The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesman for Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) made the following announcement today (October 24) regarding a hospital facility safety incident:
 
     At around 2.30pm today, a piece of thermal insulation material, which is approximately one metre by half a metre, along with some concrete fragments, fell from the ceiling of the patient catering kitchen on the seventh floor of the Main Block. No staff was working in the area at the time and no one was injured. Patient catering services remain normal.

     QMH immediately cordoned off the concerned area for an urgent inspection and repair. Upon preliminary investigation, it is believed that the incident was caused by the aging of insulation materials. Taking into account the long service years of the kitchen as well as the high temperature and humidity working environment while handling patient catering daily, which may cause the ceiling materials to age more easily, the hospital has scheduled ceiling maintenance works in the kitchen by phases starting from this April. Half of the related works have been completed already. The maintenance works for the concerned area this time were originally scheduled at the end of next month. During the time, the hospital has conducted regular inspection. The last inspection at this area was in July this year with no abnormalities found. 

     The hospital had reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System and further inspections will be arranged to ensure the safety.

     The Drainage Services Department (DSD) announced today (October 24) that emergency repair works for a sewage rising main near Deep Water Bay Beach and Repulse Bay Beach is being carried out from today to October 31. The quality of the nearby waters will potentially be affected. Members of the public are advised not to swim at these beaches or the nearby waters to protect public health.

     Fourteen illegal workers were jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts on October 20 and 23.
 
     The Immigration Department (ImmD) conducted a joint anti-illegal worker operation with the Hong Kong Police Force for two consecutive days from October 18 to 19 at the Tseung Kwan O industrial area. During the operation, a total of 14 illegal workers engaged in packaging work were arrested and 13 forged Hong Kong Identity cards were seized. The arrested illegal workers comprised six men and eight women, aged 37 to 55. Twelve arrested illegal workers were charged at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts on October 23 with one count of taking employment while being a person who, having been given permission to land in Hong Kong, had remained in Hong Kong in breach of their limit of stay imposed in relation to the permission; one count of possessing a forged Hong Kong identity card and one count of overstaying in Hong Kong. They pleaded guilty to all charges and were sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for the first two counts and two months' imprisonment for the last count. All sentences are to run concurrently, making for a total of 15 months' imprisonment. Also, one arrested illegal worker was charged with one count of taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration, one count of remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully, one count of possessing a forged Hong Kong identity card and one count of possessing a false instrument. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for the first three counts and 12 months' imprisonment for the last count. All sentences are to run concurrently, making for a total of 15 months' imprisonment. The remaining one arrested illegal worker was hospitalised and his case was adjourned.  Furthermore, the investigation into employing illegal workers and syndicate activities in providing forged Hong Kong identity cards is still ongoing and more arrests may be made.
 
     Moreover, during a joint operation conducted by the ImmD and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" on October 17, enforcement officers raided a restaurant in Kwun Tong. One Indonesian female, aged 56, was arrested while working as a dishwashing worker. The illegal worker was charged at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts on October 20 with taking employment while being a person who, having been given permission to land in Hong Kong, had remained in Hong Kong in breach of her limit of stay imposed in relation to the permission, and breached her condition of stay. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. Meanwhile, she was also charged with one count of overstaying in Hong Kong. She was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, with parts of the sentences to run consecutively, making a total of 20 months' imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment."
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The brand new Electoral Information Centre (EIC) of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (October 24) officially came into operation at the new site located at the Treasury Building, Cheung Sha Wan, and the Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice David Lok, hosted the first guided tour and jointly participated in various activities with a group of senior primary students visiting the new EIC.
 
     Mr Justice Lok said the brand new EIC is equipped with different display modes and rich contents to introduce Hong Kong's electoral affairs, providing the public with one-stop updated information and experience related to electoral affairs. The new EIC further introduces interactive elements of information technology to enhance visitors' understanding of the functions of the EAC, voter registration, public elections, election preparation, polling and counting processes, and clean elections in an innovative, fun-filled and educational manner.
 
     Mr Justice Lok said, "I hope that through the new EIC, visitors will realise and understand that election is a very large-scale project. In organising each public election, the REO has to deploy a large amount of manpower and resources, and a series of work arrangements and processes are involved, which are multifarious, intertwined and indispensable, so as to ensure that the election is conducted in an open, honest and fair manner."
 
     During the talk on electoral information held today, Mr Justice Lok introduced Hong Kong's electoral systems to some 25 senior primary students and explained the functions of the EAC and the work of the REO through interactive quizzes and group games.
 
