Tag Archives: China

     The Government announced today (February 2) the Public Engagement (PE) Report and the Revised Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP) for the land use proposal of the San Tin Technopole. At the same time, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the San Tin Technopole is available for public inspection under the EIA Ordinance beginning from today.

     The Government conducted PE activities regarding the land use proposal of the San Tin Technopole from June 6 to August 5, 2023, to gauge public views on the RODP. Overall, members of the public welcome the land use proposal of the San Tin Technopole, which will be a signature project of the Northern Metropolis to support the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. Taking into account the views received, the Government has refined the RODP. The Revised RODP, together with the PE Report containing the Government’s response to major views, has been uploaded onto the San Tin Technopole website (nm-santintech.hk/en/) today for the public’s reference.

     Moreover, the Civil Engineering and Development Department has conducted the EIA according to the EIA Ordinance, the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process and the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-340/2021) for the works project for the development of the San Tin Technopole (previously named as San Tin/Lok Ma Chau Development Node). Appropriate mitigation measures were proposed to ensure the project would comply with the EIA Ordinance requirement. The relevant EIA Report has been uploaded onto the EIA Ordinance website (www.epd.gov.hk/eia) for public inspection in accordance with the EIA Ordinance from today to March 2, 2024.

     Although about 240 hectares (ha) of the proposed development area of the San Tin Technopole are located within the Wetland Conservation Area and the Wetland Buffer Area, over 60 per cent of them are already brownfield sites, filled fishponds and also include developed sites such as boundary control points. The remaining areas, close to 40 per cent of the total, are about 90ha of fishponds and nearly half of them are abandoned or inactive in fisheries production. After detailed assessment, the EIA proposed measures to mitigate potential impacts on ecology and fisheries resources, and formulated a holistic wetland compensation strategy through establishing the proposed Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (WCP) with active conservation management, to compensate for the loss of wetland function arising from the development of the San Tin Technopole such that there will be no-net-loss in ecological function and capacity of the wetlands concerned. The proposed WCP will also enhance the overall ecological value, biodiversity and connectivity in the Deep Bay area, achieving coexistence of development and conservation. The proposed WCP will have a fisheries enhancement area; together with the establishment of the Fisheries Research Centre in the San Tin Technopole, modernised aquaculture will be promoted to enhance fisheries resources.

     Located at the heart of the Northern Metropolis and in close proximity to the Shenzhen I&T Zone in Huanggang and Futian, the San Tin Technopole is strategically positioned to be a hub for clustered I&T development. It will create 300ha of I&T land that creates synergy with the Shenzhen I&T Zone, contributing to the development of the South-North dual engine (finance – I&T). The San Tin Technopole will also provide more than 50 000 residential units, becoming a new community for quality, healthy and green living.

     The statutory town planning and other procedures for the San Tin Technopole development will also commence progressively this year. Members of the public can visit the website of the San Tin Technopole for the latest information of the project. read more

     The flag presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Delegation to the 14th National Winter Games (NWG) was held at the Secondary Hall of the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (February 2).
      
     The Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong, officiated at the ceremony and presented the HKSAR flag to the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, and the Head of the Delegation, Mr Timothy Fok.
      
     Organised by the General Administration of Sport of China and undertaken by the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the 14th NWG will be held in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region between February 17 and 27 this year. The Delegation will send a total of 40 athletes to take part in the finals of three sports of the Games, namely figure skating, alpine skiing and ice hockey.
      
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Wong said that while Hong Kong lacks favourable natural conditions for developing winter sports, with their perseverance and hard work, the Hong Kong athletes are able to overcome various environmental limitations and compete with top-notch Mainland athletes in the finals of the NWG, adding that the city’s athletes are the pride of Hong Kong people. 

     He added that in order to encourage Hong Kong athletes to achieve outstanding performance, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will offer incentives through the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme to athletes with top results in the Games. He believed that the HKSAR Delegation will do their utmost in the Games, and showcase their indomitable spirit.
      
     The NWG, held every four years, is the largest winter multi-sports event with the highest standard in the country. It aims to promote winter sports, encourage wide participation, nurture sports talent and enhance the competitiveness of national winter sports. This is the sixth occasion that the HKSAR will have taken part in the NWG since 1999.
      
     Also attending the ceremony today were the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Commissioner for Sports and member of the Organising Committee of the Delegation, Mr Sam Wong; the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services) and member of the Organising Committee of the Delegation, Miss Winnie Chui; and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Delegation, Mr Cheng King-leung.
      
     For the latest information of Hong Kong athletes participating in the 14th NWG, please visit the LCSD’s dedicated webpage.

    

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” and “Windsand” for four consecutive days from January 29 to yesterday (February 1). A total of 24 suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested.
 
     During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 21 target locations including premises under renovation, a recycling yard, restaurants, and a retail shop. Nineteen suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 14 men and five women, aged 25 to 65. Among them, one woman was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. One man, aged 42, was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested.
 
     During operation “Champion”, enforcement officers raided 77 target locations in Central district. Five suspected illegal workers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men and one woman, aged 28 to 55.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her 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.”
 
     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is 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 spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. 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. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening 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 ImmD 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 or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

  

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is presenting the Lunar New Year Lantern Display “Dancing Dragon with Lanterns to Greet the New Year” at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza from today (February 2) until February 25 to ring in the Year of the Dragon with the public and boost the city’s festive atmosphere. The lanterns will be illuminated from 6pm to 11pm daily.
 
     To bring in the New Year, the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Office and local paper-crafting master Chan Yiu-wah collaborated to design and craft lanterns featuring the green dragon, which symbolises the vitality of spring, as the main design element. The green dragon, weaving through palace lanterns and amid blooming festive flowers, brings forth a vibrant and colourful scene and sends a common wish that Hong Kong will remain prosperous upon the arrival of the Year of the Dragon. Both dragon dance and paper crafting are Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage items. Members of the public can experience the vibrancy of these ICH items through the exquisite paper-crafting techniques of the master.
 
     In addition to the above lantern display, the LCSD will also hold lantern carnivals at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Hong Kong Velodrome Park, Tin Shui Wai Park and Ginza Square from February 20 to 25. During the carnivals, members of the public can appreciate spectacular lanterns with different themes and participate in lantern night events held on specific dates. The events offer a wide range of activities such as music and dance performances, acrobatics, magic performance, lantern riddles and more. More details will be announced later.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2591 1340 or visit the event webpage at: www.cpo.gov.hk/activity/en-lunar-new-year-lantern-carnivals-2024-ld/

          

     In view of the recent increase in carbon monoxide poisoning cases while taking showers, the Government today (February 2) appealed to members of the public to take precautionary measures against carbon monoxide poisoning a… read more