   A man who went missing in Hung Hom has been located.    Choi Kin-fan, aged 55, went missing after he left his residence on Ko Shan Road on November 30 night. His family made a report to Police on December 8.    The man was located in a… read more
A Water Supplies Department (WSD) registered consumer was convicted today (December 27) of overcharging her subdivided unit (SDU) tenant for water, in contravention of regulation 47 of the Waterworks Regulations (WWR). She pleaded guilty to three counts of offences at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts and was fined $1,200 for each contravention with a total fine of $3,600.
The WSD received a complaint in June 2023 concerning overcharging an SDU tenant for water at a flat on Hong Keung Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon. Upon completion of the investigation and evidence collection, the WSD instituted prosecution against the illegal acts of overcharging SDU tenants for water. This is the 14th similar conviction case since the first conviction in June 2022, with associated fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
According to the amended regulation 47 of the WWR, if the registered consumer of the water account (usually the landlord) recovers from the occupants of the premises (usually the tenants) the water charge in a sum exceeding the amount paid to the WSD, the registered consumer shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.
A WSD spokesman said that the Government is committed to combating illegal acts through an interdepartmental and multipronged approach. In addition to stepping up inspections and streamlining the application procedures for the installation of separate water meters, publicity and education efforts have also been strengthened, with a view to enhancing the deterrent effect in preventing SDU tenants from being overcharged for water by the landlord.
The spokesman mentioned that the WSD has launched a scheme to encourage landlords to apply for installation of separate water meters. Under the scheme, payment of the water fee deposit and the charge for providing a meter for each separate water meter installed will be waived. Every such water meter account will have a separate water bill for paying water charge, and the first 12 cubic metres of water consumed for each four-month period will be free of charge.
While applications for installing separate water meters in SDUs are to be submitted by the landlords, the SDU tenants can also make requests for installations directly to the WSD. The WSD will then approach the landlords concerned for follow-up action and provide appropriate technical support. Details of the scheme can be obtained from the WSD’s website (www.wsd.gov.hk/en/customer-services/application-for-water-supply/pilot-scheme-for-installation-of-separate-water-me/index.html).
The WSD encourages the public to report any illegal act of overcharging SDU tenants for water for follow-up and investigation by the department. The public can call the WSD’s Hotline 3468 4963 or WhatsApp 5665 5517 to apply for installation of separate water meters for SDUs. The WhatsApp hotline also handles matters relating to water overcharging in SDUs. Alternatively, the public can call the WSD’s Customer Enquiry Hotline 2824 5000 to report water overcharge cases. After calling the hotline and choosing a language, they can press “7” for reporting to staff directly. read more
The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) announced today (December 27) that a venture capital (VC) fund, namely Lingfeng Annex Fund, LP, has been added as a co-investment partner (CP) of the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF).
The ITC received a total of 15 applications in the third round of applications for becoming CPs of the ITVF, with eight CPs being selected earlier. According to each VC fund’s capability, its investment strategy and performance, its management team’s expertise and experience as well as its local network and resources, together with the advice of the ITVF Advisory Committee, the ITC selected the ninth CP in this round of applications.
To date, the ITVF has selected a total of 20 CPs (see Annex) and has co-invested in 28 local innovation and technology (I&T) start-ups. The Government’s investment amounts to around $210 million, attracting over $2.1 billion of private investment. The business areas of these I&T start-ups include supply chain management, e-commerce, financial technology, biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
​The Government set up the ITVF with a view to attracting more VC funds to co-invest in local I&T start-ups and creating a more vibrant I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong. The CPs are responsible for recommending suitable investment targets to the ITC. The ITC will co-invest with the CPs at a matching ratio of approximately 1 (Government): 2 (CP) in eligible local I&T start-ups. Details of the ITVF and brief information on the CPs are available on the ITVF website (www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/ITVF.asp). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2024, which will be held from December 31, 2023, to January 7, 2024.
The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (December 27) that like all other “M” Mark events, this tournament will not only add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong and thereby bring in more visitors from abroad, but also showcase Hong Kong’s capability to host world-class events and enhance Hong Kong’s position as a centre for major international sports events.
“This edition of the event marks the return of the ATP Professional Tennis Tour to Hong Kong for the first time in 21 years. Elite men’s tennis players from around the globe will compete at the iconic Victoria Park Tennis Court. Tennis fans and the general public are all eager to savour the thrill of witnessing these elite male players pushing their limits to vie for the championship,” Mr Ng said.
The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local “national sports associations” and private and non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk. read more
​Hongkong Post announced today (December 27) that, as advised by the postal administration of Thailand, mail delivery services to Thailand for areas with the postcodes listed below are subject to delay due to flooding. … read more