The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Members met with the Kwun Tong District Council (DC) and Wai Chai DC members at the LegCo Complex today (November 29). They discussed in-depth and exchanged views on issues related to community development and people's concern.
      
     During the meeting with the Kwun Tong DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on various issues, including tackling the environmental pollution problem caused by the concrete plants in Yau Tong; expediting the development of the Smart and Green Mass Transit System project in East Kowloon to facilitate residents' access to the Choi Hung and Yau Tong MTR stations; as well as the progress of the expansion of United Christian Hospital and related ancillary transport facilities.
      
     The meeting was convened by Dr Tik Chi-yuen. A total of 23 Members attended the meeting including Dr Starry Lee, Mr Paul Tse, Mr Steven Ho, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Ms Yung Hoi-yan, Mr Chan Chun-ying, Mr Chau Siu-chung, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Dr Wendy Hong, Mr Dennis Leung, Ms Chan Yuet-ming, Mr Rock Chen, Mr Chan Pui-leung, Mr Chan Siu-hung, Ms Chan Hoi-yan, Mr Benson Luk, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon, Mr Tang Fei, Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, Dr Ngan Man-yu and Mr So Cheung-wing.
      
     As for the meeting with the Wai Chai DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on various issues, including the future development of Wan Chai harbourfront, continuing to optimise facilities to make good use of harbourfront resources; expediting the completion of the elevator system project connecting Lau Sin Street and Tin Hau Temple Road to facilitate public travel; as well as the way to alleviate the traffic congestion in the Caroline Hill Road area caused by the construction of the new District Court Building and illegal parking.
      
     The meeting was convened by Mr Kwok Wai-keung. A total of 20 Members attended the meeting including Mrs Regina Ip, Mr Paul Tse, Mr Jimmy Ng, Mr Shiu Ka-fai, Ms Yung Hoi-yan, Dr Hoey Simon Lee, Mr Lee Chun-keung, Mr Stanley Ng, Dr David Lam, Mr Edward Leung, Ms Chan Yuet-ming, Mr Rock Chen, Mr Sunny Tan, Ms Lillian Kwok, Mr Benson Luk, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, Ms Carmen Kan and Dr So Cheung-wing.

            

     An interdepartmental vegetation fire and mountain rescue exercise was held this morning (November 29). Participating departments and organisations comprised the Fire Services Department (FSD); the Hong Kong Police Force; the Government Flying Service; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Auxiliary Medical Service; the Civil Aid Service; the Home Affairs Department; the Social Welfare Department; and the Hospital Authority.
      
     The exercise was conducted at the MacLehose Trail at Shing Mun Reservoir in the New Territories. The FSD deployed about 90 fire and ambulance personnel in total for the exercise, and applied various innovative technologies including the Patient Tagging System for Multiple Casualties Incidents, the Mountain Rescue Mobile App, viewshed analysis and the Mobile Phone Locator to locate persons awaiting rescue and enhance the efficiency of mountain rescue operations.
      
     The exercise aimed to enhance co-ordination, communication, command and control as well as logistical support capabilities among different departments and organisations during large-scale hill fire and mountain rescue operations. It also helped test the effectiveness and co-operation of different emergency formations during firefighting and rescue operations. Members of the District Fire Safety Committees and the District Services and Community Care Teams also attended the exercise as observers to assist in promoting hill fire prevention and safety awareness in mountaineering in the community. 

     The FSD called for public attention to the risk of possible vegetation fires, which could spread more severely and rapidly due to prevailing winds amid recent dry weather. The spokesman also urged the public not to leave any ignition sources during hiking activities and reminded them to evacuate to a safe place if they encounter a vegetation fire.

            

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (November 29) released the latest grading of water quality for 11 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming in November.
 
     Eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), and three as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

 
     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 EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast). 

