The Government today (December 1) announced that the Chief Executive has, pursuant to section 4 of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, re-appointed/appointed five non-executive directors of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Board for a term of three years with effect from today.
 
     The two newly appointed non-official non-executive directors are Mr Alexander Lam Tsan-wing and Mr Lee Chun-keung. The three re-appointed non-official non-executive directors are Mr William Chan Fu-keung, Mr Kwok Wai-keung and Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen.
 
     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, welcomed the appointment. "With their expertise and extensive experience, I am sure the newly appointed non-official non-executive directors will provide invaluable insights to the work of the URA. The Government will continue to work closely with the URA Board in furthering the important and challenging mission of urban renewal in Hong Kong," she added.
 
     Ms Linn also expressed appreciation and gratitude to the two retired non-official non-executive directors, namely Mr Evan Au Yang Chi-chun and Dr Lee Ho-yin, for their invaluable contributions to the work of the URA.
 
     The URA Board comprises 16 non-official non-executive directors (including the Chairman), four official non-executive directors and three executive directors. All the non-official non-executive directors are appointed in their personal capacity. The membership list was gazetted today.
 
     The membership of the URA Board is set out below.
  
Chairman
————
Mr Chow Chung-kong
 
Non-Executive Directors (Non-official)
————————————————
Mr William Chan Fu-keung
Dr Chan Ka-kui
Mr Vincent Cheng Wing-shun
Ms Ivy Chua Suk-lin
Mr Ho Wing-cheong
Mr Kwok Wai-keung
Ms Janice Lai Wai-man
Mr Alexander Lam Tsan-wing
Mrs Sylvia Lam Yu Ka-wai
Mr Lee Chun-keung
Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man
Professor Tang Bo-sin
Ms Judy Tong Kei-yuk
Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen
Ms Yvonne Yeung Kin-ha
 
Non-Executive Directors (Official)
——————————————
Director of Buildings
Director of Lands
Director of Planning
Deputy Director of Home Affairs (2)
 
Executive Directors
————————
Managing Director / Deputy Chairman
Two Executive Directors

     Correctional officers at Tai Lam Centre for Women today (November 30) intercepted a female remand person in custody smuggling a suspected dangerous drug into the centre by concealing it inside her body.

     The 45-year-old person in custody was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug on November 28. After undergoing X-ray body scanning, she was suspected to have swallowed the dangerous drug before admission. She was therefore separated and put under close monitoring.

     At 3.02pm today, she discharged one pack of the suspected dangerous drug with a weight of about 18 grams wrapped in a plastic sheet. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline, and a drug-free environment for all persons in custody."

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the recent spate of fatal and serious work accidents in the construction industry. The LD has stepped up measures in terms of inspection and enforcement, publicity and promotion, as well as education and training, including a special enforcement operation targeting construction sites of new works to curb unsafe work practices in mid-November.
      
     A spokesman for the LD today (November 30) said, in light of the recent spate of serious work accidents, the LD conducted a two-week special enforcement operation targeting construction sites of new works from November 13 to 24. During the operation, the LD inspected 1 060 construction sites across the territory, with about 210 improvement notices/suspension notices issued and about 35 prosecutions initiated.
      
     To further strengthen inspection and enforcement efforts, in addition to routine inspections, the LD has also set up Special Task Forces to continue to conduct rigorous inspections and enforcement actions targeting construction sites (especially sites of new works and sites involving high-risk work processes) in the coming period to combat unsafe work activities.
      
     For promotion and publicity, the LD will continue to step up efforts to disseminate occupational safety and health (OSH) messages to duty holders through different channels, with the aims of enhancing the safety awareness of workers and frontline supervisors as well as reminding them not to contravene OSH legislation. The LD will also collaborate with the Occupational Safety and Health Council to organise a wide range of publicity and promotional activities to reach frontline workers in a more effective manner, fostering OSH culture in the construction industry.
      
     For training and education, the LD has enriched the curriculum of Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (commonly known as Green Card) by adding new teaching content such as safety hints for new construction workers, safety in lifting operations, etc, to minimise the risks of accidents.
      
     To facilitate the conduct of inspections in a more targeted manner, the LD has established an online OSH complaint platform (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ld0001/en/) to enable employees and members of the public to report unsafe working conditions with mobile electronic devices, so that prompt follow-up actions can be conducted. All complaints will be treated in the strictest confidence.
      
     Protecting OSH of workers in the construction industry is a shared responsibility between employers and employees. The LD appeals to contractors and employers of construction works to enhance their site safety management systems, particularly in respect of high-risk work processes such as work-at-height, operation of heavy machinery, lifting operations, etc. They should also provide plant and systems of works that are safe and without risk to health for relevant work processes. Workers should raise their safety awareness and co-operate with contractors and employers to implement OSH measures to avoid endangering themselves and others.
      
