The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: ​The spokesperson for TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) made the following announcement today (March 8): Two male patients… read more
With the continuing of the territory-wide large-scale anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation “Tempest”, mounted mid-February, Hong Kong Customs on March 5 and yesterday (March 7) detected a cigarette smuggling case and a case involving two suspected cigarette storage centres in Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan respectively. A total of about 11.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $50 million and a duty potential of about $37 million, were seized.
In the first case, Customs detected an illicit cigarette smuggling case inside a metal hut in Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long, on March 5. About 11.07 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized inside a 40-foot container and two trucks, and a 40-year-old man who claimed to be transportation worker and is suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.
In the second instance, Customs officers uncovered a case using shopping mall stores as illicit cigarette storage centres in Tsuen Wan last night. A total of about 500 000 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized from two stores, and a 64-year-old man who claimed to be unemployed and is suspected to be connected with the case was arrested. An initial investigation revealed that the illicit cigarette storage centres were mainly used to supply illicit cigarettes to the Tsuen Wan area. Also, Customs believes that criminals use shopping mall stores located on floors with high vacancy rates as illicit cigarette storage and distribution centres to facilitate storage and handling of illicit cigarettes, and to increase the difficulties of Customs in detecting illicit cigarettes activities.
The arrested person in the first case has been released on bail pending further investigation, while the man in the second case has been charged with “dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies” and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on April 8.
Customs will continue to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts, including cross-boundary smuggling, storage and distribution as well as peddling, through a multipronged enforcement approach.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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/).
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the 1st OSH (occupational safety and health) Innovation and Technology (I&T) Award Presentation Ceremony organised by the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) this afternoon (March 8):
Cindy (Chair of OSH Innovation and Information Technology Committee of OSHC, Mrs Cindy Chow), David (Chairman of the OSHC, Dr David Mong), May (Commissioner for Labour, Ms May Chan), friends and distinguished guests, both locally and from all over the world,
I am really thrilled to be back to this venue. You have been very kind to give me a round-trip ticket – I was here for the opening ceremony yesterday, and I also had the privilege of having a quick tour around this hall and try some of the new gadgets and innovations in improving occupational safety. I am really impressed.
I am back here for the closing ceremony and I know I got a very important job to take – to give you a few remarks about the first ever OSH I&T Award. I am sure this is the child of the OSHC. This award ceremony cannot be held successfully without the support of the Labour Department (LD), Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Cyperport, I&T organisations and trade associations. Thank you so much for your assistance and help to make this possible.
I am very glad to see a lot of young faces here. For this very first I&T award, we have received nearly 130 entries, including 78 under the Secondary School Category, which is very important. We see a bright future from the enthusiastic participation from secondary school students. Around 50 entries are from the Open Category, which are more sophisticated and equally creative. This competition signifies Hong Kong’s drive and determination in promoting the use of I&T to raise the OSH standard in Hong Kong, as we can see from the amazing winning projects from the public and secondary school students exhibited here today. I think many of you have visited the booths and tried out their inventions.
As Cindy said, their look might be rudimentary; what’s more important is the idea and the thinking behind. With a little bit help from the professionals, I am sure some of the products might eventually become products that can be commercialised and make some money. I really look forward to it one day.
As we all know, technology – in particular modern technology – can save you money and time. When it comes to OSH, it can also save your life, which is really important. Very sadly, recently there have been a couple of accidents happening inside confined spaces. We truly believe by making use of modern technology, there are various practical ways for us to improve the safety environment in confined spaces.
One example is the use of Light Detection and Ranging system and sensors to allow the operation of the cage drone in enclosed and GPS-denied areas, such as boilers, to carry out safety inspections as well as maintenance. The use of such technology will allow us to inspect confined spaces in a safer, more controllable and comprehensive manner. Apart from saving lives, it will also save us the time and cost of erecting scaffolding, which is a win-win solution. I encourage all of you to consider it. Moreover, the video recording by a cage drone helps workers analyse the condition and defects of facilities in fine detail so that maintenance can be carried out at the right moment to prevent deterioration of equipment.
