Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals when the Cold Weather Warning is in force:

     The Labour Department reminds employers that as the Cold Weather Warning is in force, they should take appropriate precautions such as reminding employees who have to work outdoors or in remote areas to wear appropriately warm clothing, and make arrangements for employees to rotate from outdoor to indoor or sheltered work sites as far as possible. Employees should take note of the weather report, wear appropriately warm clothing and be mindful of their health conditions. They should notify their supervisors and seek medical help immediately if feeling unwell, such as having cold limbs and body shivering.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sham Shui Po last night (December 7) in which a 65-year-old man died.

     At about 10.45pm, a public light bus (PLB) driven by the 65-year-old man was travelling along Wai Chi Street towards Nam Cheong Street. When approaching Mei Yue House in Shek Kip Mei Estate, the PLB reportedly lost control and rammed into a private car parked on the roadside.

     The PLB driver was sent to Caritas Medical Centre in semi-conscious state and was certified dead at 11.34pm. The 41-year-old male private car driver and a 25-year-old female PLB passenger also sustained injuries and were sent to Caritas Medical Centre in conscious state.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9000 or 3661 9062.

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

      In response to media enquiries today (December 7) about counting for the 2019 District Council Ordinary Election, a spokesman for the Electoral Affairs Commission gives the following reply:

     Counting of votes is conducted in an open and transparent environment, under public scrutiny.

     Once the poll closes, candidates, their election agents and polling agents may stay in the polling station to observe the process of locking of ballot boxes, and the conversion of polling stations into counting stations. They can observe the entire counting process at the counting station, which includes the breaking of seals on the ballot boxes, the sorting, separation and counting of ballot papers, the counting of votes recorded on the valid ballot papers and the determination by Presiding Officers (PROs) on the validity of questionable ballot papers. They may also copy what is recorded on the ballot paper account if needed. Other than that, members of the public and reporters are also able to watch the counting process at designated areas inside the counting stations.

     According to Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (District Councils) Regulation (Cap. 541F) section 80A and 80B, PRO may decide whether a re-count of the votes of the counting stations is necessary. If a candidate or his/her agent requests to re-count, such a request shall be made to the PRO, and he/she will decide whether the request should be acceded to. If he/she decides that such a re-count is reasonable in the circumstances, a re-count will be conducted.

     The spokesman reiterated that the EAC is an independent, apolitical and impartial body established under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, responsible for organising and supervising public elections in an open, fair and honest manner. If anyone thinks that the election is interfered by corrupt or illegal conduct, or there is a material irregularity, candidates and the electors of the relevant constituency can make election petitions to query the result of the election, which will be determined by the court.

     The Electoral Affairs Commission will review various electoral arrangements. A report will be submitted to the Chief Executive within the next three months.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 6) detected two cross-boundary drug trafficking cases through passenger channel at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 24 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $30 million.

     Two 25-year-old male passengers arrived in Hong Kong on the same flight from Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday morning. During Customs clearance, 12kg of suspected cocaine were found inside their check-in baggage respectively. They were then arrested.

     The two arrested men have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts next Monday (December 9).

     With the Christmas and New Year holidays approaching, there is a possibility that drug syndicates need to traffick in dangerous drugs urgently in order to meet the keen demand during long holidays. Customs will further step up enforcement action to combat transnational drug trafficking activities before the long holidays.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     The Civil Aviation Department (CAD), after giving due consideration to the latest operational situation of the Hong Kong Airlines Limited (HKA), decided not to take further action against HKA’s Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) for the time being. HKA's AOC remains valid.
 
     According to Article 6 of the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Cap. 448 Subsidiary Legislation C), the CAD has to be satisfied that an AOC holder is competent, having regard to his equipment, organisation, staffing, maintenance and other arrangements, to secure the proper and safe operation of his aircraft registered in Hong Kong for the purpose of public transport. In view of the latest financial situation of HKA, the CAD has great concern over the ability of HKA in operating its fleet and made a request on December 2 to HKA, which holds an AOC, to make representation on whether it is able to continue to operate stringently in accordance with the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995. HKA later submitted a representation to the CAD.
 
     A CAD spokesman said today (December 7), "Having examined HKA's representation and considered factors including the results of our inspections of HKA lately and the relevant inspection track record, the CAD has been satisfied that HKA is able to continue to operate properly and safely in strict accordance with the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995. The CAD, therefore, has decided not to take further action according to Article 62 of the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 against HKA's AOC for the time being. Nevertheless, the CAD will continue to closely monitor HKA's operation and take decisive actions should HKA is found unable to operate in accordance with the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995.
 
     "Moreover, the CAD has reminded HKA to operate stringently in accordance with the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 to ensure aviation safety. The CAD will continue to closely monitor HKA's flight operations and aviation safety standard, as well as actively inspects and audits HKA in order to verify that its equipment, organisation, staffing, maintenance and other arrangements comply with the above-mentioned legal requirements, for the purpose of ensuring its proper and safe operation in accordance with the conditions specified in its AOC," the spokesman added.