     Under the general duty provisions of OSH legislation, employers who commit extremely serious offences can be prosecuted on indictment, which is subject to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years. Employees who contravene the aforesaid provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for six months. 

     A spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said today (November 30) that in view of the numbers of serious incidents occurred in the construction industry in recent months, the heads of works departments took lead to carry out surprise inspections on different public works sites in the past week, targeting high-risk work activities, in particular lifting operation and work at height to curb unsafe practices.
      
     The spokesman said, "Warnings were immediately issued to the contractor when risks of unsafe practices were found in the inspection. Rectifications had to be made before the relevant work activities could continue. In addition, the site safety performance of the contractor would be duly reflected in the contractor's quarterly performance report.  Unsatisfactory site safety performance would have implications on the contractor's opportunity of undertaking public works contracts in the future."
      
     Besides, works departments and their resident site staff will continue to closely supervise site safety of public works.  Any inappropriate conditions unearthed will be taken seriously.  In addition, the DEVB will continue to impose appropriate regulating actions against contractors involved in serious incidents according to the contractor regulating regime. 
          
     The spokesman said that enhancing safety awareness of the project teams and site staff is also very important to reduce the occurrence of serious incidents.  To this end, the DEVB and the works departments held on November 17 a seminar about the recent serious incidents to identify the causes, to reiterate strict enforcement of safety measures and to enhance the safety training of relevant personnel. To raise front-line site personnel's alertness to site safety matters, the DEVB has also requested project teams of works departments to participate regularly in safety morning assemblies at sites, conveying the Government's concerns over site safety directly to the front-line site personnel and sharing with them safety information.
      
     The spokesman stressed that the DEVB attaches great importance to site safety and will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach and timely refine the site safety management system of public works to enhance site safety.  The spokesman appealed to the industry to actively support the enhancement of site safety culture. Every stakeholder in the construction industry has a responsibility.  They should perform their own duties and work together for achieving the target of carrying out work activities safely.

              

     The AEO Expert Mission and Symposium for ASEAN and Hong Kong, China, the first large-scale event focused on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) matters held between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Hong Kong, China since the launch of the Hong Kong AEO Programme by the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong (C&ED) in 2012, successfully concluded today (November 30). 
      
     The AEO Symposium for ASEAN and Hong Kong, China was held today as the highlight of the event. Around 200 representatives from ASEAN Member States, Customs administrations of Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, government officials, the business sector, trade associations, took part in the Symposium today to foster discussions and exchange insights with stakeholders in trade facilitation and business development in the ASEAN region and Mainland China. 
      
     The Symposium today started off with an opening ceremony officiated by the Principal Guests of Honour, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; the Head of Trade Facilitation Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Cuong Ba Tran; the Director General of Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Man-chong; the Deputy Director General of the Department of Enterprise Management and Audit-based Control of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), Mr Zhu Fang and representatives of ASEAN Member States. 
      
     During the Symposium, the C&ED concluded the Action Plans for AEO Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with Customs administrations of Cambodia and the Philippines. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhancing AEO Co-operation in the Greater Bay Area among Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Customs was also signed by representatives from the GACC, the C&ED and Macao Customs Service, witnessed by Mr Yau, Ms Ho and Mr Vong.
      
     The Symposium continued with the presentation of Hong Kong AEO Partnership Awards to Hong Kong AEOs in recognition of their excellent performance on promoting the Hong Kong AEO Programme.
      
     It was followed by panel sessions in which representatives from the Government and business sectors fostered discussions on the opportunities and challenges of extending business in the markets of ASEAN and Mainland China.
      
     The two-day AEO Expert Mission and Symposium has yielded fruitful results. First, the C&ED has successfully concluded the Action Plans for MRA with the Customs administrations of Cambodia and the Philippines, marking a significant step towards the conclusion of MRAs in a near future. Second, consensus has been reached that Customs administrations of ASEAN Member States and Hong Kong, China share a common vision to safeguard security and safety in the supply chain. They will further enhance co-operation on matters regarding AEO programmes and pressing ahead with the MRA. Third, the signing of the MoU on Enhancing AEO Co-operation in the Greater Bay Area among Mainland Customs, Hong Kong Customs and Macao Customs will further strengthen the co-operation of the three administrations in implementing the AEO Programme in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and thereby bringing more benefits to the AEOs and fostering further development in the region. 
      
     The Hong Kong AEO Programme was launched in 2012. Currently, the C&ED has ratified MRAs with 14 Customs administrations of the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia and Macao, China. Under the MRA, AEOs from the signatory countries or regions can enjoy reciprocal trade facilitations including reduced inspection rate and prioritised clearance.