The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Faster Payment System (FPS) service will not be available from 1am to 11am on August 18, 2024 (Sunday) due to a planned system enhancement, carried out by the Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited, the operator of the FPS. 
      
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has requested banks and stored value facility (SVF) operators to provide advance and timely notifications to their customers. Members of the public may contact individual banks or SVF operators for more details regarding the availability of the related FPS services that may be affected by the system enhancement. In case of need, members of the public may make advance arrangements for their payment activities. 

     An owner was convicted and fined $14,175 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on July 23 for failing to comply with a fire safety direction issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (FS(B)O) (Cap. 572).

     The Buildings Department (BD) issued a fire safety direction under section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to the owner of a domestic flat in a 59-year-old composite building at Junction Road, Kowloon City, requiring the owner to comply with the fire safety construction requirements by providing a fire-rated door at the unit entrance which opens to the escape staircase.

     Failing to comply with the statutory direction, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was convicted and fined by the court.

     "According to the FS(B)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner", a spokesman for the BD said today (August 12).

     Pursuant to section 5(8) of the FS(B)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(B)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 12) that due to big waves and inclement weather, red flags have been hoisted at Hap Mun Bay Beach and Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Government today (August 12) started recruitment under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) Phase 7. The application period will close on September 10, 2024.
      
     A spokesman for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) said, "The MSSY is one of the key initiatives of youth development as set out in the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address and the Youth Development Blueprint. To engage more young people in public affairs and enhance their interaction with and trust in the Government, action has been taken to expand the MSSY, with a view to tripling the number of participating advisory committees from around 60 in 2022 to no less than 180 within the current term of the Government. At present, more than 570 posts are held by young people who have been appointed to advisory and statutory bodies directly or indirectly through the MSSY. The overall ratio of youth members in these bodies has increased from 7.8 per cent in end-2017 to 15.9 per cent in end-2023."
      
     The MSSY has received over 10 000 applications for the last seven phases (i.e. the Pilot Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth and the MSSY Phases 1 to 6). The list of appointees has been uploaded to the website of the HYAB.
      
     The MSSY Phase 7 is now open for application. The participating committees for the MSSY Phase 7 are as follows:
 

1. Action Group on Youth Engagement under the Youth Development Commission
2. Advisory Committee on Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme
3. Advisory Committee on Gifted Education
4. Advisory Committee of 'The Opportunities for the Elderly Project'
5. Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund
6. Advisory Committee on Social Work Training and Manpower Planning
7. Advisory Panel on Licensing of Hotels and Guesthouses
8. Appeal Panel (Estate Agents Ordinance)
9. Brewin Trust Fund Committee
10. Business Facilitation Advisory Committee
11. Chinese Medicine Development Committee
12. Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development
13. Community Services Working Group under Chinese Temples Committee
14. Endangered Species Advisory Committee
15. Harbourfront Commission
16. Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology Advisory Board
17. Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme Vetting Committee
18. Programme and Development Committee
19. Programme Management Committee of the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales
20. Road Safety Council
21. Social Enterprise Advisory Committee
22. Women's Commission
23. Youth Square Management Advisory Committee

 
     "The number of participating committees has increased to 23. We encourage young persons aged between 18 and 35 as of September 10, 2024, i.e. the date of the application deadline, who have a commitment to serving the community, to apply for the MSSY Phase 7," the spokesman continued.
      
     A Recruitment Committee (RC) has been set up by the HYAB for overseeing the implementation of the MSSY. The RC comprises the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, non-official chairpersons or members of the aforementioned 23 committees and representatives of the bureaux/departments (B/Ds) concerned. Under the RC, Assessment Panels (APs) will be formed to handle the applications concerning the 23 committees respectively. The APs will conduct interviews with applicants to facilitate assessment.

     The APs will consider whether an applicant has a strong commitment to serving the community, a good understanding of the policy area concerned and good analytical and communication skills. Following the principle of meritocracy, the Government aims to, through the MSSY, recruit young people who have the commitment to serving the community and the ability to contribute to the committees concerned, and recommend them to the relevant B/Ds for consideration of appointment. In general, each participating committee will offer two seats for appointment. Subject to the actual number of applications received and assessment progress, the assessment would be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.

     The application form and other details of the MSSY Phase 7 are available on the website of the HYAB (www.hyab.gov.hk). When completing the application form, applicants are required to write no more than 600 words or provide a video or audio clip of no longer than three minutes to explain, in either Chinese or English, their suitability for being appointed as a member of the selected committee(s). Applications may be submitted through the online application system, by post or by hand.

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (August 12) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.