The Labour Department (LD) published a revised Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP) in the Gazette today (May 31) to enhance the safety and health in confined spaces work.
      
     The major revisions of the CoP include the enhancement of requirements for proprietors' or contractors' supervision on confined space work; highlighting the factors for assessing whether a particular job constitutes underground pipework; adding a detailed template of the risk assessment form and listing out the setting of an air-monitoring alarm; and the update on the Permit-to-work Certificate template.
      
     A spokesperson for the LD said, "The revised CoP requires proprietors or contractors to adopt technology to record videos at the entrance and exit of the confined space throughout the entire work period to monitor relevant personnel's compliance with the safety precautions and to keep the record. Considering the time required for the industry to furnish suitable equipment and make necessary arrangements for implementing all safety precautions, there will be a six-month grace period. It will take effect on November 30 to allow the industry to have sufficient time for preparation."
      
     The spokesperson said that the CoP provides proprietors, contractors, competent persons and certified workers with practical guidance and technical information to comply with the requirements set out in the occupational safety and health legislation regarding confined space work for safeguarding the safety and health of workers.
      
     The spokesperson added, "This CoP has a special legal status. In criminal proceedings, if a relevant person fails to observe any provision of this Code, that failure may be taken by the court as a relevant factor in determining whether or not a person has breached the relevant safety and health legislation."
      
     The revised CoP can be downloaded from the LD website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm). Enquiries about the CoP can be made at 2559 2297.

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (May 31) announced that as the Standby Signal No. 1 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point has been closed at 8.30am until further notice.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (May 30) strongly disapproved of and condemned all baseless allegations by the United States (US) Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and the European Union (EU) against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and Police National Security Department's law enforcement action which simply do not stand up to the facts.

     â€‹The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.

     â€‹For the concerned law enforcement action taken by the Police in accordance with the Ordinance, investigation revealed that the acts of the arrested persons involved repeatedly publishing posts with seditious intention on a social platform with content provoking hatred towards the Central Government, the HKSAR Government and the Judiciary, as well as inciting netizens to organise or participate in relevant illegal activities. Offences in connection with seditious intention are very serious crimes, and no jurisdictions, including the US and those from the EU, will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security.

     We have emphasised time and again that the Ordinance only targets an extremely small minority of people who endanger national security, with the aim of protecting the lives, property, freedoms and rights of the people of Hong Kong. The offences under the Ordinance, including offences in connection with "seditious intention" will not hinder legitimate expression of opinions, such as making reasonable and genuine criticism of government policies based on objective facts.

     The Ordinance clearly specifies that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law, as well as the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, are to be protected in accordance with the law.

     The Ordinance is a piece of legislation to defend against acts and activities endangering national security. Only invaders who want to intrude into our home to plunder and loot should be worried by the Ordinance.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 30) that samples of several kinds of canned pasta sauce were found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide. Members of the public should not consume the affected products. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them.

     Product details are as follows: 

Product name: Hunts Pasta Sauce (Traditional)
Brand: Hunts
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 24oz (680g) 
Best-before date: December 26, 2024
Importer: SIMS Trading Company Limited

Product name: Hunts Pasta Sauce (Mushroom)
Brand: Hunts
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 24oz (680g) 
Best-before date: September 8, 2024
Importer: SIMS Trading Company Limited 

Product name: Hunts Pasta Sauce (Garlic & Herb)
Brand: Hunts
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 24oz (680g) 
Best-before date: July 31, 2025
Importer: SIMS Trading Company Limited 

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned samples from two supermarkets in Kowloon City and Tsing Yi for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected products. According to the CFS's instructions, the importer concerned has initiated recalls on the affected products. Members of the public may call the hotline at 2262 1559 during office hours for enquiries about the recalls of the products concerned."

     The spokesman continued, "The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health. An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction."

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Investigations are ongoing.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a media session on the verdict delivered by the Court of First Instance on the conspiracy to commit subversion case this afternoon (May 30):
 
Reporter: First, before the verdict this morning, the Police arrested four activists from the League of Social Democrats outside the West Kowloon court, including the wife of one of the defendants. They have not started their protest yet, so why were they taken away? Second, the Police have granted bail to five people in the Chow Hang-tung case. Is it a sign that the evidence is not strong enough for formal charges?
 
Secretary for Security: Regarding your first question, I understand that outside the courtroom, there were several people causing nuisance and conducting disorderly conduct and they were being arrested. For the second question, I understand that out of the seven people we have arrested, five were bailed out, one is still under detention for investigation while the remaining one is still being remanded in the institution in connection with other cases. Active investigations are still ongoing.
 
Reporter: What does the Government think of the significances of this verdict today by the court? Do you think the Government has achieved the major victory in this regard? And what does it think of the acquittal of the two defendants of this case? Secondly, what does the Government think of the criticisms by the EU, the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, the US and other NGOs towards the verdict, particularly about the erosion of human rights and political freedoms in the city? Is it afraid of any sanctions or retaliations?
 
Secretary for Security: First of all, there is no winner out of this case. This is a very sad story that some Hong Kong people are trying to conduct subversion in Hong Kong. I think it is good that we are able to interdict their plot, so that Hong Kong citizens will not suffer and Hong Kong can now resume to a normal stage. Regarding those comments by the external forces, as I said, during the whole hearing period, there are different external forces that are trying to smear the Judiciary, the Department of Justice and also the law enforcement (agencies). Actually they are conducting their duties faithfully and I am proud of our court. I am proud of the Department of Justice staff and our law enforcement officers. I think they are the pride of Hong Kong.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)