Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the BRI Green Innovation Conference (2023) held in Shenzhen today (August 20) to share experiences in green innovation with the Belt and Road counterparts, foster mutual learning and exchange views. The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, also attended the conference.
 
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Tse said, “In response to climate change and environmental protection, the world is facing challenges of transitioning towards green living and green industries. China has clearly stated a firm adherence to the ideology that ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’ and a focus on the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature in development planning. Last Tuesday (August 15) was the first National Ecology Day of our country, reflecting the nation’s commitment to this issue. As part of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) spares no effort in promoting ecological civilisation and green carbon reduction.”
 
     He added that the HKSAR Government has been participating proactively in the green co-operation with the Belt and Road regions to combat climate change and environmental challenges together. It includes strengthening nature conservation, ecological environment protection, promoting green finance, water resources utilisation and management, as well as promoting sustainable green development and the application of smart technology.
 
     Mr Tse highlighted the sewage surveillance for virus testing method developed in Hong Kong during the epidemic. This method not only helped identify hidden cases in communities to fight against the virus but also utilises statistical mathematical models to accurately predict the development of the epidemic. In early September, the Environmental Protection Department will collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to introduce and share the successful experiences in sewage surveillance for virus testing with approximately ten countries along the Belt and Road, aiming to embrace together the green development concept of the Belt and Road Initiative.
 
     “We believe that through co-operation and mutual effort, we can contribute to the sustainable development in the region and on earth, creating a world where humans and nature co-exist harmoniously,” said Mr Tse.
 
     The conference was hosted by the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the BRI International Green Development Coalition, the Ecology Environment Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, and co-organised by the Belt and Road Environmental Technology Exchange and Transfer Center (Shenzhen). It aims to deepen the exchange and co-operation of the Belt and Road countries in areas such as green technology, green equipment, green services, and green infrastructure construction, and to promote green development in the Greater Bay Area.
 
     Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (August 22) to consider the revocation and application for renewal of the liquor licence of CLUB 888 in Tsim Sha Tsui.

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend. read more

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) and Polytechnic University (PolyU) have jointly organised a course on the fundamentals of emergency care and critical response. One of the classes of the course was held at the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy where students learned crucial life-saving skills from experienced FSD lecturers.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke to some of the students who attended the class as well as the FSD instructors and PolyU academics to find out how the course enhances young people’s problem-solving abilities.
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (August 20) in text and video format. read more

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (August 20) will be cancelled.      If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by … read more

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Chek Lap Kok this afternoon (August 19), in which a male worker, while carrying out electrical work at a false ceiling on the ground floor (Zone 0) of the construction site, was suspected to have received an electric shock. He was certified dead later in the 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 will issue suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the electrical work on the ground floor (Zone 0) of the construction site. The contractors cannot resume the work process 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.”
      
     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings 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 today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and by 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