Tag Archives: China

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 23) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
      
     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
      
Grade 1 beaches are:           

Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Golden Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD’s beach thematic website. read more

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, will depart for Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, tomorrow afternoon (February 24) to attend the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held from February 26 to 29.
 
     The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO. Ministers from across the WTO membership will gather at the MC13 to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to give direction for the future work of the WTO. During the Conference, Mr Yau will speak on a host of trade issues, including e-commerce, dispute settlement reform, etc. He will also have bilateral meetings with his counterparts to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.
 
     After attending the MC13, Mr Yau will visit Bahrain on March 2 and 3 to meet with senior officials and business leaders, with a view to strengthening economic and trade co-operation.
 
     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong in the morning on March 4. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau’s absence. read more

     The Government announced today (February 23) that following an open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise, Dr Ge Ming will take up the appointment as the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology) on February 26, 2024. Led by the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), the New Industrialisation Development Office (NIDO) will be established on the same day to adopt an industry-oriented approach to promote new industrialisation in Hong Kong.

     Concerning Dr Ge’s appointment and the establishment of the NIDO, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “Dr Ge possesses rich experience in innovation and technology (I&T) and the industry sector in Hong Kong. He will lead the NIDO in formulating policy along the directions and strategies as set out in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, focusing on such industries as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology. I trust that the NIDO, led by Dr Ge, will carry out the functions of supporting strategic enterprises to develop their businesses in Hong Kong, assisting the local manufacturing sector in upgrading and transformation by making use of I&T, and providing support for start-ups.”

     Dr Ge said that he was honoured to be appointed the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology). He hopes to leverage his experience in the I&T and new industry sector, and contribute to the new industrialisation development in Hong Kong.
      
     Brief biographical notes of Dr Ge are set out below:

Dr Ge Ming
————-

     Dr Ge holds a PhD in Mechanical and Automation Engineering. He has been focusing on the research and development (R&D) and applications of artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and intelligent manufacturing. He was also responsible for many R&D projects funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund as well as those developed jointly with the Mainland and overseas. He actively promoted technology implementation and industrialisation and assisted enterprises to establish a series of digital, automated and intelligent pilot projects, as well as to pave the way for new industrialisation. 

     Dr Ge joined the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in 2004 and served as General Manager, Consultant on Mainland Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of a subsidiary of the HKPC on the Mainland. In 2009, he was transferred to the HKPC headquarters and served as Senior Consultant, Principal Consultant and General Manager. In 2020, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Hong Kong Industrial Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Centre Limited, and the General Manager of the HKPC’s Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Division.

     Dr Ge obtained his doctoral degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2003. He was a member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development and an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as well as the Department of Systems Engineering of the City University of Hong Kong.

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     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (March).             Red … read more

     The Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board has completed a disciplinary inquiry under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) and decided that a registered minor works contractor (RMWC) should be disciplined for having been convicted by court of an offence relating to minor works, having been negligent or misconducted itself in building works, and having certified minor works that had been carried out in contravention of the BO.

     The Board ordered the RMWC to be reprimanded and be fined $15,000. Also, the RMWC was ordered to pay $50,400 in total, being the costs of the Board and the Buildings Department (BD) for conducting the inquiry.

     The Board’s written decision and order issued on February 6 was published in the Gazette today (February 23). Details are available at the following link: www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20242808/egn20242808911.pdf.

     The RMWC submitted a certificate to the BD in April 2019, notifying the commencement of minor works, i.e. the erection of a projecting signboard, at the external wall of a building at Gilman’s Bazaar. The BD notified the RMWC in early July of the same year that Gilman’s Bazaar was a carriageway where emergency vehicles could enter as and when necessary, and the concerned works might hinder the access of emergency vehicles. However, the RMWC subsequently still submitted a completion certificate to the BD certifying the completion of the signboard erection works. After an audit inspection by the BD, it was revealed that the erection of the signboard contravened section 31(1)(aa)(v) of the BO, i.e. the location and dimensions of the signboard constituted an obstruction to the means of access for firefighting and rescue. The RMWC was later prosecuted, convicted and fined $4,000 at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court in February 2021, pursuant to section 40(1B)(a) of the BO for contravention of the requirement on projections on or over streets under section 31(1) of the BO. All of the above showed that the RMWC had certified minor works that had been carried out in contravention of the BO, and that the RMWC had been negligent or had misconducted itself in building works.

     In view of the conviction and conduct of the RMWC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RMWC under the provisions of section 13(1) and 13(3) of the BO.

     A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out minor works will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO. read more