Tag Archives: China

     Two property owners were convicted and fined over $130,000 in total at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts this month for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The first case involved the alteration of a unit into mini-storage and erection of an unauthorised structure with an area of about 76 square metres on the flat roof of an industrial building on Wo Liu Hang Road, Fo Tan, Sha Tin. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without the prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), and they obstructed the means of escape as well as affecting the fire resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, 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 and was fined $53,620 upon conviction at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on March 6.

     The second case involved the alteration of a unit in an industrial building on Au Pui Wan Street, Sha Tin. As the alteration works obstructed the means of escape and affected the fire resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, 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 2020 and was fined $8,300 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the BD instigated prosecution again. The owner’s representative explained to the court that part of the unauthorised building works (UBWs) had been removed and the remaining UBWs would be removed as soon as possible. The owner was eventually fined $79,200 upon conviction at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on March 13.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (March 28), “UBWs and unauthorised alteration works causing obstruction to the means of escape or affecting the fire resisting construction of a building may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as 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. read more

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) today (March 28) announced that the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme will be open for application from next Monday (April 1) to provide funding subsidy for clansmen associations to organise activities promoting hometown culture.
      
     The Chief Executive announced in his 2023 Policy Address the launch of the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme for a period of three years, with a total funding of $30 million earmarked for application by clansmen associations to organise activities promoting hometown culture. The scheme aims to deepen the public’s understanding of and sense of belonging to their hometowns, thereby fostering the spirit of loving the motherland, Hong Kong and their hometowns. The HAD will earmark a dedicated funding of $10 million for each of the next three financial years for application by clansmen associations. 
      
     Any locally registered clansmen associations with good reputation and track record; which have all along been committed to promoting hometown culture and fostering exchanges between Hong Kong and hometowns in order to promote the spirit of loving the motherland, Hong Kong and hometowns; and with experience in organising relevant activities, are eligible to apply for subsidy under the scheme to organise relevant activities to promote and preserve hometown culture, unite clansmen in Hong Kong and facilitate exchanges between the two places. There is no restriction on the form of the activities. As long as the activities are non-profit-making in nature and in line with the objectives of the scheme, applicant associations can make applications under the scheme. Generally speaking, the funding ceiling for each activity is $200,000; applications exceeding the funding ceiling will be considered on a discretionary basis, taking into account the scale, creativity and content of the activities.
      
     The HAD will accept funding applications for 2024-25 from clansmen associations starting from April 1, and hold briefings on April 2 and 5 to introduce the details of the scheme to eligible applicant associations. Application for 2024-25 will be open until April 30. For enquiries, please contact the HAD by email (clansmen@had.gov.hk) read more

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries will hold “The Hong Kong Musicians Series: Music Document Highlights of Joseph Koo & James Wong” exhibition from April 1 to July 31 at the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL), showcasing precious music documents and music scores of the two masters to pay tribute to them. The exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024.
 
     Musical maestros Joseph Koo and James Wong worked in close collaboration for years and produced many breathtaking masterpieces, which have become important parts of Hong Kong’s pop culture. The exhibition will be held at the Arts Document Reading Room on 10/F of the HKCL, displaying invaluable items including the music scores of television drama theme song “Forgetting Ourselves” and the music of film “A Terra Cotta Warrior” (1990) to allow visitors to learn about their works and exemplary contributions to Hong Kong’s pop music. Admission is free. For enquiries, please call 2921 0259.
 
     There are more programmes in the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 in tribute to the two maestros, including the Chinese Orchestras’ concert “Martial Arts ‧ Heroes” of the 2024 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras series to be held on April 21; “The Godfather of Cantopop – Joseph Koo” concert by Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble to be held at Theatre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre on May 17 and 18; the “A Laugh at the World: James Wong” exhibition to be held by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum starting from late July; as well as the ART!ON POP Concert to be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall in July, with renowned music producer Carl Wong presenting classics related to Jing Yong’s works and those composed by Koo and Wong in collaboration with pop singers and live bands.
 
     The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year, the second edition features “Arts & Action” as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong’s pop culture. It encompasses both “Arts” (creative works) and “Action” (martial arts), an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong’s pop culture.
 
     The event lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities, and its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong’s vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 28) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 3 500 food samples tested were found t… read more

     The Hong Kong Space Museum will screen a new 3D dome show, “Antarctica 3D”, at its Space Theatre from April 1 (Monday), leading audiences to explore the Antarctica.
      
     Antarctica is known as the coldest, driest and windiest place on Earth. “Antarctica 3D” will take audiences into the animal world of Antarctica. It begins by diving into the vibrant undersea worlds beneath the ice and then returns to the land to visit the vast penguin colonies. Finally, audiences can see the possibly largest congregation of whales ever on screen. Whales play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. The show not only offers a visual spectacle to audiences, but also showcases the impact that overhunting of whales has had on the climate. Audiences will be able to reflect on and act urgently to protect Antarctica’s ecosystem before rising temperatures threaten its balance and lead to global consequences.
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     The 24-minute show will be screened until January 13, 2025. Screening times are 2pm and 6.30pm on weekdays and 12.30pm and 5pm on weekends and public holidays respectively. Tickets priced at $24 (front stalls) and $32 (stalls) are now available at the Hong Kong Space Museum Box Office and URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For details of the show, please visit hk.space.museum/en/web/spm/shows/3d-show/antarctica-3d.html, or call 2721 0226 for enquiries.

     The Hong Kong Space Museum, located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays).