Tag Archives: China

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Judiciary launches trial run of live webcast of court proceedings

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (December 22) announced that it will launch a trial run of live broadcasting of court proceedings through video webcasting next month (January) on two appellate proceedings in the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) for testing the technical feasibility of the live broadcast arrangements. 

     Open justice is a key to maintaining public confidence in the judicial system and upholding the rule of law. To enhance the transparency of court procedures and public confidence in the judicial process, the Judiciary has been actively exploring the initiative of live broadcasting of selected judicial proceedings outside court premises. 

     The Judiciary is mindful that not all proceedings are appropriate for live broadcasting. Appellate proceedings, particularly hearings in the CFA, are considered to be more suitable cases for live broadcasting. 

     Having regard to a host of factors seeking to ensure that the administration of justice will not be unduly compromised, including the need to take account of parties’ views and to prevent possible misuse of broadcast materials, the Judiciary is planning to start with a trial run of live broadcasting of two appeal hearings in the CFA. The primary objective of the trial run is to test the technical feasibility of the arrangements, including the information technology and audio-visual setup, as well as the logistical and operational details before, during and after the hearings.

     The Judiciary has identified two CFA cases to be heard respectively on January 10 and 16 next year for the trial run, to test two different screen layouts of fixed grids’ view. Major details are as follows:
 

  • Members of the public can view the live webcast of the two selected CFA cases on the CFA website via desktop computers or mobile devices installed with common browsers.
 
  • The core written materials will be made available on the CFA website before the hearings. Relevant information of the live webcast will be provided nearer the time of the court proceedings on the websites of the CFA and the Judiciary.
 
  • After the live webcast ends, the videos of the court proceedings will be uploaded to and kept on the CFA website for a short duration to allow easy access and flexible viewing. The two trial broadcasts of CFA hearings will respectively be made available for viewing for two and three calendar days after the hearing date.
 
  • Members of the public, including the media, must not record the live webcast or use the live broadcast footage for any purpose. Measures such as digital rights management commonly found on streaming platforms will be put in place to deter unauthorised recording, screen capturing and illegal distribution of the live broadcast footage. Any person who records, edits or re-broadcasts the live broadcast footage without prior permission of the Court is liable for contempt of court or copyright infringement. Warnings will be shown on the CFA website and on-screen runner during the live webcast.

     Taking into account the technical feasibility assessment, court users’ feedback, and operational experience from the trial run, the Judiciary will conduct a review and consider the way forward for live broadcasting of court proceedings outside court premises in the longer term. read more

Hospital Authority activates service demand surge measures

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (December 22) announced that the HA has activated service demand surge special measures to cope with the increasing service demand due to cold weather and the Christmas long holiday. The HA anticipates that the service demand in public hospitals will continue to rise in the coming weeks. The HA will closely monitor various statistics and the situation.
 
     The HA spokesperson said, “Public hospitals have implemented a series of measures, including increasing manpower, opening temporary beds and mobilising hospital beds flexibly to cope with the increasing service demand for accident and emergency (A&E) departments and inpatient services to enhance laboratory services for influenza and COVID-19 tests. Ward rounds of senior clinicians will also be increased in the evenings, weekends and holidays. The HA will also facilitate patient admissions, transfers and discharges so as to provide timely and appropriate treatment for patients and vacate hospital beds to admit patients as far as practicable.”
 
     The weather has been cold in recent days and increased activity in influenza and some respiratory pathogens such as COVID-19 is observed. The general out-patient clinic (GOPC) service has been enhanced in order to cope with increasing service needs from members of the public and to alleviate the service pressure on A&E departments during long holiday. A total of 18 GOPCs (see table below) will provide public holiday GOPC services during the Christmas holidays. Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the “Book GOPC” function of the “HA Go” mobile app.
 
     The spokesperson urges non-urgent patients to avoid attending A&E departments. They are advised to attend GOPCs, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals as far as practicable. To choose a suitable family doctor and related clinic service, members of the public can browse the Primary Care Directory of the Health Bureau (www.pcdirectory.gov.hk).
 
     Meanwhile, the HA also appeals to members of the public to get vaccinated early for seasonal influenza and COVID-19, especially high-risk groups, to reduce the chance of getting infected for themselves and their family members, as well as to reduce critical cases and deaths. Members of the public may find details on the Centre for Health Protection COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html) and the Vaccination Schemes website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html).
 
     The HA will closely monitor the situation and flexibly deploy resources and manpower when necessary, and will keep increasing its service volume in order to provide appropriate services for patients.

     GOPC services arrangements for the Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26):
 

Region List of GOPCs Address Telephone number for booking General enquiries
Hong Kong Island Aberdeen Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic 10 Aberdeen Reservoir Road, Aberdeen 3543 5011 2555 0381
Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic 1/F, 8 Chai Wan Road, Shau Kei Wan 3157 0077 2560 0211
Violet Peel General Out-patient Clinic LG, Tang Shiu Kin Hospital Community Ambulatory Care Centre, 282 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai 3157 0000 3553 3116
# Kennedy Town Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic 45 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town 3543 5088 2817 3215
Kowloon Kwun Tong Community Health Centre UG/F, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong 3157 0687 2389 0331
Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Family Medicine Clinic G/F, Out-patient Block, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, 118 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin 3157 0118 2354 2267
Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic 600 Prince Edward Road East, San Po Kong 3157 0113 2383 3311
Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic 1/F, 145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei 3157 0880 2272 2400
* Cheung Sha Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic 2 Kwong Lee Road, Cheung Sha Wan 3157 0122 2387 8211
New Territories Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic 213 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan 3157 0107 2614 4789
Lek Yuen General Out-patient Clinic G/F, 9 Lek Yuen Street, Sha Tin 3157 0972 2692 8730
Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic G/F, 108-130 Jockey Club Road, Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui 3157 0965 2670 0211
Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic G/F, 37 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po 3157 0906 2664 2039
Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic G/F, 28 Po Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O 3157 0660 2191 1083
Tuen Mun Clinic 11 Tsing Yin Street, San Hui, Tuen Mun 3543 0886 2452 9111
Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre 269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long 3543 5007 2443 8511
# Ha Kwai Chung General Out-patient Clinic 77 Lai Cho Road, Kwai Chung 3157 0100 3651 5411
# North Lantau Community Health Centre 3/F, North Lantau Hospital,
8 Chung Yan Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island
3157 0106 3467 7374
* Will provide clinic services on December 25.
# Will provide clinic services on December 26.
 
Service hours: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm read more

Proposed road works for public housing developments at Ma On Shan Tsuen Road gazetted

     The Government gazetted today (December 22) the proposed road works in Ma On Shan to provide necessary infrastructure for the public housing developments at Ma On Shan Tsuen Road.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building, 
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Sha Tin Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Sha Tin Government Offices,
1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories

District Lands Office, Sha Tin,
11/F, Sha Tin Government Offices,
1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories

     The gazette notice, scheme, plans and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.

     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via one of the following means:
 

  • By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s Drop in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
  • By fax to 2868 4643; or
  • By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than February 20, 2024. read more