Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA) is holding an exhibition themed “Saying NO to Objectionable Information” at Kai Tin Shopping Centre in Lam Tin for three consecutive days starting from today (December 27). Through exhibition panels, game booths and education videos, the exhibition aims to enhance the public’s understanding of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Cap. 390) (COIAO) and promote healthy Internet use among children and young people.
      
     The exhibition is open from 10.30am to 6.30pm at the L2 Atrium of Kai Tin Shopping Centre. Members of the public are welcome to join the exhibition and admission is free. Details of the exhibition are available at OFNAA’s website.
      
     The Director of Film, Newspaper and Article Administration, Mr Chaucer Leung, visited the exhibition today, during which he exchanged views with Healthy Information Student Ambassadors of the Healthy Information Student Ambassadors Scheme 2024, and joined members of the public for booth games. He thanked the Ambassadors for assisting in promoting the message of safe and healthy use of the Internet, and encouraged members of the public to invite family and friends to visit the exhibition to help further disseminate such a message in the community, in particular among children and youngsters, with a view to helping them stay away from objectionable materials on the Internet.
      
     To more widely promote healthy Internet use, OFNAA will hold a total of four exhibitions in six months, with the next one to be held on January 11 and 12, 2025, at Lok Fu Place.
      
     OFNAA will continue to organise a series of publicity and public education programmes to promote the message of staying away from obscene and indecent materials on the Internet. A wide range of activities targeting schools, parents, students and the public will be held, including talks on the COIAO and healthy Internet use, online seminars and workshops for parents, the Healthy Information Student Ambassadors Scheme, roving drama for schools, Heathy Mobile App Sticker Design Competition,  slogan and colouring competition, Healthy Student Video Contest and Healthy Chinese Public Speaking Competition. For details, please visit OFNAA’s website.

        

     Nine red tides were sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (December 27).

     On December 21, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) spotted the first three red tides at Lido Beach and Casam Beach, Approach Beach, and Ting Kau Beach in Tsuen Wan. On December 23, members of the public and staff of the Marine Department spotted two red tides in Deep Bay and Tai Lam Chung respectively. On December 26, LCSD staff spotted two red tides at Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach in Cheung Chau respectively. Today, staff of the Environmental Protection Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) spotted two red tides in Victoria Harbour and Discovery Bay respectively.

     The red tides at Deep Bay, Tai Lam Chung, Kwun Yam Beach in Cheung Chau, Victoria Harbour and Discovery Bay still persist, while the other four red tides have dissipated. No associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

     A spokesman for the working group said, “The red tides at Kwun Yam Beach in Cheung Chau and Discovery Bay were formed by Noctiluca scintillans, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic. The other seven red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species can produce foam that may affect fish.”

     The AFCD urged mariculturists at Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

     The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (December 27) announced the launch of a direct investigation operation to probe the Government’s work on animal management and protection of animal rights and welfare.

     In recent years, various sectors of the community have a growing concern about the rights and welfare of animals, particularly in the wake of cases of severe cruelty to animals that have occurred over recent months, with many of these animals found abused to death. The general public is calling for tougher enforcement by the authorities and heavier penalties. The Office of The Ombudsman notes that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has proposed to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance since 2019 to step up efforts to combat animal cruelty, but it has not finalised the amendment proposals to date, nor has it set a specific timetable for introducing the bill into the Legislative Council.

     Moreover, the Government has uncovered a number of illegal animal breeding farms and animal smuggling activities in recent years, and there have been media reports on the illegal importation, illegal breeding and unlicensed trading of animals. These illegal activities not only pose threats to public hygiene and health, but also cause substantial suffering to animals. 

     Meanwhile, the Office has from time to time received complaints against the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for improper treatment of animals captured or seized, and failure to properly handle reports of animal cruelty or illegal breeding and unlicensed trading of animals. 

     Mr Chan said, “With the advancement of society, the public attaches more importance to animal rights and welfare, while pet ownership is also increasingly common in Hong Kong. Although the Government has indicated that it will step up combating animal cruelty through legislative amendments, I aspire to conduct this direct investigation operation to comprehensively review the adequacy, effectiveness and room for improvement of the Government’s work and measures for preventing and combating animal cruelty, protecting animal rights and welfare, and animal management. Therefore, I have decided to launch a direct investigation operation to thoroughly examine the AFCD’s work regarding animal management and protection of animal rights and welfare, including the prevention of animal abuse, handling of suspected cases of animal cruelty, measures to combat illegal breeding, smuggling and unlicensed trading of animals, treatment of stray animals and re-homing arrangements, as well as public education and publicity to promote animal rights and welfare. Where necessary, pertinent recommendations will be made for improvement.”

     The Ombudsman welcomes views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by January 24, 2025:

Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre
              168-200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Fax: 2882 8149
Email: complaints@ombudsman.hk read more

     The Lands Department published the second “Extension Notice” under the Extension of Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 648) today (December 27) in accordance with the requirement under the Ordinance to give six years’ prior notice, covering general purpose leases (GPLs) (i.e. general residential, commercial, industrial leases, hereafter “applicable leases”) which expire in 2031 (i.e. from January 1 to December 31, 2031) and do not contain a right of renewal. All land leases of the three lots involved in this batch have been extended for a term of 50 years.

