      
     “We appeal to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. They are encouraged to call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses, providing professional counselling services on smoking cessation,” the spokesman said.

    

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 (December 19) that… read more

     The Transport Department announced today (December 19) that, in addition to Octopus, AlipayHK will be incorporated into the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme with effect from January 1, 2025, allowing citizens an extra elect… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      â€‹The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced today (December 19) that the Base Rate has been set at 4.75 per cent with immediate effect according t… read more

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (December 18) witnessed the signing of the Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) in Beijing.

     Mr Tse expressed his gratitude to the SAMR for its support to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s safety monitoring, management and quality control, as well as the signing of the Cooperation Arrangement with the EMSD of the HKSAR Government, with a view to strengthening information communication and co-ordinating co-operation with the Mainland in this regard, in support of the integration of the HKSAR into the country’s development.

     He said, “The Cooperation Arrangement covers a wide range of areas, including the co-operation and exchanges on the promotion of hydrogen development, gas safety, mechanical installations safety, electrical products safety, energy efficiency marking and labelling, carbon footprint/carbon labelling, metering, standards convergence, etc. The objective is to ensure effective implementation of safety monitoring, management and quality control by the Mainland and the HKSAR in the future.”

     The Cooperation Arrangement was signed by the Director of Department of International Cooperation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs) of the SAMR, Mr Liu Jiannan, and the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, and was witnessed by Mr Tse and an official of the SAMR.

     During his visit to Beijing, Mr Tse also visited Goldwind carbon neutral smart park, which is the country’s first renewable energy carbon neutral smart park, integrating renewable energy, smart micro-grids, smart water management, green agriculture as well as sports and health into a green park ecosystem. He also inspected liquid hydrogen-fuelled vehicle to learn about the latest development and application of on-board liquid hydrogen storage system.

     In addition, Mr Tse also called on China Certification & Inspection Group, primarily focused on inspection, testing, certification, standards and metrology, to understand the country’s inspection and certification work, as well as the convergence of China and international certification standards in the field of dual carbon and promotion cases in the Mainland.

     Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (December 19).