A Government spokesman said today (December 22) that, to combat unauthorised building works (UBWs) and unlawful occupation of government land of houses along the seafront of Redhill Peninsula, the Buildings Department (BD) and the Lands Department (LandsD) completed last month (November) inspection of all houses along the seafront and has been issuing removal orders and notices requiring cessation of occupation of government land to relevant owners based on inspection findings. The departments will also consider prosecution action against the offenders after examining the evidence and seeking legal advice. In addition, the two departments commenced the joint operation at Beaulieu Peninsula in Tuen Mun this month on suspected irregularities of houses along the seafront or near the slope. 

     "The BD and the LandsD commenced a large-scale joint operation on September 22 to focus inspections on the remaining 85 houses (i.e. houses along the seafront other than the four houses at the landslide location which were inspected earlier) along the seafront of Redhill Peninsula in accordance with the risk-based enforcement approach, and successfully entered all 85 houses for inspection and collection of evidence. At this stage, it is found that 29 of the houses involved both UBWs and unlawful occupation of government land, 40 involved UBWs, and one involved unlawful occupation of government land. No UBWs or unlawful occupation of government land were found for the remaining 15 houses. As the situation of UBWs in some of the houses requires further inspection and collection of evidence, the final number of houses involving UBWs is subject to further verification. The BD and the LandsD have been issuing removal orders under the Buildings Ordinance or notices pursuant to the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance respectively to require the relevant owners to remove the UBWs in private premises and land and require the relevant persons to demolish the structures on government land and cease occupation of the land," the spokesman said. 

     For cases impacting on the slope or building structure, the owners must appoint registered building professionals to submit remedial proposals (including an assessment on the impact of the relevant UBWs on the overall slope and building structure) and building plans to the BD, and reinstate the affected parts of the buildings by registered contractors in accordance with the approved plans after obtaining the department's approval and consent. The relevant reinstatement works should be commenced within 90 days and completed within 150 days from the date of issuance of the order. For UBWs not involving the above circumstances, the owner must appoint registered building professionals and/or registered contractors to carry out the removal of UBWs in accordance with the simplified requirements and procedures of the Minor Works Control System and commence the works within 30 days and complete them within 60 days from the date of issuance of the order. The BD will also deliver the orders to the Land Registry for registration against the relevant property titles (commonly known as "imposing an encumbrance on the register"). 

     For cases of unlawful occupation of government land, the relevant persons must submit a proposal for the demolition of structures on government land for approval by LandsD within 30 days from the date of the notice issued by the department and ensure that the works will not affect the safety and stability of the slope. The deadline for completion of demolition works will depend on the scale of the demolition works but should not exceed 150 days from the date of issuance of the relevant notice. 

     The BD will instigate prosecution against owners who fail to comply with the removal orders without reasonable excuse. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one-year imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. As for non-compliance with the LandsD's notice to demolish the structures on the government land or persons who continue to occupy government land in contravention with the notice without reasonable excuse, the LandsD will instigate prosecution against the persons concerned. If convicted on the first occasion, the maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of six months, and a further fine of $50,000 for each day that the offence continues; on each subsequent occasion of conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment of six months, and a further fine of $100,000 for each day that the offence continues. The owners must bear the costs of removing the UBWs and the structures occupying government land on their own. 

     Apart from issuing removal orders and notices requiring cessation of occupation of government land, the BD and the LandsD are continuing with their investigations of cases involving UBWs and unlawful occupation of government land, including the irregularities of the four houses at the earlier landslide location. If there is sufficient evidence, further prosecution action against the persons (including owners, professionals and contractors participating in the construction works of the UBWs) involved in the above cases of irregularities will be considered after seeking legal advice. Investigations of these cases are in progress. In addition, the Government is continuing with the investigation of causes of the earlier landslide. If it is found that UBWs or unlawful occupation of government land in individual houses were related to the landslide, the Government will seek to recover the cost of emergency repair works and related costs incurred in the earlier upgrading of slopes from the relevant persons. 

     The Redhill Peninsula incident has revealed that UBWs or unlawful occupation of government land in houses along the seafront could pose safety hazards and risks to surrounding slopes. In line with the risk-based enforcement approach, the two departments commenced another joint operation this month, targeting houses along the seafront or near the slope on Beaulieu Peninsula in Tuen Mun. In the past, the BD has issued removal orders to individual houses in the estate and prosecuted those owners who failed to comply with the orders. However, as there are still other houses on Beaulieu Peninsula involving UBWs, unauthorised site formation works and unlawful occupation of government land as shown in the aerial photos, the BD and the LandsD decided to target the houses along the seafront or near the slope in the estate and commence the joint operation.   

     A Eurasian wigeon collected earlier from the Hong Kong Wetland Park and receiving treatment at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) was suspected to be positive for the H5 avian influenza (AI) virus based on preliminary testing, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (December 22). Further confirmatory tests are being conducted.
      
     The Eurasian wigeon was humanely dispatched and AFCD staff have collected the carcass for further testings. AFCD staff also conducted an inspection of the KFBG bird collection and collected faecal samples from other birds at a higher infection risk kept at the KFBG for testings. No abnormalities were noted at this stage.
      
     The spokesman noted that the KFBG has stepped up cleaning and disinfection. For the sake of prudence, all birds at a higher infection risk will be quarantined for 21 days and subject to further testings. The AFCD will closely monitor the situation.
      
     One chicken farm is within 3 kilometres of where the bird was kept. The AFCD has informed the chicken farm concerned and no abnormal mortality or symptoms of avian influenza among the chicken flocks have been found so far. The AFCD will remind poultry farmers to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against AI. Pet bird shop owners and licence holders of bird exhibitions will also be reminded to implement proper precautions against AI.
      
