The Transport Department announced today (July 24) that in respect of the agreement between Guangdong and Hong Kong, the special traffic arrangement for Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars with regular quota and a valid … read more
The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (July 24) released the Accident Investigation Preliminary Report and Public Notice 03-2023 on an occurrence concerning the rejected take-off and subsequent passenger evacuation of a Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft (registration mark B-KPQ) operated by Cathay Pacific Airways at Hong Kong International Airport on June 24, 2023.
A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the preliminary report is published to provide in a timely manner factual information established in the investigation’s early evidence collection phase to both the aviation industry and the general public, and should be regarded as tentative. The full report is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.tlb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.html).
“The AAIA investigation team is conducting detailed analysis of the data and information collected, in order to determine the circumstances and causes of this occurrence with a view to preventing a recurrence in conjunction with identifying areas for further investigation or lines of inquiry to follow up,” the spokesperson said.
The AAIA, an independent investigation authority formed under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and with reference to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s standards. read more
​Hong Kong Customs on July 8 seized about 1 900 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $1 million at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on that day. The batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including adapters, earphones, mobile phones and clothing, was found inside the cargo compartment. A 39-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would be transhipped to overseas regions by the airfreight channel.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to strengthen co-operation with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies, and take stringent enforcement action against cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
The Buildings Department approved eight building plans in May, with three on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and two in the New Territories.
Of the approved plans, five were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, two were for commercial developments, and one was for community services development.
In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 13 building projects which, when completed, will provide 156 701 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 4 521 units, and 49 257 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for 12 building projects.
The department also issued 15 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 8 905 sq m involving 282 units, and 27 083 sq m was for non-domestic use.
The declared cost of new buildings completed in May totalled about $1 billion.
In addition, nine demolition consents involving nine building structures were issued.
The department received 2 528 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in May and issued 914 removal orders on UBWs.
The full version of the Monthly Digest for May can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk). read more
A government spokesman said today (July 24) that the seventh District Council Ordinary Election would be held on December 10, 2023 (Sunday).
The Chief Executive has, in accordance with section 27 of the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547), specified the date for holding the seventh District Council Ordinary Election. The District Committees constituency election and the District Council geographical constituency election will be held on the same day. The date was published in the Gazette today.
On the other hand, the nomination period for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election (including the elections of the District Committees constituency and the District Council geographical constituency) will run from October 17 to October 30. The Chief Electoral Officer will publish a notice specifying the period within and address at which nomination forms are to be submitted, and announce the relevant details in due course.
The District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 was published in the Gazette and came into effect on July 10, enabling the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” to also be fully implemented at the district governance level. The seventh-term District Councils will strictly adhere to the positioning under the Basic Law to carry out advisory and services functions, duly contribute to the Government’s district governance work, and effectively respond to the expectations of the public.
The Government spokesman said, “The Government will endeavor to ensure that the seventh term District Councils will assume office on January 1, 2024 as scheduled, fully support the Electoral Affairs Commission to prepare and conduct the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election in accordance with the relevant amended electoral law, and ensure that the election will be open, fair, honest, and be safely and orderly conducted in an efficient and user-friendly manner. The Government also encourages individuals with talents and aspirations who are patriotic and have an affection for Hong Kong to serve the community by actively participating in the election, and appeals to voters for exercising their civil rights by casting their votes, so as to elect the new term of aspiring and capable District Councils members for providing advisory services to the Government and serving the local community.”
The spokesman also said, “Apart from reforming the District Councils, the Government has further improved the district governance system. The Steering Committee and Task Force on District Governance, which are led by the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration respectively, have been established to strengthen the high-level leadership and co-ordination capability of district work and to co-ordinate with relevant policy bureau and departments to effectively take forward the implementation of policies and measures at district level, thereby resolving cross-district livelihood issues effectively. At present, the relevant committee and task force have set clear work objectives and relevant policy measures, and are actively following up their implementation in order to continuously enhance the efficacy of district governance, provide timely and caring services to the public, so as to enable the public to garner a greater sense of achievement and satisfaction.” read more