     Land leases extended under the Ordinance, including the leases of the three lots in this batch, do not require payment of additional premium but are subject to an annual payment of Government rent equivalent to 3 per cent of the rateable value of the relevant land. The three lots include one located in Kowloon and two on Hong Kong Island, and the leases of these three lots are mainly for residential use. The Extension Notice has been uploaded to the website of the Lands Department (www.landsd.gov.hk/tc/resources/gov-notices/lease-extension/ext_2024.html).

     Regarding the leases extended by the Lands Department through the above “Extension Notice”, the encumbrances, interests and rights under the original lease (such as mortgages) will be carried forward to the extended lease term without being affected. Owners do not have to perform any procedures, nor are they required to execute lease extension documents with the Government or rearrange mortgages. The Lands Department has issued letters to the relevant owners or owners’ corporations to inform them of the lease extension arrangements.

     A spokesperson for the Development Bureau said, “The arrangement of extending land leases without having to execute a new contract under the Ordinance provides certainty for lease extension, enhances the confidence of property owners and investors in the real estate market, and brings tremendous convenience to the public and businesses. It has received widespread support from various sectors of the community. The mechanism manifests the solid safeguards for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under the steadfast and successful implementation of ‘one country, two systems’.”

     The Ordinance, which came into effect on July 5, 2024, establishes a standing statutory mechanism for handling lease extension matters for applicable leases which do not contain a right of renewal and expire on or after the effective date in batches. Together with the first “Extension Notice” published on July 5, 2024, the Government has extended leases expiring from July 5, 2024, to the end of 2031. The Government will publish the next “Extension Notice” by the end of 2025, covering applicable leases expiring in 2032, in accordance with the requirement under the Ordinance to give six years’ prior notice.

     The spokesperson has also said that the Ordinance is not applicable to special purpose leases (SPLs). Different from GPLs, SPLs are mainly granted to groups or organisations for specific purposes of education, welfare, recreation, public utility, special industries, petrol filling stations, etc. The Lands Department will process lease extension matters and execute new leases (if renewed) with the lessee six years prior to lease expiry. For SPLs executed before July 5, 2024, and expiring in or after 2031 (1 634 lots in total) (Note), the Lands Department has made an “SPL identification note” in the Land Registry register of the relevant land leases today, in accordance with the requirement under the Ordinance, for the purpose of identifying the SPLs for the handling of lease extension matters in accordance with the original administrative procedures outside the Ordinance. The Lands Department will also inform the lessee in writing that his land lease has been identified as an SPL. If the lessee does not agree with the identification of his lease as an SPL, he may submit a review application to the Lands Department within one year from the date of identification. For details, please refer to the list of SPLs and review guidelines on the website of the Lands Department (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/land-disposal-transaction/extension.html).

Note: In July this year, the Lands Department made an “SPL identification note” in the Land Registry register of those SPLs which were executed before July 5, 2024, and would expire before 2031 (244 lots in total). read more

​​     To raise public awareness on drink and drug boating, the Marine Department (MD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (Marine Police) today (December 27) mounted a publicity campaign at Central Pier Nos. 9 and 10 to distribute publicity leaflets on the Marine Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Ordinance (the Ordinance) to the public. This new legislation will be implemented on January 1, 2025, with a view to regulating drink and drug boating in Hong Kong waters, enhance marine safety and protect the safety of persons on board a vessel.
 
     A spokesman for the MD said, “The Ordinance will empower the MD and the Hong Kong Police Force to conduct compulsory approved tests on a person involved in operating a vessel or performing designated duties on board a vessel that is under way for alcohol or drugs after the occurrence of an accident, when the person is suspected of having committed a marine traffic offence. Such tests could also be administered during spot checks on vessels.”
 
     According to the Ordinance, any person involved in operating a vessel, including those who control, navigate or pilot a vessel, or perform designated duties, i.e. relating to the safety and the security of the vessel and the protection of the marine environment on board a vessel that is under way, will commit an offence if the person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent of being incapable of having proper control of the vessel or performing designated duties properly, or has alcohol exceeding the prescribed limits in the person’s body, or has any specified illicit drugs in the person’s body. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for three years as well as disqualification of relevant qualifications for life.
 
     While the MD and Marine Police will continue to make use of various publicity channels to remind the public, persons-in-charge and relevant persons of vessels of the implementation of the Ordinance, the MD has also launched a series of publicity activities including production of publicity materials such as leaflets, posters and banners; organisation of briefings for maritime industry members and stakeholders; production and broadcasting of a TV Announcement in the Public Interest (API) and a radio API to assist members of the public to better understand the contents of the Ordinance. The public are welcome to browse the MD’s website (www.mardep.gov.hk/en/materials-and-publications/publicity-materials/index-id-42.html) for details.