Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (December 19) said he was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a Workman II of the Fanling Probation and Community Service Orders Office of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) in a serious traffic accident on the Fanling Highway yesterday (December 18).

     “On behalf of the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the SWD, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her family. The department will make every effort to provide assistance for the family as appropriate,” Dr Law said.

     Dr Law also extended his deepest condolences to the families of the other five deceased victims and people injured in the accident, noting that the SWD would render appropriate assistance according to their welfare needs.

     The SWD has assigned a social worker for the family of each deceased victim and for each injured victim, providing them with psychological counselling, emotional support and financial assistance, including assistance in burial services. The department will also co-ordinate donations from charities for victims of the traffic accident.

     Members of the public who are emotionally affected by the accident may call the SWD’s 24-hour hotline (2343 2255). The department will provide emotional counselling and support services for people in need. read more

     The Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice today (December 19) released its annual report, “Prosecutions Hong Kong 2018”, which reviews the Division’s work and important cases of last year.
 
     In his letter presenting the report to the Secretary for Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr David Leung, SC, described the year 2018 as “an eventful year for the Division”. He said, “Throughout the year, prosecutors in the Division upheld their role as ‘ministers of justice’ in pursuance of fair and independent prosecution.”
 
     In the Director’s Overview, Mr Leung reiterated that he was saddened by the accusation of “political prosecution”. He emphasised that “we do not seek to secure a conviction at all costs. Our role is to ensure that every defendant receives a fair trial … We prosecute in the name of the public for the good of Hong Kong. We shall do so even though it is an increasingly thankless task. We shall do so amidst tides of criticisms and abuses. We shall brave the storm, together as a Division; and with dignity, fulfil our duty to uphold justice. We strive to do our best to maintain a high quality prosecution service.”
 
     On assumption of his office on December 29, 2017, Mr Leung determined to make it a goal for prosecutors in the Division to gain more exposure in court work and to enhance their advocacy skills. To pursue this goal in 2018, more junior prosecutors were assigned to prosecute trials and appeals together with more experienced prosecutors. As stated in the annual report, the Division also continued to conduct seminars and sharing sessions covering topical issues frequently to keep prosecutors abreast of the latest developments in procedural and substantive law, and arranged different local and overseas training courses to hone prosecutors’ knowledge and skills necessary for a more efficient discharge of their duties.
 
     “Prosecutions Hong Kong 2018” is available on the website of the Department of Justice (www.doj.gov.hk/eng/public/yrreviewpd2018.html). read more

     To encourage recovery and recycling of yard waste in the community, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 19) called on members of the public and commercial and industrial (C&I) organisations to recycle natural Christmas trees (NCTs) intended for disposal under the NCTs Recycling Programme. An EPD contractor will recycle suitable NCTs collected into useful materials such as mulch for planting purposes and compost to encourage onward recycling. The Programme arrangements are as follows:

Collection Period: January 3 to 6, 2020 (four days)
 

Central Collection Point (CCP)	Address	Telephone	Collection Time
EcoPark	133 Lung Mun Road, Tuen Mun	9706 6549	9am to 6pm
District Collection Points (DCPs)	Address	Telephone	Collection Time
(Only household NCTs 2 metres tall or below will be accepted.)
1. Sha Tin Community Green Station (CGS)	10 On Ping Street, Shek Mun	2285 9433	9am to 6pm
2. Eastern CGS	30 Oi Shun Road, Shau Kei Wan	2778 2330
3. Kwun Tong CGS	27 Sheung Yee Road, Kowloon Bay	2776 5700
4. Yuen Long CGS	65 Tin Wah Road, Tin Shui Wai	2617 0117
5. Sham Shui Po CGS	339 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po	2522 4388
6. Tuen Mun CGS	9 Tuen Yee Street, Tuen Mun	2496 4288
7. Kwai Tsing CGS	12 Tam Kon Shan Road, Tsing Yi	3905 4840
8. Tai Po CGS	25 Dai Wah Street, Tai Po	3614 0598
9. Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building Refuse Collection Point	Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building, 8 Hung Shing Street, Ap Lei Chau	Not applicable	7am to 9.30pm
10. Arbuthnot Road Refuse Collection Point	Junction of Arbuthnot Road and Caine Road, Central		6.30am to 4.30pm
11. Paterson Street Refuse Collection Point	Junction of Paterson Street and Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay		6.30am to 2.30pm
12. Sai Yee Street (Flower Market Road) Refuse Collection Point	188 Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok		6.30am to 9pm

Note: If members of the public and C&I organisations still need to recycle NCTs from January 7 to 18, 2020, they should make appointments with the EPD’s contractor (Tel: 9706 6549) prior to the delivery of NCTs to the CCP in the EcoPark.
 
     An EPD spokesman said that five DCPs located in New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island have been added to the Programme this year to encourage public participation. The Programme is limited to the recycling of NCTs and all lighting, decorations and tape on the NCTs should be removed before delivery to facilitate subsequent recycling processes. The public are also encouraged to replant small potted plants such as poinsettias and keep artificial Christmas trees and other festival decorations for reuse to help reduce waste and conserve resources.

     An e-certificate will be issued to the participants and C&I organisations who deliver NCTs to the CCP or the CGSs for recycling so as to recognise their support for environmental conservation. Members of the public will also receive a gift upon delivery of NCTs to the CGSs while stocks last. For details of the Programme, please visit the Hong Kong Waste Reduction Website at www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/natural-christmas-trees-recycling-programme-2019.html.

     The EPD also welcomes other organisations and associations to provide recycling services for NCTs to help the public and C&I organisations to participate and enhance waste reduction efforts for all. read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 19) that the model boat pool at Tai Po Waterfront Park will be temporarily closed from tomorrow (December 20) to January 23, 2020, for repair works. read more

     The Hong Kong Observatory publication "Tide Tables for Hong Kong 2020" is now on sale.      The tide tables list the predicted heights and times of daily high and low waters at 12 loca… read more