The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has launched its enhanced "Enjoy Hiking" website (https://www.hiking.gov.hk) which provides hiking information and highlights scenic attractions through a … read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: Exchange Fund Bills tender results: Tender date : December 20, 2019 Paper on offer : EF Bills … read more
The Outreach Music Interest Courses organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for over 100 courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument classes to music workshops, which will be held from March to August next year.
Among them, a new course, Advanced Choral Conducting Workshop, will cover music analysis, articulation and rehearsal techniques. The course will also include individual podium time. The course, at a fee of $320, welcomes adults who have previously attended the Choral Conducting courses organised by the Music Office, or school music teachers and choir conductors who have acquired basic conducting skills and have passed ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory.
Instrumental enrichment courses of zheng, violin and trumpet and ensemble training courses of Chinese wind instruments and Chinese string instruments are also newly added to cater for participants who possess basic playing techniques of the relevant instruments. The course fees of instrumental enrichment courses and ensemble training courses are $1,005 and $805 respectively.
The Music Office will continue to offer elementary courses on ocarina, keyboard, ukulele, classical guitar and classical vocal singing; Western music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; instrumental enrichment courses of erhu; and ensemble training of flute, saxophone and Western chamber music. The course fees range from $320 to $1,005.
The Outreach Music Interest Courses also provide basic training on the xiao, liuyeqin, zhong-ruan, pipa, yangqin, zheng, dizi, erhu, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad), violin, viola and cello. The course fee is $1,070.
All courses are conducted in small groups in Cantonese and will be held at different venues territory-wide, namely the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office’s music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
Online applications are now available at the Music Office website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is January 20. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from February 25.
For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2596 0898 or 2598 8335. read more
The Government today (December 20) announced that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Professor Albert Yu Cheung-hoi as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification for two years with effect from January 1, 2020.
The Chief Executive has also appointed six new members, namely Mr Patrick Lee Sai-yin, Dr Ann Leung, Mr Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai, Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing, Ms Fanny Tang Wai-fan and Professor Wong Wing-tak, and re-appointed nine incumbent members for the same two-year term.
The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, said, “Professor Yu and other Council members have contributed greatly to fostering the development of the testing and certification industry over the past years. We believe that under the chairmanship of Professor Yu, the Council will continue to enhance the professional standing of the industry and provide effective support for its long-term growth.”
Mr Yang also thanked the seven outgoing members for their valuable contributions to the Council’s work. They are Mr Felix Chan King-wa, Mr Raymond Chan Wai-fung, Professor Ho Kin-chung, Mr Marvin Hsu Tsun-fai, Mr Andy Ko Kwok-on, Dr Li Hung-wing and Ms Agnes Nardi Kar-wai.
The membership of the Council for the new term is as follows:
Professor Albert Yu Cheung-hoi (Chairman)
Mr Raymond Chan Kin-sek
Mr Ho Chi-shing
Mr Kenneth Lam Kar-kin
Ms Stephanie Lam Yuen-shan
Mr Patrick Lee Sai-yin*
Dr Ann Leung*
Mr Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai*
Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing*
Ms Fanny Tang Wai-fan*
Ms Karen Tang Mui-fun
Ms Pearl Tse Pui-pui
Mr Basil Wai Siu-bong
Professor Wong Wing-tak*
Mr Harry Yeung Chi-wah
Dr Raymond Yung Wai-hung
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council or representative
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or representative
Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council or representative
Government Chemist or representative
Commissioner for Innovation and Technology or representative
* Newly appointed members
The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification was established in September 2009 to advise the Government on the overall development strategy of the testing and certification industry. read more
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight” from December 16 to 19. A total of 18 suspected illegal workers and six suspected employers were arrested.
During the operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 13 target locations including a container site, tailor shops, a company, an elderly home, premises under renovation, restaurants and vegetable stalls. The suspected illegal workers comprised 13 men and five women, aged 27 to 54. Among them, a man was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits him from taking any employment. In addition, a woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Meanwhile, four men and two women, aged 33 to 70, were suspected of employing the suspected illegal workers.
“Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties,” an ImmD spokesman said.
The spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screenings of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more