Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at an open area in Sheung Shui this morning (December 23), in which a male worker was struck by some falling metal pipes while preparing to unload them from a lorry. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
 
     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of lorry-mounted crane in handling of goods at that area. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”
 
     The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
 
     To ensure the safety of workers in handling goods, the LD reminds employers to ensure that goods, especially loose ones, are securely stacked on lorries, including by means of strong racks, to prevent them from falling during the handling. In addition, a competent supervisor is appointed by employers to supervise on site to ensure that the relevant risks are effectively eliminated.

     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years on conviction on indictment; or $3 million and imprisonment for six months on summary conviction.
 
     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
 
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
 
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.  read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) delegation led by the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, continued its duty visit to Japan today (December 23).
 
     The delegation met with various departments of the Japanese government. During the meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Mr Taku Eto, Members mentioned that Hong Kong was Japan’s second largest export market for agricultural and fisheries products and food, and Hong Kong citizens have high standards for food safety. Members further learnt about the measures put in place by Japanese authorities to ensure the safety of exported agricultural and fisheries products.
 
     The delegation also met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Hisayuki Fujii. Members said that with the implementation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance this year, the Hong Kong society has become safer and more stable, enabling better protection to foreign investors, including Japanese businesses operating in Hong Kong. The delegation also welcomes the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to visit Hong Kong to understand the actual situation in the city.
 
     During the meeting with the Vice-Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Takehiko Matsuo, both sides exchanged views on bilateral economic and trade co-operation, innovation and technology, and regional development, etc. Members emphasised that Hong Kong’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will contribute to regional economic development and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
 
     In the afternoon, the delegation visited the National Diet of Japan, where they toured the buildings of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, and met with representatives from both Houses. During the meeting with the Vice-President of the House of Councillors, Mr Hiroyuki Nagahama, both sides exchanged views on areas such as enhancing dialogues between Hong Kong and Japan, and food safety. The delegation also sought Japan’s support for Hong Kong’s accession to RCEP, which would enable Hong Kong to play a greater role in regional economic development.
 
     Afterwards, the delegation met with the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Koichiro Gemba. They discussed how to promote Hong Kong’s strengths to local community through Japan’s business and political sectors, including the attractiveness of Hong Kong’s tourism and being the world’s freest economy. Both sides look forward to a closer relationship between the Hong Kong and Japanese parliaments through the exchange.
 
     The delegation also met with the chairman of the Japan-Hong Kong Parliamentarians Caucus, Ms Hanako Jimi, a Member of the House of Councillors, to discuss parliamentary work and further promote exchanges between Japan and Hong Kong.
 
     The delegation took the opportunity to meet with the Japanese business community. While visiting Toyosu Market in the morning, Members exchanged views with several wholesalers and learnt that Hong Kong was one of their important export destinations. Noting the proposed food market for imported fresh food in this year’s Policy Address as a new initiative under the Airport City project, the delegation opined that Hong Kong can learn from the operation of Toyusu Market and its ancillary facilities for attracting tourists, so as to realise “tourism is everywhere” in Hong Kong.
 
     Meanwhile, when meeting with the Japan Business Federation, an organisation comprising of local companies, both sides explored how Hong Kong could assist Japanese enterprises in seeking opportunities in the Mainland China market.
 
     In the evening, the delegation called on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Wu Jianghao. They discussed how Hong Kong should leverage its strength under “one country, two systems” to deepen economic and people-to-people exchanges with Japan. The delegation also expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for providing assistance to the duty visit.
 
     The delegation will conclude the duty visit in Japan and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (December 24) morning.

                  

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 23) that a soft ice cream sample was found to contain a total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a restaurant in Causeway Bay for testing when following up on a related food incident. The test result showed that the sample contained 160 000 bacteria per gram,  exceeding the legal limit.

     “The CFS has conducted investigation to the food premises immediately, took food samples for laboratory testing, and informed the food premises concerned of the irregularity. Investigation revealed that the ice cream was produced in the food premises concerned. The restaurant has already stopped selling and discarded the affected product according to the CFS’s advice. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the restaurant, and requested it to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence,” the spokesman said.

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory.

     â€‹The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. read more

     The opening ceremony of the reprovisioned Chung Ying Street Checkpoint in Sha Tau Kok was held today (December 23). A pilot scheme for facial recognition technology has been introduced at the new checkpoint, allowing people living or working at Chung Ying Street to access the area unimpeded through “contactless channels” without having to stop and produce their Closed Area Permit (CAP) or use their fingerprint to verify their identity. The aim is to facilitate the flow of people and enhance the checkpoint’s processing capacity.

