Author Archives: hksar gov

     As the Strong Wing Signal No.3 is now in force, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (November 10) will be cancelled. read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:      "Due to the issuing of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. … read more

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:      Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:    &nbsp… read more

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Tai Wai yesterday afternoon (November 9), in which a male worker, while loading goods, was trapped by a material hoist that descended suddenly. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
      
     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the installation, alteration, dismantling and use of the hoist. The contractors cannot resume the work until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”
      
     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
      
     To prevent workers from being trapped by material hoists, the LD reminds contractors to ensure that secure gates are fitted to the hoistway enclosure where access to and egress from the hoist is required. The gate of material hoists at each loading and unloading point shall be fitted with efficient interlocking devices such that the hoists are operable only when all gates are closed. Hoist winches shall be fitted with efficient brakes or other similar safety devices, to prevent the hoists and their loads from falling out of control or dangerously. Also, the hoists shall be inspected, tested and examined in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction and the statutory requirements to ensure that they are in safe working order.
      
     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years on conviction on indictment; or $3 million and imprisonment for six months on summary conviction.
      
     In regard to yesterday’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
      
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
      
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.  read more

     The 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) will open on November 9 and December 8, 2025 respectively. To celebrate the one-year countdown of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) organised the ceremony for the one-year countdown event for the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG (Hong Kong) today (November 9).
      
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that he looked forward to witnessing the historic moment of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao next year, giving Hong Kong citizens the opportunity to watch high-level sports events in person in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government would make every effort to work closely with Guangdong and Macao in co-hosting these two important national multi-sport events successfully.
      
     Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; and the President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, Mrs Jenny Fung. The officiating guests jointly launched the countdown display at the ceremony to celebrate the one-year countdown of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.
      
     Guangdong also held a one-year countdown ceremony for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG at Haixinsha Asian Games Theme Park in Guangzhou tonight. The Organising Committee of the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG, the Executive Committee of Guangdong, the HKSAR Organising Committee, the Macao Special Administrative Region Organising Committee, joined by senior officials of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Guangzhou Municipal Government, athletes, volunteers and representatives from corporate sponsors, celebrated the one-year countdown of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivered a video speech at the ceremony and the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the ceremony and launched the countdown timer with other officiating guests. The emblem, slogan and mascot of the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG were also announced at the one-year countdown ceremony tonight.
      
     The HKSAR Government has displayed buntings, banners and posters in various districts, and rolled out TV and radio announcements to give the public a better understanding of these two national multi-sport events. Furthermore, to raise the public awareness of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, roving exhibitions will be held in various districts and promotional activities will be launched in community and schools.
      
     Starting from tonight, the Television Division of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will broadcast a television series “Towards the National Games” to provide the public with more information about the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. The series will be aired on RTHK TV31 on Saturdays at 9pm from November 9 to December 7.
      
     Members of the public are welcome to visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk), Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk) for 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG (Hong Kong), which were launched earlier today.
      
     The NG, held once every four years, is the nation’s highest-level and largest multi-sport games. The 15th NG will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. This is the first time for Hong Kong to be a cohost of the NG. The NGD is a national multi-sport games featuring sports events under the International Paralympic Committee, while the NSOG encourages people with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports competitions. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will also co-host the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in 2025.