The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a work accident that happened at a construction site in Chek Lap Kok today (November 21), in which a female worker was struck and killed by a reversing water wagon. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and has expressed its deepest sympathies to the victim's 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, suspending the street washing work with water wagon on the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken."
　　 
　　The spokesman added, "We will complete 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."
　　 
　　The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
　　 
　　In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, 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.

     Hong Kong Customs today (November 21) seized about 11.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $31 million and a duty potential of about $21 million in Tai Po. This is the largest illicit cigarette case detected by Customs in the past three years.

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Tai Po this morning, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes from a metal shed and arrested three men aged between 28 and 49.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

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

  

     Hongkong Post announced today (November 21) that the postal administration of Costa Rica has discontinued the incoming surface letter mail service. The surface letter mail service to Costa Rica will cease with immediate effect.

     Skilland Engineering Services (HK) Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) to an employee, contrary to the Employment Ordinance (EO).

     The company and its director pleaded guilty earlier at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts. The company was fined $25,000 and its director was sentenced to two months' imprisonment suspended for two years today (November 21). In addition, the company was ordered to pay an outstanding sum of $60,000 to the employee concerned via the court.

     The company failed to pay an employee's wages within seven days after the expiry of wage periods or the date of termination of employment, and the awarded sum of $60,000 within 14 days after the date of the LT award as required by the EO. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences committed by the company.

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO and to pay the awarded sums according to the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," an LD spokesman said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 21) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed relevant symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.