The director of Talent Way Development Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay employees' wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 27) and was fined a total of $50,000. The director was also ordered to pay a sum of about $320,000 via the court to the five employees. 
      
     The company failed to pay five employees wages within seven days after the termination of employment. The company also failed to pay them the awarded sum of about $320,000 in total within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award in accordance with the EO. The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.
      
     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO and the awarded sums according to the terms of the awards of the LT or Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board. The LD will not tolerate these offences and will continue to make dedicated efforts in enforcing the EO and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," a spokesman of the LD said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (July 27) announced the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Kevin Paul Zervos, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, as Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court.  The appointment will take effect from July 30, 2018.

     The appointment is made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.

     The biographical note of the Honourable Mr Justice Zervos is as follows:

     Mr Justice Zervos was born in 1953 in Australia. He obtained a Bachelors degree in Science (Psychology) and an LL.B. from Monash University, Australia, in 1975 and 1977 respectively. He further obtained a Master of Laws (Human Rights) degree from the University of Hong Kong in 2009. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, in 1978. He was registered as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 1983, and was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, in 1991. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 2001 and appointed as Senior Counsel in 2003. He joined the then Attorney General's Chambers as Crown Counsel in 1992. He was then promoted to Senior Crown Counsel in 1993, to Deputy Principal Government Counsel in 1999, and to Principal Government Counsel in 2008. He took up the post of Director of Public Prosecutions in 2011.  He was appointed as Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in September 2013.

     The Government announced today (July 27) the appointment of two new members, Ms Miranda Kwok Pui-fong and Professor Leung Siu-fai, and the re-appointment of three incumbent members, namely Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Mr Andrew Mak Yip-shing and Mr Peter Sit Kien-ping, to the Air Transport Licensing Authority for two years from August 1, 2018.

     The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, said, "We are confident that the team of new and serving members, with their expertise and backgrounds in different sectors, will make valuable contributions to the work of the Authority in facilitating the development of air services in Hong Kong.

     "The Government is most grateful to the retiring members, Professor Becky Loo Pui-ying and Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man, for their invaluable contributions during the six years with the Authority. Their current term of service will expire on July 31, 2018."

     The Authority is an independent statutory body established under the Air Transport (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, Cap. 448 sub. leg. A. It is responsible for considering applications from airlines of Hong Kong for licences to operate scheduled services to and from Hong Kong in accordance with the provisions of the said regulations.

     The appointments have been published in the Government Gazette today.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 27, 2018 is 103.8 (up 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 27, 2018 is 103.8 (up 0.3 against yesterday's index).