The Government announced today (December 31) the list of designated quarantine hotels for the seventh cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) Scheme. A total of 44 hotels will provide about 12 500 rooms in the new cycle,… read more
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 31) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of hi… read more
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (December 31) gazetted the 2021 Edition of both the Code of Practice for Energy Efficiency of Building Services Installation (BEC) and the Code of Practice for Building Energy Audit (EAC), pursuant to section 40 of the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO), to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings services installations and promote decarbonisation of buildings.
Following the enactment of the BEEO in 2012, the BEC and the EAC were promulgated in the same year and are reviewed once every three years. In the course of the review process, the EMSD examines the global development of relevant technology and energy efficiency standards to keep the Codes of Practice abreast of the times.
The new edition of the BEC uplifts the energy efficiency standards with an improvement of more than 15 per cent as compared with the 2015 edition. By 2035, the estimated annual energy saving is expected to bring about an annual energy saving of around 4.7 billion to 5.3 billion kWh from buildings in Hong Kong (compared with 2015), which will help Hong Kong achieve the carbon neutrality target before 2050 as set out in the Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050.
The new editions of the BEC and EAC will take effect on July 1 and October 1, 2022, respectively. For more details about the BEEO and the two Codes of Practice, please visit the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/beeo). read more
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 30) seized about 2 570 kilograms of suspected scheduled red sandalwood, with an estimated market value of about $12.9 million, at Hong Kong International Airport.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday inspected an air consignment, declared to be carrying furniture raw materials, arriving in Hong Kong from Dubai. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected scheduled red sandalwood inside two large wooden boxes.
The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the south-western waters of Hong Kong on the night of December 29 and detected a suspected cargo vessel smuggling case. About 32 tonnes of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about $5 million were seized.
Customs officers conducted an anti-smuggling operation that night and spotted a suspicious cargo vessel in the waters off Peaked Hill to the southwest of Lantau Island. The officers subsequently took action and intercepted the vessel. The batch of suspected smuggled frozen meat was seized on board the vessel.
During the operation, four men aged between 38 and 68, suspected to be connected to the case, were arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs stresses that it will keep up its enforcement action and will continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities by proactive risk-management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies. Targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times will also be mounted to land a solid blow against relevant activities.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
