Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Environmental Protection Department today (July 14) released a list of completed and newly commenced statutory environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and non-statutory environmental studies for major development proje… read more

     Following the earlier announcement by the Government about its plan to implement further import control measures for Japanese food once the Japanese side commences the discharge of nuclear wastewater, a spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (July 14) that the CFS has included on its webpage information and frequently asked questions and answers (FAQ) related to the new measures to facilitate the food trade’s understanding and timely preparation.

     The spokesman said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government currently plans to prohibit the import of all aquatic products originating from 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, once the Japanese side commences the discharge of wastewater. These aquatic products include all live, frozen, chilled, dried, or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt and raw or processed seaweeds.”

     The FAQ on the CFS webpage cover information on the types of aquatic products to be prohibited under the new measures, and whether the measures apply to aquatic products that originate from non-regulated prefectures and then are transshipped to the regulated metropolis/prefectures before importing into Hong Kong, as well as aquatic products that have been shipped or packed prior to the implementation of the new measures.

     The spokesman stressed that the existing import control measures for non-aquatic products from Japan will be maintained after the new measures come into effect and that the new and existing measures will be implemented in parallel. The CFS will update the FAQ in a timely manner in response to the latest situation regarding Japan’s discharge plan of nuclear wastewater and relevant risk assessments. For more information, the trade and members of the public may refer to the webpage. read more

     A total of 72,588 local companies were newly registered during the first half of 2023, according to the statistics released by the Companies Registry today (July 14). The total number of local companies registered under the Companies Ordinance reached 1,416,643 as at the end of June this year.
 
     The Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 came into operation on April 28, 2023, providing flexibility for companies to hold general meetings in various manner. It expressly provides for fully virtual or hybrid general meetings, providing flexibility for companies to conduct corporate affairs smoothly and effectively having regard to their own circumstances and needs.
 
     In the first half of 2023, 422 non-Hong Kong companies have newly established a place of business in Hong Kong and were registered under the Companies Ordinance. The total number of registered non-Hong Kong companies reached 14,621 by the end of June 2023.
 
     The number of charges on properties of companies received for registration in the first half of 2023 was 6,500. The number of notifications of payments and releases received for registration in the same period was 8,314.
 
     The number of documents delivered to the Registry for registration during the first six months of 2023 was 1,518,638.
 
     A total of 2,527,281 searches of document image records were conducted using the Registry’s electronic search services in the first half of 2023.
 
     As for the licensing of trust or company service providers, during the first half of 2023, a total of 182 licences were granted. The number of licensees was 6,854 as at the end of June.
 
     For details of the half-yearly statistics, please visit the “Statistics” section of the Registry’s website (www.cr.gov.hk). read more

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees’ risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work”, detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers’ and employees’ reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department’s thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm. read more