     The new EIC is equipped with the Electronic Poll Register (EPR) system, which has been in use since the recent public elections. After collecting the ballot paper at the ballot paper issuing desk, the students cast a vote by stamping on the ballot paper in the voting compartments to experience the mock voting process first-hand. Mr Justice Lok helped the participants understand the EPR system and explained the points-to-note when counting the ballots as well as how to distinguish questionable ballots during the mock ballot issuance and counting activities.
 
     In addition, the visiting students tried out four newly-designed interactive games. Apart from "Say 'No' to Corrupted Flies" which promotes clean elections and "Electors' Intersection" which promotes voter registration, they also participated in the "Constructing an Election" where they tried to construct an election at different stages, and the motion sensing game "One-day Counting Assistant" where they learnt about different kinds of questionable ballot papers and the details to be noted when counting votes.
 
     The EIC also provides interactive information kiosks and electronic panels for visitors to browse information related to election activities, such as the boundary maps of geographical constituencies and pictures of past elections. The Exhibition Corner and Souvenir Gallery display the ballot boxes used in elections and souvenirs distributed in the past.
 
     To tie in with the opening of the new EIC, the Ballot Box Family mascots, based on the design of ballot boxes, namely Blue Ballot, Red Ballot and Grandpa Ballot, greet the public with a new look. The REO has also created a series of their WhatsApp stickers and souvenirs. Visitors will have the opportunity to receive a complimentary souvenir of the Ballot Box Family, take photos with the mascots at the photo area and try their hand at the claw game machine to take the Ballot Box Family home with them. Mr Justice Lok hopes that the lively and adorable Ballot Box Family will enhance the public recognition of the REO and raise public awareness of electoral work.
 
     The new EIC is located on 7/F of the Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, and is open from 8.45am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and on Saturday by appointment only. Members of the public are welcome to visit the centre. Interested organisations may also book guided tours at the centre. For appointment or enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001 or email at eic@reo.gov.hk.
 
     For more information about the EIC, please visit the website (www.reo.gov.hk/en/service-desk/ecenter.html).

                                

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the celebration of Hong Kong's achievement in the World's 50 Best Hotels 2023 List today (October 24):
 
Sonia (Chief Executive Officer of Rosewood Hotel Group, Ms Sonia Cheng), Tim (Chief Executive of Swire Properties, Mr Tim Blackburn), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
       
     Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you all tonight celebrating the achievements of our city's outstanding hotels. May I first extend my heartfelt congratulations to Rosewood Hong Kong and The Upper House for making the top five of the inaugural World's 50 Best Hotels in 2023.
      
     Having two hotels from Hong Kong not just on the list but top on the list speaks volumes of the professionalism of our hospitality industry. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the entire hotel industry. It is all your dedicated efforts which make our hotel industry strong, and your passion and commitment which contribute to Hong Kong's success.  
      
     Following the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the rest of the world earlier this year, the industry has been heading towards recovery at full speed. The arrival of visitors have increased from the first quarter of 4.4 million to 8.5 million and 10.4 million in the second and third quarters respectively. During the recent National Day Golden Week, we received about 1.1 million Mainland visitors. The daily average was around 140 000, returning to about 70 per cent of the pre-pandemic level. On National Day alone, Hong Kong received about 180 000 Mainland visitors, the highest daily figure of the year.
      
     To keep this momentum going, the Government, together with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and also our partners in the tourism trade, is going to strengthen our promotional work. After the launch of "Hallo" Hong Kong Halloween last week and Hong Kong Cyclothon last Sunday, we will have the return of a full-scale Wine and Dine Festival later this week from Thursday to Sunday (October 26 – 29), and then a month-long Taste Around Town involving over 300 restaurants and bars. The Hong Kong WinterFest and New Year Countdown Celebrations will then take place at the end of the year to enhance the festive atmosphere.  
      
     Zooming into culture side, under this hall, we are running a special exhibition highlighting new discoveries at Sanxingdui in Sichuan Province. Next month, we will have the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival again but in an expanded scale. What's more, Art Basel Hong Kong, the largest international art fair in Hong Kong, will return in March next year. 
      
     As you can see, many colourful events will be in town at different times of the year. Please do share these exciting happenings with your families and friends from near and far and invite them to come to Hong Kong to celebrate the festivities and experience our unique metropolitan glamour.
      
     Ladies and Gentleman, hospitality is the key to making our tourism industry thrive, and we need all parties to play a part. In equal weight, the well-being of the hotel industry must be built on an effective governance system of the city.
      
     The seventh District Council Ordinary Election will be held on December 10 while the nomination period would end by the 30th this month. I appeal to all competent patriots to seize the chance and come forward to join the DC Election and all voters to cast their vote on December 10.
      
     Last but not least, once again congratulations to Rosewood Hong Kong and The Upper House. Thank you and have a great evening.