Yee Hop Engineering Company Limited was fined $50,575 at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (June 21) for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.

     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on April 5, 2017, at a workshop in Yuen Long. While a worker was preparing to cut a large metal pipe, the metal pipe overturned and crushed the worker to death.

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     The Quality Assurance Council (QAC) today (June 21) released the Audit Report on the sub-degree operations of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
 
     The Audit Report presents the findings on the quality of learning at the sub-degree providing units of CUHK. The Chairman of the QAC, Mr Lincoln Leong, said, "The QAC is pleased that the Audit Panel concludes that CUHK has developed a well-established and functional quality framework for its sub-degree, professional and continuing education programmes (SPCEPs) in alignment with its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework. CUHK is student-centred in its approach to course delivery and students are appreciative of the learning opportunities provided for them."
 
     The QAC is pleased with the quality of educational provision at the sub-degree operations of CUHK. Its efforts in a range of areas are commended as positive features in the Audit Report. These include the strategic alignment of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, CUHK and the university; the rationalisation of the university's SPCEP portfolio; the consistent use of re-approval processes using external expertise; and the value and appreciation that the university places on teachers' contributions to the delivery of sub-degree programmes.
 
     The full report (with CUHK's Institutional Response attached) has been uploaded to the website of the University Grants Committee (UGC) (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/qac/quality/sub_degree/report.html).
 
     CUHK has agreed to submit a progress report within 18 months on its follow-up actions.
 
Background of the quality audit on sub-degree operations of CUHK
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     The quality audit on the sub-degree operations of CUHK was undertaken by an Audit Panel appointed by the QAC. The Audit Panel was chaired by Emeritus Professor Hilary Winchester, and members included Mr Ian Hawke, Professor Marilee Bresciani Ludvik, Dr Louis Ma and Dr Tracy Zou. The Panel reviewed the Institutional Submission, which was prepared by CUHK following a period of self-study, and visited CUHK from November 7 to 9, 2017, to meet with its staff and students. It also met with a number of external stakeholders, such as local employers and graduates of CUHK sub-degree programmes.
 
Background of the QAC and its auditing activities
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     The QAC was established in April 2007 as a semi-autonomous non-statutory body under the aegis of the UGC. The UGC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the quality of the UGC-funded universities and their activities. In view of the institutional expansion of university activities and a growing public interest in quality issues, the QAC was established to assist the UGC in providing third-party oversight of the quality of the universities' educational provision. The QAC assists the UGC in assuring the quality of all programmes at the levels of sub-degree, first degree and above (however funded) offered in UGC-funded universities. The QAC fulfils this task primarily by undertaking periodic quality audits of the universities.
 
     Auditing is an external quality assurance process that involves independent peer review by senior academics in the higher education sector. Its principal aims are to confirm that existing arrangements for quality assurance are fit for purpose, that the quality of provision is comparable to international best practices, that universities are committed to continuously improving the quality of their academic programmes, and that students are well taught and well supported so that they are able to achieve the expected academic standards.
 
     Prior to 2016, the QAC's audit activities covered only first degree programmes and above. The first and second QAC audit cycles were completed in 2011 and 2016 respectively. In 2016, the UGC assumed the role of the overseeing body of the quality audits on the sub-degree operations of UGC-funded universities, with the involvement of the QAC as the audit operator. The audit visits to universities in this cycle are being conducted up till early 2019.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, June 21, 2018 is 101.2 (up 0.4 against yesterday's index).

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Aberdeen today (June 21) in which a 75-year-old woman died.

     At about 8.05am, a school bus driven by a 65-year-old man was travelling along Ap Lei Chau Main Street westbound. When approaching near 163 Ap Lei Chau Main Street, it reportedly knocked down the 75-year-old woman who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining serious head injuries, the woman was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in unconscious state where she was certified dead at 8.52am. A 67-year-old female passenger on the school bus who sustained chest injuries was sent to Queen Mary Hospital in conscious state.

     The school bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. He is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Hong Kong Island is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3660 6848 or 3660 6814.
     

     The Buildings Department approved 13 building plans in April, with four on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and five in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, eight were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments and one was for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which, when completed, will provide 150 327 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2 031 units, and 83 045 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of works for nine building projects.
 
     The department also issued 25 occupation permits, with seven on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and 15 in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 100 215 sq m involving 1 204 units, and 171 536 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in April totalled about $12.8 billion.
 
     In addition, eight demolition consents involving eight building structures were issued.
 
     The department received 2 621 reports about unauthorised building works in April and issued 652 removal orders on unauthorised items.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for April can be viewed by the public on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).