Tag Archives: China

     The Women Empowerment Fund joins forces with women’s groups and non-governmental organisations to launch projects to support local women and has, so far, sponsored 145 projects of diverse natures and themes. Following the positive response to the fund’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Exchange Programme, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau announced it would be regularised in 2024-25.
      
     News.gov.hk spoke to Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ms Joyce Chan, about the objectives of the fund and its effectiveness, while some women shared how they have benefitted from taking part in workshops.
      
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (June 9) in text and video format. read more

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:      Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to … read more

     As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (June 9) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the “Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and ‘Extreme Conditions'” and the “Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather” issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297. read more

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 9) will be cancelled.      If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and … read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving two incoming passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 2.2 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2 million on June 6.

     A 34-year-old male passenger and 38-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on June 6. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found them to be suspicious, and suspected that they had dangerous drugs concealed inside their body cavities. They were then escorted to hospital for examination.

     While waiting for examination in the hospital, the man discharged pellets of suspected cocaine in the washroom. He was arrested immediately. Upon examination, the woman was confirmed by a doctor not to have foreign objects concealed inside her body cavity. Suspecting that she was in connection with the case, she was arrested accordingly. As at 3pm today (June 8), the arrested man has excreted 201 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 2.2kg in total.

     Upon investigation, the arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on June 10.

     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).