The Environmental Protection Department today (January 12) released a list of completed and newly commenced statutory environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and non-statutory environmental studies for major development projects between October 1 and December 31, 2023.

     Updated information related to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance is available on its website at www.epd.gov.hk/eia.

Completed statutory EIAs and non-statutory environmental studies for projects in the fourth quarter of 2023 include:
———————————————————————————————————————————————-

A. Statutory EIAs:

1. Improvement to So Kwun Po Interchange
(Civil Engineering and Development Department)

2. Tuen Mun Bypass
(Highways Department)
 
3. Route 11 (Section between Yuen Long and North Lantau)
(Highways Department)
 
4. Widening of Tsuen Wan Road and the associated junction improvement works
(Highways Department)
 
5. Airport Tung Chung Link Project
(Airport Authority Hong Kong)

B. Non-statutory environmental studies for projects:

Nil

Newly commenced statutory EIAs and non-statutory environmental studies for projects include:
——————————————————————————————————————————-

A. Statutory EIAs:

1. Development at Ngau Tam Mei area
(Civil Engineering and Development Department)
 
B. Non-statutory environmental studies for projects:

Nil

     â€‹The Commissioner for Labour today (January 12) gave notice in the Gazette under section 18(2) of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance (Chapter 380) for case with ex gratia payment from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund made to employees. 

     For details of the notice, please refer to Government Notice Number 203 on the website of the eGazette of the Government Logistics Department. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced today (January 12) that starting tomorrow (January 13), a new security screening area on the lower ground fourth floor (LG4/F) of the High Court Building (HCB) will commence operation to cope with the greater number of court users arising from increased court facilities.
 
     Court users of the HCB are currently required to undergo security screening before they can gain access to the controlled areas (including courtrooms, court lobbies and associated facilities) of the building.
             
     With effect from January 13, there will be a new security screening area with three channels on LG4/F in addition to the existing security screening channels on G/F. Court users going to the courtrooms on LG4/F or any floors from 1/F to 14/F may undergo security screening at either of the above screening areas. The new arrangement will bring about more flexibility and convenience to court users as those entering from LG4/F can be screened on that floor for direct access to the floors from 1/F to 14/F, instead of going to G/F for screening as at present. There will also be a new entrance on LG4/F for accessing the new security screening area. All court users should follow the directional signs and directives of the Judiciary staff or security personnel when entering the HCB.
 
     "Security screening, including body screening by metal detectors and bag inspection, aims to prevent prohibited items such as knives, scissors, liquids, etc from being brought into the controlled areas of court premises," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.
 
     To further enhance the security measures at the HCB, the Judiciary will introduce the use of X-ray baggage scanners on both LG4/F and G/F of the HCB, and extend the security screening to all court users of the HCB upon completion of the relevant preparatory work.
                  
     "In implementing the security measures at the HCB, the Judiciary is making every effort to enable the smooth and orderly access by the court users. However, as the screening procedures take time, the Judiciary urges all court users to arrive at the HCB earlier, in particular during peak hours in the morning or after lunch break," the spokesman added.

     The Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2024 was published in the Gazette today (January 12). The Notice aims to amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pesticides Ordinance (Cap. 133), listing a type of pesticides called terbufos, in order to give effect to the amendment to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade in 2023 (the amendment) to list terbufos in its Annex III. The amendment to the Pesticides Ordinance will tighten the regulatory regime regarding terbufos, thereby safeguarding public health and protecting the environment. The Government will table the Notice at the Legislative Council on January 17, 2024.
 
     A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, "Terbufos is already regulated by pesticide Permit conditions under the Pesticides Ordinance. Any person who imports, manufactures, sells, supplies, is in possession of or uses such pesticides must hold a valid permit. After terbufos is listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pesticides Ordinance, its exports will be further restricted."
 
     The Convention is an international treaty for safeguarding human health and protecting the environment. The Convention, which implements a prior informed consent procedure in the international trade of specified hazardous chemicals, aims to promote shared responsibility and co-operative efforts among parties to the Convention, with a view to protecting human health and avoiding potential harm to the environment caused by such chemicals. The treaty entered into force in China in 2005 and has been applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since 2008. The amendment entered into force for all Convention parties, including China, on October 22, 2023.

     The amendment to the Pesticides Ordinance will enter into force in Hong Kong on March 20, 2024. Any person who exports, imports, manufactures, sells, supplies, possesses or uses terbufos without holding a pesticide Permit commits an offence. Offenders will be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) made the following appeal today (January 12) regarding a patient leaving the hospital without prior notification:
 
     A 32-year-old male patient attended the QMH Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) due to a behavioural problem in the afternoon yesterday (January 11). While awaiting admission, the patient was found leaving the hospital without prior notification at around 12.30am today. Security guards were immediately deployed to search for the patient within the hospital compound and the vicinity, but were unsuccessful. The hospital is very concerned about the incident. It immediately informed the patient's family and reported the incident to the Police for assistance.
 
     The patient is about 1.7 metres tall with a strong body build and black short hair. He has tattoos on both forearms. He was wearing a black jacket, a white short-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans, and was carrying a black backpack when leaving the A&E.
 
     The hospital appeals to the public to contact the Western Police Station at 3661 1618 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.