â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 24) said that two recycling sites in Yuen Long and North District, which illegally handled hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), were raided during an inter-departmental blitz enforcement operation in January this year. The companies concerned, Sam Tung International Trading Company Limited and Zhonglianxing (HK) Limited and its responsible person, were convicted and fined a total of $51,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on July 17 and today respectively for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     An EPD spokesman said that a blitz operation was jointly conducted with the Police at various open recycling sites at Shan Ha Tsuen in Yuen Long and Ma Tso Lung in North District in January. It was found that two recycling sites, operated by Sam Tung International Trading Company Limited and Zhonglianxing (HK) Limited, illegally stored waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste. The PCBs concerned weighed about 12 tonnes and had a total market value of over $1.2 million. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD prosecuted the operating companies and the responsible person of the recycling sites in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The spokesman stressed that dismantled or destroyed PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste and are regulated under the existing laws on chemical waste disposal. The EPD is all along been committed to combating the illegal collection, storage, handling and import and export activities of hazardous e-waste. Anyone who violates the above laws shall be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for the first conviction. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD's website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

    

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 is 104.1 (up 0.5 against yesterday's index).

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Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 24) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at St Stephen's Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     A property owner was fined $77,800 for failing to comply with a removal order under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123) (BO) at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts last week.

     The order involved several illegal structures at a shop on the ground floor of a composite building at Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. The illegal structures are around 35 square metres in size altogether. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were erected without prior approval from the Buildings Department (BD), contravening the BO, a removal order was served on the owner of the premises under section 24(1) of the BO.

     As the owner failed to remove the UBWs upon the expiry of the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and convicted on July 17.

     "UBWs may adversely affect the structural and fire safety of a building, leading to serious consequences. Owners should seek professional advice before carrying out any building works in their premises," a spokesman for the BD said today (July 24).

     Pursuant to section 40(1BA) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order served on him under section 24(1) of the BO, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued.

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

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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning July 30, 2018: