A property owner was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and fined over $31,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on November 15 for persistently failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The case involved unauthorised building works (UBWs) at a unit of a three-storey building on Yu Chui Street, Tai Lam, Tuen Mun, which included the removal of a slope, the erection of walls and a staircase, the removal of a protective barrier and the construction of unauthorised structures at the garden on the first floor of the building, with a total area of about 70 square metres. As the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.

     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD in 2022 and was fined $10,000 upon conviction by the court. Although the owner subsequently removed the unauthorised structures at the garden on the first floor of the building, the owner failed to fully comply with the requirements of the removal order, including the failure to reinstate the slope and protective barrier in accordance with the approved plans and remove the remaining UBWs. The BD then instigated prosecution again in 2023; and the owner was convicted and fined more than $10,600 by the court. As the owner persisted in not fully complying with the removal order, the BD instigated the third prosecution. The owner was convicted again and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and fined a total of $31,020 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on November 15.

     A spokesman for the BD today (December 2) said, "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. The owners concerned must comply with the removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions and consider instigating prosecution against the owners again if they persist in not complying with the orders, to ensure building safety."

     Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

     The Government launched a public consultation today (December 2) on the proposed updates to Schedules 1 and 2 to the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424) to implement up-to-date safety standards promulgated by the relevant standardisation bodies for toys and children's products listed in Schedule 2 (Schedule 2 products).
 
     The Ordinance stipulates that a person must not manufacture, import or supply a toy or a Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the safety standards (international standards or standards adopted by major economies) specified in Schedule 1 (applicable to toys) or Schedule 2 (applicable to Schedule 2 products) to the Ordinance. The Government keeps in view any updates or amendments to the safety standards so as to apply up-to-date and operative versions of the standards to toys and Schedule 2 products supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     As the safety standards specified for toys and for seven classes of Schedule 2 products, namely (i) babies' dummies; (ii) baby walking frames; (iii) bottle teats; (iv) bunk beds for domestic use; (v) carry cots and similar handled products and stands; (vi) children's paints; and (vii) wheeled child conveyances have been updated, the Government proposes to adopt the up-to-date versions of those safety standards under the Ordinance. Details of the proposals are available on the website of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at www.cedb.gov.hk.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to send their views on the proposals in writing to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, or by fax to 2869 4420, or by email to tcpso_standards_updates@cedb.gov.hk, on or before January 2, 2025.

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (December 2) that the latest Christmas mail posting date for local delivery before Christmas Day is December 20 (Friday). Mail posted after this date might run the risk of not being delivered in time because of the anticipated seasonal work pressure. Members of the public are advised to post mail as early as possible in order to avoid a last-minute rush.
      
     To ensure that greetings sent by air mail are delivered before Christmas, members of the public are reminded to post their mail on or before the latest dates of posting. A complete list of the latest dates of posting for this year's Christmas mail by air is displayed at all post offices. Customers may also find the information on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk or contact the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

     â€‹The Rural By-election was held today (December 1). Results for the Indigenous Inhabitant Representative By-election and the Resident Representative By-election are as follows:

Indigenous Inhabitant Representative By-election results:
 

 
Resident Representative By-election results:
 

     The Sai Kung District Office (SKDO) received a report of theft of electronic devices from a Sub-district Care Team yesterday (November 30).

     The operating organisation of the Sai Kung Hang Hau East Sub-district Care Team (i.e. the Hang Hau District Festival and Special Event Preparatory Committee) reported to the SKDO yesterday that there was a theft of a laptop and a mobile phone from a locked room by breaking the door lock of their office located at the address of Hang Hau Rural Committee (1 Hang Hau Road, New Territories). The equipment contain personal data of the service recipients of that Sub-district Care Team. It is estimated that the data involves names and phone numbers of a few hundred persons, some with addresses and identity card numbers. The operating organisation confirmed that they have been complying with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486), and have properly handled and kept confidential the relevant personal data in accordance with the Care Team's principle of use of data and confidentiality. Both electronic devices and files containing personal data are protected by high-strength passwords. Under these security measures, the risk of data leakage should be relatively low.

     The Police have classified the incident as a burglary case, and the operating organisation has reported the incident to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. The Hang Hau Rural Committee and the operating organisation are reviewing, and will further strengthen, their security measures. They are also reminding residents and service recipients to be vigilant. If anyone suspects a person impersonating a member of the Sai Kung Hang Hau East Sub-district Care Team, residents can contact the Care Team or the SKDO to verify their identity.

     The SKDO sincerely apologises to the persons affected for any inconvenience caused, and has set up a hotline (6278 0536) for enquiries. The SKDO has also reminded all Care Teams to stay vigilant and further strengthen security measures and stressed that they should continue to handle and keep personal data confidential according to the guidelines.