Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Tai Tong Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). 
      
     “The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Tai Tong area”, a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (December 15). 
      
     The planning scheme area, covering about 960 hectares, is bounded by the ridge of Ho Hok Shan and Kam Tin South in the east, Castle Peak Road – Yuen Long in the north, Yuen Long Highway in the northwest, Kiu Hing Road and Pak Sha Shan Road in the west and Tai Lam Country Park in the south.
      
     The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Tai Tong OZP No. S/YL-TT/19, which involve rezoning two sites near Chuk San Tsuen and Kong Tau San Tsuen respectively from “Agriculture” (“AGR”) to “Residential (Group A)1” for public housing development and from “AGR” to “Government, Institution or Community” for provision of a primary school.
      
     Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.
      
     The approved Tai Tong OZP No. S/YL-TT/20 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long West District Planning Office, (iv) the Yuen Long District Office and (v) the Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee.
      
     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 15) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
      
     Three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and one as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:           

Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Golden Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach

 
Grade 2 beach is:              

Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD’s beach thematic website. read more

     Hong Kong Customs on December 12 seized about 10 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.43 million at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. A man was arrested.
      
     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point an express parcel, which was declared as oil flow control valve, arriving in Hong Kong from South Africa via the Mainland. Upon examination, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds therein.
      
     Customs officers subsequently mounted a controlled delivery operation yesterday (December 14) and arrested a 38-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. He has been charged with one count of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug and will appear at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 16).

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Customs will continue to maintain close contact with the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through express courier channels.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
 

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     â€‹The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene today (December 15) cancelled the licence of a general restaurant in Causeway Bay, as the operator repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally. The restaurant concerned has had to cease operation with immediate effect.

     The restaurant is located on the ground floor at 15 Caroline Hill Road.

     “Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant operator this June and September. A total fine of $14,200 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the cancellation of the licence,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

     The licensee concerned had a record of four convictions for the same offence between June 2021 to August last year. A total fine of $16,600 was levied and 60 demerit points were also registered, resulting in a seven-day and 14-day licence suspension in December 2021 and October last year respectively.

     The spokesman reminded the licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR and other relevant regulations, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on “Maintenance and modernisation of lifts and escalators in public rental housing estates” (Chapter 3) of the Director of Audit’s Report No. 81 next Monday (December 18) at 3pm in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex.

     Five witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by PAC members.

     The programme for the public hearing is as follows:

Subject: Maintenance and modernisation of lifts and escalators in public rental housing estates
(Chapter 3 of the Director of Audit’s Report No. 81)
Date: December 18 (Monday)
Time: 3pm
Venue: Conference Room 1

Witnesses:

Ms Winnie Ho
Secretary for Housing/
Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority

Miss Rosanna Law
Director of Housing

Mr Michael Hong
Assistant Director (Estate Management) 3
Housing Department

Mr Derek Lo
Chief Manager/Management (Support Services 1)
Housing Department

Ms Carmen Chan
Senior Building Services Engineer/Building Services Management
Housing Department

     The PAC is chaired by Mr Shiu Ka-fai, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Paul Tse.  Other members are Ms Yung Hoi-yan, Mr Luk Chung-hung, Mr Edmund Wong, Mr Louis Loong and Ms Carmen Kan. read more