     The spokesman said that the department will closely monitor poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against AI have been taken. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.
      
     "People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for AFCD's follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry," the spokesman said.
      
     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.
      
     The Department of Health will keep up its health education to remind the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent AI.
      
     The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal importation of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of AI outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.
      
     All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against AI. Health advice about preventing AI is available on the "Avian Influenza Health Advice" page at www.afcd.gov.hk.

     In view of the recent 6.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Jishishan County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu and resulted in serious causalities and infrastructure damage in Gansu and Qinghai, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (December 22) approved under the Disaster Relief Fund five disaster relief applications, amounting to total grants of about $33 million, from five organisations.  
          
     A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "The HKSAR Government expresses its deep sympathy to the Mainland compatriots affected by the disaster, and maintains close contact with various rescue organisations regarding relief support. The HKSAR Government has promptly processed in consultation with the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee the disaster relief funding applications from five organisations under the Disaster Relief Fund, and informed the organisations concerned of the in-principle approval given for grants totalling about $33 million."
          
     A list of the organisations with the grants approved is in the Annex. The HKSAR Government will continue close liaison with the organisations to monitor the progress of their implementation of relief projects, so as to help the people affected resume a normal life as soon as possible. The organisations are required to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants to the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee after completing the relief projects.
          
     The spokesman said, "The grants demonstrate the close relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland people, and the spirit of mutual help. The HKSAR Government hopes that the grants will provide appropriate assistance for the Mainland compatriots affected, and help the disaster-stricken areas overcome difficulties and proceed with post-disaster reconstruction."
          
     The spokesman stressed, "The HKSAR Government, together with the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee, will continue to closely monitor the disaster situation and related assistance work, and process any subsequent applications from other organisations to help the people affected by the disaster in a timely manner."
          
     The Disaster Relief Fund was established on December 1, 1993, in accordance with the Public Finance Ordinance. It provides the Government with a mechanism to respond to appeals for humanitarian aid in relief of disasters that occur outside Hong Kong.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) is supporting the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) in its staging of three music concerts in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to promote traditional Chinese music and showcase the music talent of Hong Kong.

     The HKCO started the Image China concert tour in Melbourne on December 19, followed by a performance in Sydney yesterday (December 21), with the last performance in Brisbane tomorrow (December 23). Nearly 80 outstanding musicians performed classical Chinese music repertoires including "The Silk Road Fantasia Suite", "Dream of the Red Chamber Suite" and "The Terra Cotta Warriors", presenting a grand feast of traditional Chinese music seamlessly blended with a modern touch.

     Speaking at the receptions in Melbourne and Sydney, the Director of the Sydney ETO, Miss Trista Lim, said, "It is always a priority of our office to promote arts and cultural exchanges with the local communities in Australia. To realise the positioning of Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, we are working proactively in assisting the touring of arts groups and delegations, whether they are travelling from Hong Kong to Australia or the other way round."

     Miss Lim also introduced to the guests the world-class cultural infrastructure in Hong Kong, notably the M+ museum, the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, as well as the cultural mega events to be held in Hong Kong including the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival. She encouraged the participants to visit Hong Kong to experience its unique cultural vibrancy.

     Presented by the China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd, the tour marks a momentous milestone of the return of the HKCO to Australia after 41 years.

          

     The celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies (CAHKMS) was held this morning (December 22) in Beijing. The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao work office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, attended and addressed the celebration. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; Principal Officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; the Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Dong Jingwei; and the Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Li Yongsheng, watched in the Central Government Offices the live broadcast of the event. All incoming chairmen and members of the seventh-term District Councils also joined in watching the live broadcast.
 
　　In his speech, Mr Xia gave an in-depth explanation about learning to implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speech given after he listened to the reports by the Chief Executives of the HKSAR and the Macao SAR, and about how to pragmatically show one's love for Hong Kong and the country to compose a new chapter in the implementation of "one country, two systems".
 
     Mr Xia said that President Xi's important speech once again demonstrated the Central Government's firm stance on the long-term adherence to "one country, two systems", and its deep care for Hong Kong and Hong Kong people. It greatly enhanced the confidence and determination of the HKSAR Government and Hong Kong people in advancing Hong Kong from stability to prosperity, and jointly creating a better future. It also pointed out the way forward for Hong Kong to fully implement "patriots administering Hong Kong" and to play a greater role in achieving national strength and national rejuvenation for better developments. The HKSAR Government and the governing team should demonstrate a new level of patriotism and love for Hong Kong through practical actions of safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and improving people's livelihood; political and community groups should demonstrate that through fully supporting the Chief Executive and the HKSAR Government's governance in accordance with the law and through uniting all parties to build a better Hong Kong; District Councils should demonstrate that through establishing a presence among the grassroots and servicing the community; the trade and industrial sector should demonstrate that through promoting the high-quality development of Hong Kong and fulfilling social responsibilities; individual citizens should demonstrate that through contributing to and shining for the development of Hong Kong; while youths should demonstrate that through engaging in building a better Hong Kong, chasing their dreams, and living their lives to the fullest. All strata, sectors and parties of the society should come together to build a better Hong Kong in solidarity.
 
　　The CAHKMS was established in Beijing on December 6, 2013. It is under the administration of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and aims to organise and co-ordinate research on the theory and practice of "one country, two systems" and strengthen academic exchanges and co-operation among Hong Kong, Macao, and the Mainland in relevant fields.