Tag Archives: China

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, November 23, 2023 is 104.7 (same as yesterday’s index). read more

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened at the Peak this morning (November 23) in which a man died.       The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a… read more

     Forty-nine convictions were recorded in October 2023 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.             Eighteen of the con… read more

     Hong Kong Customs on November 14 seized about 29 000 suspected counterfeit goods and about 34 litres of suspected duty-not-paid liquor at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound. The total estimated market value was about $5.8 million, with a duty potential of about $90,000.

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected a 40-foot container declared as carrying clothes, mobile phone cases and footwear arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected duty-not-paid liquor and suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phone cases, mobile phone accessories and clothes therein.

     An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected duty-not-paid liquor and suspected counterfeit goods would be transhipped to overseas regions.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to combat smuggling activities and cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities as well as illicit liquor activities by interception at source for protection of revenue with stringent enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit liquor commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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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     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (November 23) released the latest maintenance cost information on lifts in private residential and commercial premises for public reference in choosing registered lift contractors.

     The EMSD had earlier engaged an independent consultant to conduct a sampling survey on the maintenance costs of lifts in private residential and commercial buildings in Hong Kong. The consultant analysed the data collected from some 8 890 lifts at about 2 250 locations, and calculated the average monthly maintenance costs of the lifts as follows:

Private residential buildings

Lift travel level	Rated speed of lift	Average monthly lift maintenance cost	Changes as compared with last survey (Note)
1 to 15	≤ 1.0m/s > 1.0m/s	$5,117 $5,987	+4.7% +7.2%
16 to 25	≤ 1.5m/s > 1.5m/s	$5,313 $7,305	+2.5% +2.4%
26 to 35	≤ 1.75m/s  > 1.75m/s	$6,416  $9,519	+2.4% +2.9%
More than 35	≤ 2.5m/s > 2.5m/s	$10,087 $10,556	+4.7% +5.1%

Private commercial buildings

Lift travel level	Rated speed of lift	Average monthly lift maintenance cost	Changes as compared with last survey (Note)
1 to 15	≤ 1.5m/s > 1.5m/s	$7,054 $9,124	+2.1% +3.8%
16 to 25	≤ 2.0m/s > 2.0m/s	$8,119 $12,253	+1.9% +4.2%
26 to 35	≤ 3.0m/s > 3.0m/s	$10,587 $15,106	+1.2% +0.5%
More than 35	≤ 3.5m/s > 3.5m/s	$21,866 $25,062	+6.4% +0.5%

     The cost information is available in the Responsible Persons’ Corner on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/lifts_and_escalators_safety/responsible_persons_corner/index.html). The EMSD will update it on a half-yearly basis.

     In choosing registered lift contractors, the responsible persons for lifts are advised to make reference to the materials published in the Responsible Persons’ Corner in addition to the price factor. The materials include:

* performance ratings of registered contractors;
* sample contracts for procurement of lift maintenance services;
* a guidebook for persons responsible for lifts;
* guidelines for selection of registered contractors for provision of maintenance services;
* guidelines for modernisation of existing lifts;
* guidelines for management of lift maintenance works;
* a checklist for building management staff to conduct daily safety inspection of lifts; and
* common questions and answers on lift management.

Note: The above price figures were updated on September 30, 2023, whereas the previous price figures were updated on March 31, 2023. read more