Author Archives: hksar gov

     This past June, “Fame in a Flash – A Tour of AVON Recording Studios”, a highly popular event under the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), sold out instantly. To allow more members of the public the chance to visit this legendary studio, the LCSD has announced that 24 additional tours will be arranged. Tickets for the additional tours will be on sale from August 2 (Friday).
 
     “Fame in a Flash – A Tour of AVON Recording Studios” is one of the featured programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The event is curated by ACOO and supported by the Avon Recording Studios.
 
     Founded in 1983, Avon Recording Studios is one of the most esteemed professional recording facilities in Hong Kong, having witnessed the birth of countless classic pop songs. In 2015, it was saved from demise by Mr Hins Cheung who took over the helm and funded its renovation, thus carrying the torch for this “Pop Music Hall of Fame” to safeguard its music archives of cultural value.
 
     Through the guided tour, participants can learn more about the studio’s history, its architectural and acoustic designs as well as the many stories behind them. Participants will also be able to take part in a “demo recording” session assisted by professional audio mixers. Each attendee can choose a song from a special playlist, which includes gems from different eras, before recording a one-minute segment of their singing with high-quality equipment. At the end of the tour, each participant will receive a personalised audio record as a memento. 
 
     The additional tours are detailed as follows:
     Dates: August 10, 17 and 31 (Saturday);
　　　　　 September 7, 14 and 21 (Saturday)
     Time: Four tours per day at 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm and 5.30pm respectively
     Venue: Avon Recording Studios (2/F, ACME Building, 22-28 Nanking Street, Jordan, Kowloon)
     Language: Conducted in Cantonese
 
     To promote Hong Kong’s pop music and to give more people a taste of song recording at a top-tier studio, admission fee for this event is set at $180. Tickets for the additional tours will be sold through a real-name ticketing system. Persons below 12 will not be admitted, and each person can purchase a maximum of two tickets. The purchaser must provide in full the English name of the tour attendee, which will be printed on the ticket for checking at the admission point. There will be no ticket transfer, exchange nor upgrade available. The names of the ticket holders cannot be changed upon purchase. Ticket holders are required to bring along the true copy of identity proof with photo, and are advised to arrive at the Avon Recording Studios entrance at least 15 minutes before the tour commences for identity check.
 
     Tickets for the additional tours will go on sale at 10am, August 2 on the URBTIX website (www.urbtix.hk) and its mobile ticketing app URBTIX (Android, HarmonyOS and iPhone/iPad versions). Tickets can be booked through the Internet and mobile app, but not at the URBTIX counter, telephone nor self-service ticketing kiosk. For programme and ticketing enquiries, please call 6689 5735 (ACOO) or 3166 1100 (URBTIX), or visit the event webpage at www.pcf.gov.hk/en/programmes/fameinaflash.
 
     Last year, the LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to great acclaim. This year’s second edition features “Arts & Action” as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong’s pop culture. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

read more

     The first batch of 110 public and private construction sites participating in the Smart Site Safety System Labelling Scheme (4S Labelling Scheme) has passed the assessment and were issued label plaques today (July 29) to indicate the proper adoption of 4S – Smart Site Safety System – at their respective construction sites. 
      
     The 4S Labelling Scheme was launched by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in May 2024 to issue labels to construction sites after on-site inspections and assessments of the proper adoption of 4S, with a view to driving a wider adoption of 4S in the construction industry and providing a safer working environment for site personnel through identifying such construction sites.
      
     Speaking at the Presentation Ceremony of Plaques for the 4S Labelling Scheme, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, noted that 4S could issue timely alerts to relevant site personnel to effectively prevent serious accidents, while facilitating efficient management of construction progress. He encouraged the construction industry to continue to support 4S, earnestly participate in the 4S Labelling Scheme, utilise innovative technologies, and promote smart site safety construction, with a view to ensuring site safety and promoting sustainable development of the construction industry.

     The Chairman of the CIC, Mr Thomas Ho, called for early adoption of 4S on construction sites. He said that site management should visit construction sites to ensure 4S is effectively adopted.
      
     The 110 public and private works construction sites with labels issued today involve different works types and scales, and have also adopted 4S covering various advance technologies and devices. The 4S Labelling Scheme has received applications from more than 350 construction sites in the first two months since its launch, and the assessment is being conducted progressively. 
      
     The plaques will be placed at conspicuous spots around construction sites, with 4S labels for identification and ease of monitoring, including facilitating enforcement departments to monitor the sites without 4S labels. The list of such construction sites is available at the CIC’s website (www.cic.hk/4s-labelling/en/project-list) for public inspection. 
      
     The Government has been adopting a multipronged approach to promote the wide adoption of 4S in the construction industry. Apart from the 4S Labelling Scheme, the DEVB has required capital works contracts exceeding $30 million to fully adopt 4S. The Buildings Department has introduced mandatory measures since July 1. Conditions will be imposed under the Buildings Ordinance requiring the adoption of 4S to provide qualified supervision of building works when granting the first approval, or approval of major revisions of superstructure plans, of private development projects. For building works with an estimated cost exceeding $30 million and involving the use of mobile plants and tower cranes, registered contractors are required to adopt relevant 4S alert systems. The Government also subsidises private works projects to adopt 4S through the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund, and has launched respective packages of 4S products with the CIC for various types and scales of private works projects. read more

     â€‹Niron Technology Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (July 29) and were fined a total sum of $92,500. The company and its director were also ordered to pay employees an outstanding sum of about $630,000.
 
     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirement of the EO, failing to pay eight employees’ wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contract, and also failing to pay the annual leave payment to one employee within the statutory time limit, with the total outstanding payment being about $630,000. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above wage offences committed by the company.
 
     “The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO,” a spokesman for the LD said.
 
     “The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 29) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From July 21 to 27, the CHP recorded three community-acquired LD cases:
 

1. A female patient, aged 85 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Eastern District;
2. A male patient, aged 69 with good past health, who lives in Wong Tai Sin District; and
3. A male patient, aged 91 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Kwai Tsing District.

     “Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     As of July 27, 59 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2023 and 2022, there were 121 and 80 cases respectively.

     “Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels,” the spokesman said.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily. 

     â€‹
     â€‹The public should observe the health advice below:
          

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors’ professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes: 

1. Wear gloves and a face mask;
2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     â€‹â€‹The public may visit the CHP’s LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP’s risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD. read more

     â€‹SP Digital Limited and its responsible officer were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its responsible officer pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (July 29) and were fined a total sum of $50,000. The company and its responsible officer were also ordered to pay employees concerned an outstanding sum of about $220,000.
 
     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirement of the EO, failing to pay three employees’ wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contract, and also failing to pay the annual leave payment to two employees within the statutory time limit, with the total outstanding payment being about $220,000. The responsible officer of company concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above wage offences committed by the company.
 
     “The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO,” a spokesman for the LD said.
 
     “The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added. read more