Personnel of the Security Bureau (SB) and the Fire Services Department's Disaster Response and Rescue Team today (May 27) departed for Jiangmen special service fire station to conduct a 48-hour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao joint emergency response and rescue exercise.
 
     The exercise is being conducted to prepare for the implementation of the emergency mobilisation and co-ordination mechanism under the Greater Bay Area Emergency Response and Rescue Operational Plan. The Operational Plan aims at strengthening the emergency response and rescue capabilities of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to cope with contingencies such as disasters and natural hazards affecting the three places, enhancing the overall standard in emergency response management in the three places and achieving effective utilisation and sharing of resources of emergency response and rescue. Generally speaking, the targeted co-operation outcomes of the Operational Plan can be consolidated into a technical and knowledge exchange mechanism, a resource-sharing mechanism, and an emergency mobilisation and co-ordination mechanism. The exercise will test the cross-boundary green channel (facilitating the smooth flow of personnel, equipment and supplies at the boundary control points during an emergency response operation) and the activation mechanism and joint emergency command mechanism of the Operational Plan.
 
     In preparation for the cross-boundary exercise, the SB, relevant authorities under the Central Government and units of the Guangdong Provincial Government have been maintaining close communication and liaison. This is not only the first time the fire rescue units of the three places participated in a joint exercise on the Mainland, but also the first time fire appliances from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were deployed to take part in the exercise. This demonstrates a high degree of integration among the fire rescue units of the three places, laying a solid foundation for future implementation of the green channel under the Operational Plan.
 
     The governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are currently formulating the Operational Plan, and are expected to sign the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Emergency Management Co-operation and Greater Bay Area Emergency Response Operation Co-operation Framework Agreement in Hong Kong in mid-June this year. Under the Framework Agreement, personnel from the three places can complement each other's strengths to facilitate the enhancement of emergency response management in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and strengthen the emergency response and rescue capabilities of the three places, injecting impetus into the development of emergency response management and rescue work in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and developing the Greater Bay Area into a quality living circle ideal for living, working and travelling.

        

     â€‹The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco, and the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Mr Guy Platten, today (May 27). Also attending the meeting was the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan.

     Mr Lee welcomed the leaders of the international maritime community visiting Hong Kong with their teams. He said that as an international shipping centre, Hong Kong has been maintaining close communication with international maritime partners and actively participating in the IMO's meetings and various committees to stay abreast of the latest global shipping and maritime developments. Hong Kong updates local marine legislation from time to time to meet the IMO's latest requirements and ensure its alignment with relevant IMO regulations. The ICS has long supported the development of the maritime industry in Hong Kong and established its first-ever overseas office in Hong Kong in 2019, he added.

     He pointed out that Hong Kong ranks fourth globally in the 2023 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report, and that fully reflects Hong Kong's comprehensive strengths in such areas as port conditions, maritime services, and business environment, serving as strong evidence of Hong Kong's globally recognised status as an international shipping centre.

     Mr Lee noted that the country firmly supports Hong Kong's status as an international shipping centre as stated in the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government promulgated the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy at the end of last year, setting out strategies and action measures to enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong Port and accelerate the growth of Hong Kong's high value-added maritime services cluster. The HKSAR Government will take forward the relevant work and continue strengthening co-operation and exchanges with other GBA cities and international maritime organisations, with a view to injecting new impetus into Hong Kong's maritime and port development, he added.

  

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (May 27) that the FEHD has conducted blitz operations over the past few days in Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong districts. These operations aim to crack down on the illegal discharge of wastewater into roadside gullies by food premises in the districts by strengthening inspection and taking stringent enforcement action with a view to maintaining environmental hygiene.

     The FEHD officers conducted blitz inspections to a total of 110 licensed/permitted food premises in Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong districts for five consecutive days (from May 20 to 24) and mounted intelligence-led enforcement operations against food business operators for illegal discharge of wastewater into roadside gullies, as well as carrying out scullery and food preparation in yards leading to the discharge of wastewater into storm drains. During the operations, FEHD officers issued 12 fixed penalty notices and instituted three prosecutions in total against the relevant offenders pursuant to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK) and the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) respectively.

     The spokesman said, "Illegal discharge of wastewater into roadside gullies by food premises will not only affect the environmental hygiene at the subject location, but may also pollute the sea. The FEHD has zero tolerance towards such an illegal act and will take immediate enforcement action without prior warning upon discovery."

     The spokesman reminded that food business operators must comply with the licensing conditions, and disposal of food waste and wastewater in rear lanes and surface channels are not allowed. Food premises must be operated in accordance with the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) and the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), as well as provisions of its subsidiary legislation relating to food safety and environmental hygiene, or else they may face prosecution.

     The FEHD has implemented a demerit points system against licensed food premises. A prescribed number of demerit points will be registered against a licensee upon conviction of an offence under relevant legislation. If the licensee has accumulated certain demerit points within a period of time, the licence will be suspended immediately. If the violation persists, the licence will be cancelled. Moreover, under the warning letter system of the FEHD, the department will consider cancelling licences of food premises breaching licensing requirements or conditions repeatedly without rectification after receiving warning letters.

     In accordance with the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK), any person who disposes of waste including wastewater in public places commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. The FEHD may also issue a $3,000 fixed penalty notice to an offender under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance (Cap. 570).

     The spokesman emphasised that the FEHD will continue to step up inspections and enforcement action in Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong districts, and consider extending the operation to other districts to ensure the environmental hygiene of food premises and adjacent areas. Staff will also provide health education to operators of food premises during routine inspections, reminding them not to discharge wastewater illegally.

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will begin her visit to Chicago, New Orleans and New York of the United States (US) on May 27 (US time) to promote the advantages of Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub. She will also attend the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans.
 
     The Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee, Professor James Tang, and members of the Heads of Universities Committee Standing Committee on Internationalisation will join part of the visit.
 
     During the trip, Dr Choi will visit local schools and exchange views with education experts to learn about the local education developments. She will also meet Hong Kong youngsters studying or working in the US.
 
     Dr Choi will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong on June 2. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, this afternoon (May 27) visited the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) to learn about the athletes' preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and to cheer for them.
 
     Accompanied by the Commissioner for Sports, Mr Sam Wong, Mr Yeung toured various facilities at the HKSI, including the fencing hall, the table tennis hall, the fitness training centre and the swimming complex. The visiting officials exchanged views with athletes and coaches to learn about their training arrangements as well as the support provided by the HKSI, encouraging the athletes to give their best performance in the Games.
 
     Mr Yeung said, "The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will soon be held in Paris. I hope the participating Hong Kong athletes will perform well. During their stay in Paris, I encourage them to have more exchanges and interactions with athletes of other delegations, demonstrating their sportsmanship and sharing the latest of Hong Kong.
 
     "The Government successfully procured the broadcasting rights of the Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Hong Kong. Three local licensed television broadcasters and Radio Television Hong Kong will broadcast the Games in accordance with government requirements, allowing all Hong Kong citizens to watch the Games for free, and give support to Mainland and Hong Kong athletes. The arrangement is generally well received by all sectors of society, and is considered conducive to promoting sports development in Hong Kong. I look forward to watching the Games with everyone and supporting the athletes," he said.
 
     The Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be held July 26 to August 11 and August 28 to September 8 respectively. In addition to the HKSI's support, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has set aside funds under the Arts and Sport Development Fund (Sports Portion) to support the athletes to prepare for and participate in the Games.