The Labour Department (LD) today (August 10) launched a public consultation on the proposal to publish records of conviction, revocation/refusal of renewal of licence and written warnings of employment agencies (EAs) on the department's EA Portal (www.eaa.labour.gov.hk).

     A spokesman for LD said, "To enhance transparency and facilitate public access to EAs' track records, LD plans to publish the relevant records on the EA Portal so that job-seekers (including foreign domestic helpers) and employers can avoid falling prey to unscrupulous EAs or EAs without a valid licence when engaging EA services. The enhanced transparency would also help foster the adoption of good practices by EAs and raise the service standard of the industry."

     It is proposed that the following three lists be published on the EA Portal:

     (a) a list of EAs convicted of the offence(s) of overcharging or unlicensed operation in the past 24 months;

     (b) a list of EAs whose licences were revoked/refused renewal in the past 12 months; and 

     (c) a list of EAs which were issued written warnings for non-compliance with the Code of Practice for EAs in the past 12 months.

     "The records on convictions and revocation/refusal of renewal of licences of EAs are currently available on the EA Portal in the form of press releases and/or gazette notices. Publishing the lists would better facilitate members of the public, especially job-seekers and employers who do not have much experience in engaging EA services, to access these records. Moreover, the publication of written warnings would better enable members of the public to make informed decisions when engaging EA services and enhance protection for them," the spokesman added.

     The consultation paper setting out the details of the proposal is available on the EA Portal at www.eaa.labour.gov.hk. Members of the public may send in their views on the proposal by email (eaa-consultation@labour.gov.hk), by fax (2115 3756) or by post (Employment Agencies Administration of Labour Department, Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon) on or before September 7, 2018. For more information, please visit the EA Portal or call the Employment Agencies Administration's hotline at 2115 3667.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) strives to provide affordable public rental housing (PRH) to qualified low-income families. The latest achievement is Camellia House in So Uk Estate, Sham Shui Po, with tenant intake starting today (August 10).

     "Comprising 21 storeys, Camellia House provides a total of 374 PRH units including Type B flats (two/three-persons), Type C flats (three/four-persons) and Type D flats (four/five-persons) with internal floor areas ranging from about 22 square metres to 36 square metres.

     "The twin-tower building is divided into two towers so that the plot ratio and the narrow site can be fully utilised while there will not be too many units on each floor," a spokesman for the HA said.

     Welfare services facilities are located on the three-level podium of Camellia House including an integrated vocational rehabilitation centre, a hostel for moderately and severely mentally handicapped persons and a day activity centre.
 
     With the intake at Camellia House, all the seven domestic blocks in the first phase of So Uk Estate Redevelopment have been completed, providing 3 291 units. The second phase of So Uk Estate Redevelopment, with another seven domestic blocks providing about 3 700 units, is scheduled for completion by 2018/19.

        

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 10) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Upper Cheung Sha Beach and Lower Cheung Sha Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Government today (August 10) announced the appointments of the following members to the Occupational Safety and Health Council for a term of two years starting from August 22, 2018:

Mr Allen Cheng Siu-kai
Ms Chiang Lai-ling
Mr Chow Luen-kiu
Ms Helen Kwan Po-jen
Dr Lam Chor-yin*
Mr Alex Leung Wai-hung
Mr Lo Tai-chi*
Mr David Mong Tak-yeung
Ms Siu Sin-man
Professor Grace Szeto Pui-yuk
Mr Ivan Tam Kwok-wing
Ms Wendy Yuen Miu-ling
Chief Assistant Secretary for Development responsible for works matters
Commissioner for Labour or his representative
Government Chemist or his representative

     The Council is constituted under the Occupational Safety and Health Council Ordinance with the objective of fostering a safe and healthy working environment in Hong Kong. The appointments were published in the Gazette today.

* New appointees

The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat to the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council:

     The Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) is inviting applications for the Exchanges with Taiwan Funding Scheme.

     The Scheme aims to enhance exchanges and understanding between Hong Kong and Taiwan at the community level through providing funding support to local non-government organisations to organise relevant activities.

     Application forms can be downloaded from the ECCPC website at www.eccpc.org.hk/eng/scheme.htm. The deadline for application is September 30, 2018.

     For enquiries, please contact the ECCPC Secretariat at 2810 2011.