     Addressing the opening ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, noted that to facilitate entry to and exit from Chung Ying Street, the Government has replaced the former checkpoint made up of marquees with a permanent structure, and for the first time introduced facial recognition technology. This allows people living and working on Chung Ying Street to be the first to use “contactless channels” for unimpeded access. The Government will continue to explore the application of relevant technology to complement the future opening of Chung Ying Street for tourism. In the future, holders of valid CAPs for access to Chung Ying Street may, upon prior enrolment, pass through the checkpoint via “contactless channels”. In adopting the pilot scheme, the Government hopes to replace the current mode of manual inspections through applying innovative technology to assist users of the checkpoint, enhance the checkpoint’s capacity, and highlight Hong Kong’s high-quality digital technology as an international metropolis.

     Mr Chan also expressed his gratitude to the various government departments and organisations for their joint efforts in the successful completion of the reprovision project, thereby providing better facilities for Chung Ying Street, an area rich in unique historical and cultural value.

     The checkpoint’s design has integrated historical and modern elements, showcasing the characteristics of Hong Kong’s traditional train stations. Its exterior wall is decorated with copper plate engravings featuring a historical train, preserving the history of the branch line. In addition, multiple energy-saving designs have been incorporated in the checkpoint which combines functionality and aesthetics, creating a cultural landmark for Chung Ying Street.

     â€‹Other officiating guests included the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; the Director of Immigration, Mr Kwok Joon-fung; the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Deputy Director of Architectural Services, Mr Alan Sin; the Chairman of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk, Mr Kenneth Lau; and the Chairman of the Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee, Mr Lee Koon-hung.

            

     With regard to an incident on November 21 last year in which a young passenger was suspected to have stepped into a gap between a platform and the train of the Automated People Mover (APM) system at Hong Kong International Airport, the Government is highly concerned about the incident and has completed the review of the investigation report and relevant supplementary information submitted by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) as requested by the Government.

     On system safety, the AAHK’s investigation did not find any systematic safety issues with the APM system. Infrared devices are installed at the platform screen doors (PSDs) and train doors such that when it detects that a passenger or obstacle has been trapped between the PSD and the train door, the system will instruct the PSDs and the train doors to remain open. Meanwhile, when the PSDs or train doors cannot close properly due to an obstruction, the system will instruct the train not to depart and an alert will be issued to the controllers in the Integrated Airport Centre simultaneously. Furthermore, the AAHK commenced a project to narrow the gap between the platform and the train in mid-2023 and completed it in June this year, which will serve to prevent passengers from stepping into the platform gap. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has confirmed that the APM system is safe in its design and operation.

     On notification of incidents, according to the Airport Authority (Automated People Mover) (Safety) Regulation (Cap. 483C), the AAHK shall give notice to the Government of every accident and occurrence on the APM of a type described in the Schedule to Cap. 483C, which includes an incident in which a person falls between a train and a platform.

     The AAHK conducted a thorough and in-depth investigation into the incident and found no evidence of a cover-up of the incident by any staff. It admitted that the scope of the first investigation, conducted by the AAHK’s relevant department early this year, was not thorough enough to identify the incident early. According to the investigation of the AAHK, after the young passenger stepped into the gap between the platform and the train, other passengers immediately pulled her out of the gap. Since train doors were closed as scheduled, the system alert was not triggered. The AAHK did not receive any complaint or injury report filed by the passenger concerned or her family at that time. That said, the AAHK admitted that there was lack of clarity in the APM Operation and Emergency Procedure Manual, and a lack of alertness in reporting and communication among the frontline staff concerned, resulting in the incident not being properly recorded at that time. Therefore, the relevant staff of the AAHK failed to identify the incident in time and report it to the Government.

     The Government notes that the AAHK has already taken disciplinary actions against the relevant staff, and has seriously requested the AAHK to implement the following improvement measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents:

(i) Strengthening of the incident notification mechanism: updating the APM Operation and Emergency Procedure Manual and arranging relevant training for frontline staff to enhance staff awareness in handling and recording incidents, which will enable the relevant departments of the AAHK to notify the Government according to the records;

(ii) Enhancement of the incident investigation mechanism: arranging a dedicated department to co-ordinate investigations and follow-up actions in relation to incidents or potential incidents related to APM passenger safety in order to ensure all future incidents or potential incidents would be investigated in a thorough and comprehensive manner; and

(iii) Enhancement of the CCTV system at the platform: adjusting and enhancing the CCTV set-up at the platform to cover more viewing angles, with a view to facilitating the detection and investigation of APM incidents by staff. 

     â€‹The Government notes that the AAHK enhanced the incident investigation mechanism immediately and has been actively implementing the other two improvement measures, which include finishing the updating of the APM Operation and Emergency Procedure Manual and arranging relevant training next month to strengthen the incident notification mechanism, and completing the enhancement of the CCTV system at the platform by March next year. The Government will closely monitor the AAHK’s progress of implementation. The EMSD has also confirmed that the APM system is safe in its design and operation, and that the aforementioned narrowing of the platform gap and enhancement of the CCTV system will help prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. read more