Tag Archives: China

     Police will implement the following special traffic arrangements on Sunday (May 27) to facilitate a public procession to be held on Hong Kong Island.

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 3pm until the crowd is dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Westbound Hennessy Road between Luard Road and Queensway;
– Westbound Queensway;
– Westbound Queen’s Road Central;
– Queen’s Road West between Queen’s Road Central and Western Street;
– Westbound Connaught Road West between Western Street and Chiu Kwong Street;
– Western Street; and
– Northbound Chiu Kwong Street between Queen’s Road West and Des Voeux Road West.

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from about 3pm until the crowd is dispersed and traffic resumes normal:


Road closure
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– Northbound Luard Road between Johnston Road and Hennessy Road;
– Southbound Fenwick Street between Hennessy Road and Johnston Road, except for franchised buses and green mini-buses (GMBs);
– Eastbound Johnston Road between Hennessy Road and Fenwick Street, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Westbound Johnston Road between Ship Street and Landale Street;
– Eastbound Thomson Road between Johnston Road and Luard Road;
– Northbound Justice Drive between Justice Drive flyover and Queensway;
– Northbound Wyndham Street between Wellington Street and Queen’s Road Central, except for vehicles heading to On Lan Street car park;
– Northbound Cochrane Street between Stanley Street and Queen’s Road Central;
– Chiu Kwong Street between Des Voeux Road West and Connaught Road West; and
– The first left lane of Connaught Road West flyover between Eastern Street and Water Street.

Traffic divisions
—————–

– Traffic along eastbound Johnston Road cannot turn left to northbound Luard Road;
– Traffic along westbound Johnston Road cannot turn right to northbound Luard Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Johnston Road cannot turn left to Thomson Road;
– Traffic along westbound Johnston Road cannot turn right to eastbound Thomson Road;
– Traffic along Tai Wong Street East must turn left to westbound Johnston Road;
– Traffic along westbound Johnston Road must turn left to Ship Street;
– Traffic along Lun Fat Street must turn right to eastbound Johnston Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Hennessy Road cannot turn right to southbound Fenwick Street, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Traffic along southbound Fenwick Street must turn to Hennessy Road;
– Traffic along westbound Johnston Road from Landale Street must turn left to Anton Street;
– Traffic along westbound Hennessy Road cannot turn left to eastbound Johnston Road;
– Traffic along northbound Justice Drive cannot turn left to westbound Queensway;
– Traffic along northbound Wyndham Street must turn left to westbound Wellington Street, except for vehicles heading to On Lan Street car park;
– Traffic along westbound Stanley Street must turn left to southbound Cochrane Street;
– Traffic along Queen’s Road Central cannot turn left to southbound Possession Street; and
– Traffic along Connaught Road West cannot turn left to southbound Chiu Kwong Street.

Suspension of parking spaces
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     All on-street parking spaces and disabled parking spaces on eastbound Thomson Road between Johnston Road and Luard Road will be suspended from 1pm to 6pm.

     Vehicles may not be permitted to leave car parks along the procession route during the road closure period.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

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     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including an operation codenamed “Twilight” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed “Champion”, on May 23 and 24. A total of 12 illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested.
           
     During operation “Twilight”, ImmD Task Force officers raided 13 target locations including restaurants, a recycling shop, a retail shop, a bar and a shop under renovation. Six illegal workers and two employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised four men and two women, aged 27 to 40. Among them, two men were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Meanwhile, a man and a woman, aged 22 and 40, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
      
     Furthermore, during operation “Champion”, enforcement officers raided 46 target locations in Wan Chai, North Point, Chai Wan and Kowloon East districts including restaurants, shops and industrial buildings. Six illegal workers and an employer were arrested. The illegal workers comprised four men and two women, aged 22 to 35. Among them, one man was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits him from taking any employment. A man, aged 55, was suspected of employing the illegal workers.
           
     “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him 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,” an ImmD spokesman said.
           
     The spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are 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 Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
           
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to 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. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
           
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct 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 officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat 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 interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more

     After the lift incident at Paris Court of Sheungshui Town Centre on May 11, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) requested all registered lift contractors who are responsible for the maintenance of the same … read more

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).      "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and red… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 25) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.
 
     From May 18 to 24, the CHP recorded one confirmed DF case and the patient had been to Thailand during the incubation period.  
 
     As of yesterday (May 24), 22 cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported cases. The cases were mainly imported from Thailand (nine), the Philippines (six), Cambodia (two) and Vietnam (two).
 
     DF remains endemic in some areas in Asia. The latest figures for 2018 reveal that 11 704 cases have been recorded in Thailand, 1 043 in Singapore (since December 31, 2017) and 35 in Japan.
 
     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

 
     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days (DF) or at least 21 days (Zika virus infection) upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a concentration of DEET of up to 30 per cent.

     The public may refer to the CHP’s tips for using insect repellents for details. read more