Tag Archives: China

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (July 14):
 
Reporter: Mr Chan, does the government has any plan to tighten regulations on resale of HOS flats? Can we expect any concrete measures any time soon? And for the trade war, can you tell us that you think Hong Kong is ready to brace any impact both on a short and long term?
 
Financial secretary: The measures you mentioned in relation to the housing market is in the context of home ownership scheme, right? On home ownership scheme, the policy consideration is to assist people to acquire their residence for self-occupation purpose. But on the other hand, we recognise that due to change in circumstances or career development, people may need to, say for example, trade up in the market. That’s why, in the mechanism, they are allowed to resell the property to other buyers subject to certain restrictions. But the policy objective remains primarily for people to buy an affordable housing for self-occupation. In relation to trade war, the immediate impact on our GDP for the first round of the measures is estimated to be limited, but that is only the direct impact. But the indirect impact would be much wider, and with the heightening tension and the increasing coverage of the trade war, we expect the impact would be larger and this will hang around for a considerable period. Apart from affecting the real economy, it also affects the capital market and financial market as well as investment sentiment. That indirect impact on Hong Kong will be more significant but that remains to be seen because trade war involves multiple parties and the reaction of other parties are still unclear yet. We will continue to monitor this very closely and to roll out measures to support our small and medium-sized enterprises as needed.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     In view of the lift incidents in recent months involving aged lifts that have yet to undergo modernisation works, the Government proposed earlier short, medium and medium to long-term measures to enhance the safety of those lifts. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 14) announced the implementation of the following two short-term measures:
 

1. Contractors shall conduct at least two special maintenance works each year for the important protective components (including brakes, traction machines and landing doors) of aged lifts that have yet to undergo modernisation works. Contractors are also required to submit to the EMSD the scheduled date, time and inspection results of the special maintenance works via an online platform. The EMSD will also step up inspection efforts; and                                         
2. Contractors shall record maintenance works on logbooks with an improved format to list the important protective components involved in each maintenance to facilitate more effective supervision of the contractors’ maintenance works by the EMSD and the responsible persons for lifts.

     The EMSD briefed members of the Lift and Escalator Safety Advisory Committee (LESAC) at the Committee’s meeting on July 13 and received their support. The EMSD will issue a notice in August on the aforementioned measures and will allow a grace period for the industry and responsible persons for lifts to be better prepared before the measures take effect. The EMSD will also issue letters to relevant stakeholders and step up inspections to ensure full and effective implementation of the new measures.

     Separately, the EMSD has completed the technical investigation into the lift incident at Waterside Plaza in Tsuen Wan on April 8 and has uploaded the report on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/lifts_and_escalators_safety/publications/general_report/index.html). The investigation revealed that the wearing down of a component in the brake system of the concerned lift had generated a considerable amount of debris that rendered the mechanical parts of the brake unable to function smoothly, thereby leading to the failure of the braking function at the time of the incident. The lift car failed to stop when it reached at the destination floor and was then pulled upwards by the heavier counterweight until it collided with the ceiling of the lift shaft.

     After the incident, the EMSD immediately requested the registered lift contractor concerned to conduct a special inspection for lifts of the same brand as in the incident during which no abnormality has been identified. Also, the EMSD issued letters to all registered lift contractors to remind that they must follow the requirements under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance and Code of Practice for Lift Works and Escalator Works to ensure proper maintenance has been carried out for the brake systems of the lifts under their maintenance. While the technical investigation is now completed, criminal investigation of the incident is still pending. The EMSD emphasised that the law will be strictly enforced if contraventions are identified.

     Modern lifts are equipped with more comprehensive safety devices than the aged ones and therefore there is room for improvement and enhancement. In view of this, the EMSD promulgated the Guidelines for Modernising Existing Lifts in 2011 to recommend the responsible persons for lifts installation of safety devices (including the unintended car movement protection device, the ascending car overspeed protection device, etc.) to enable safer, more reliable and comfortable lift operation. The EMSD appeals to all the responsible persons again to carry out modernisation works as soon as possible. Please refer to the EMSD’s website for details of lift modernisation at www.emsd.gov.hk/en/lifts_and_escalators_safety/responsible_persons_corner/lift_modernisation_resource_corner/index.html. read more

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 (July 14) that due to big wa… read more

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 (July 14) that due to big wa… read more

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, continued her visit to Washington, DC, the United States (US) today (July 13, Eastern Standard Time).
      
     In the morning, she met with the Deputy Secretary of State of the US, Mr John Sullivan, to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.
      
     In the afternoon, Ms Cheng spoke at Georgetown University Law Center on the dynamics of international legal norms. She said that with Asia becoming one of the most important and dynamic regions in international affairs, it has also risen to become an active and influential player in international relations, especially in the fields of international trade and investment and environment protection. She added that international dispute resolution is an area of relevance where Asia can play a role in the development of international law on a global basis.
      
     Ms Cheng also met with the Executive Vice President of the Heritage Foundation, Dr Kim Holmes, and other scholars of the Foundation; as well as the economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank, Mr Aart Kraay, to brief them on the latest developments in Hong Kong.
      
     In addition, she met with the Senior Vice President for Asia, US Chamber of Commerce, Mr Charles Freeman, to discuss various issues, including opportunities under the Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development and Hong Kong’s efforts in promoting dispute resolution services.
       
     She will continue her visit to Washington, DC, tomorrow (July 14, Eastern Standard Time) by attending the Society of International Economic Law Biennial Conference, at which she will also deliver a keynote speech.
      
     On July 15 (Eastern Standard Time), Ms Cheng will proceed to New York to continue her visit.

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