     The Government announced today (November 29) the following senior appointments: 

(a) Mr Eddie Cheung Kwok-choi, Director of Broadcasting, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) on January 2, 2025. He will succeed Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day; and

(b) Ms Manda Chan Wing-man, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), will take up the post of Director of Leisure and Cultural Services on December 4, 2024. She will succeed Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong, who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave.

     Commenting on the appointment of Mr Cheung and Ms Chan, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "The appointees are seasoned Administrative Officers with proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the community with professionalism in their new capacity."

     On the retirement of the two senior officials, Mrs Yeung thanked them for each rendering over 30 years of loyal and dedicated service to the community and making significant contributions to the Government. She wished them a fulfilling and happy retirement.

     Mrs Yeung said, "During Miss Tse's tenure as Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), she capably led the Environment Protection Department and the team to formulate and implement a range of environmental policies, delivering results particularly on the improvement of air and water quality, waste reduction and management, nature conservation, tackling climate change and promoting energy efficiency/conservation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she personally steered the roll-out of a unique territory-wide sewage surveillance programme for detecting virus loads in the population, which provided important data for informing the formulation of anti-epidemic measures, thereby contributing to our ultimate success in combating the epidemic."

     Turning to Mr Liu, Mrs Yeung said, "During Mr Liu's tenure as Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, he played an instrumental role in ensuring the strategic planning, steady provision and sound management of sports and cultural venues. He also strived to provide quality leisure and cultural programmes to the public, making sterling contributions to reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an events capital and East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges." 
     
     Brief biographical notes of the four officers are set out below:

Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa
————————

     Miss Tse joined the Government in June 1987. She served in the Executive Officer and Labour Officer Grades before joining the Administrative Service in June 1988, rising to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2023. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the former Economic Services Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, the former Finance Bureau, the former Economic Development and Labour Bureau, the former Transport and Housing Bureau and the former Food and Health Bureau. She was Director of Home Affairs from April 2016 to January 2022, Permanent Secretary for the Environment (later renamed as Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment))/Director of Environmental Protection from January to December 2022, and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) since January 2023.

Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong 
——————————–

     Mr Liu joined the Administrative Service in July 1987 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2021. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Municipal Services Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office (later renamed as the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office), the Civil Service Bureau, the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the former Home Affairs Bureau, and the former Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (later renamed as the Office of the Communications Authority). He served as Deputy Secretary for the Environment from March 2014 to January 2019, Government Property Administrator from January 2019 to October 2019, and became Director of Leisure and Culture Services from October 2019.   

Mr Eddie Cheung Kwok-choi
——————————-

     Mr Cheung joined the Administrative Service in October 1993 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2024. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Financial Services Branch, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, the former Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau and the Home Affairs Department. He was Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) from January 2013 to August 2019, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union from August 2019 to October 2022, and has been serving as Director of Broadcasting since October 2022.

Ms Manda Chan Wing-man
———————————

     Ms Chan joined the Administrative Service in September 1995 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2024. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Home Affairs Department, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau, the former Trade and Industry Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Security Bureau, the Chief Executive's Office, and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. She was Commissioner for Narcotics of the Security Bureau from January 2016 to November 2019, Commissioner for Rehabilitation of the Labour and Welfare Bureau from November 2019 to October 2022, and has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) since October 2022.

        

     Thirteen landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance), pleaded guilty and were fined a total of $45,200 today (November 29) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. Since the Ordinance came into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has successfully prosecuted 465 cases involving a total of 402 SDU landlords, with fines ranging from $400 to $34,800, amounting to a total of $1,015,810.

     The offences of these landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (i.e. requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed 12 offences under (1) and was fined $9,600.

     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlords.

     A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant's household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD's request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance.

     To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to facilitate SDU tenants' reporting to the RVD.

     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. Since the first batch of regulated tenancies has already approached their second-term tenancies, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work in order to assist SDU landlords and tenants to understand the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy. In addition, the RVD has started issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to remind them about their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions. SDU landlords and tenants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.

     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD's webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.