To go alongside the advancement in technology, the LD is updating the Code of Practice – Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP). We will be issuing the revised CoP very soon – in the coming couple of weeks. The revised CoP will put in place some new requirements for works in confined spaces, such as installing cameras at the entrances and exits of confined spaces during works to improve monitoring and supervision. By using cameras and making it known to everybody that the camera is on, we believe this will enhance worker’s compliance with safety measures. We hope by publishing the revised CoP, we are going to see a significant improvement in the safety operation for those working in confined spaces.
The Government is well aware of the advantages of applying technology in works projects to enhance site safety. Since last year, the Development Bureau has introduced the new requirement of using the Smart Site Safety System (SSSS) in public works with a contract sum exceeding $30 million. In addition, a fund has been set up in the Construction Industry Council to encourage private sectors to use the SSSS at their worksites. The SSSS is featured with a centralised management platform which provides a one-stop hub for alerts generation. It can be used to provide timely alerts to site management staff if abnormalities are detected, for example an exceptional long stay of a staff member in a confined space, unauthorised entry into dangerous areas, or improper movement of construction equipment.
Ladies and gentlemen, in this century of I&T, it is ever more important for us to harness and be creative in the use of technology. I am sure the increased application of I&T in OSH will save lives and reduce injuries, which in turn will enhance the well-being of workers and our citizens. I am fully grateful to the work of the OSHC, my dear colleagues at the LD and co-organisers for your unfailing efforts on this front. Last but not least, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners today. I hope you could convert your innovative ideas into daily use, to enhance the occupational safety and health in Hong Kong.
Thank you very much. read more
Four Mainland fisherman deckhands engaged in fishing using snake cages (a type of cage trap banned in Hong Kong waters) earlier in waters off the River Trade Terminal in western Hong Kong, and a local coxswain on board were charged for breaching the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) and convicted today (March 8).
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) noted that AFCD officers intercepted a local fishing vessel at around 4pm on March 2, 2023, for inspection. The vessel was suspected to be engaged in fishing using snake cages in the abovementioned waters. Some fishing gear (including snake cages and winches) on board was seized. Charges were laid against the five men involved.
The five men, who were charged for breaching the Ordinance, were convicted at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today and were fined $5,000 each. The fishing gear was confiscated.
The spokesman said, “The Government is committed to combating illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will continue to step up patrols and take stringent enforcement action.”
Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Local Fishing Vessel Registration can be employed for fishing by the vessel. The conditions of Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel regarding cage traps stipulate that any collapsible cage traps should not be connected in any way to another; or should not exceed five metres in any of its extended dimensions. Hence, fishing using snake cages is in breach of the registration conditions. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.
Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) will host regular themed seminars from today (March 8) to support talent who have arrived in the city to adapt and settle in smoothly.
The first themed seminar was held in HKTE, 12/F, Revenue Tower, Wan Chai, this afternoon. Speakers from a recruitment agency and an online job platform outlined the trends of the local employment market and demands for outside talent, and shared with incoming talent on job searching tips in Hong Kong.
The recent questionnaire survey on talent admitted via the Top Talent Pass Scheme conducted by the Labour and Welfare Bureau revealed that incoming talent looked for support in areas including job search, accommodation, children’s education, starting a business as well as local living and culture. HKTE is committed to providing support services to incoming talent and will host regular themed seminars covering employment, education, settlement, entrepreneurship to help talent arrived integrate into the community.
The Director of HKTE, Mr Anthony Lau, said, “To further strengthen the support for the development and needs of incoming talent, we will provide one-stop assistance and is expanding our network of collaborative partners. We will work closely with service providers catering for daily needs to hold themed events and diverse activities, so as to give full play to HKTE’s mission and to show our talent that Hong Kong is a quality and liveable city and attract them to make the move to Hong Kong and settle here.”
Talent who have arrived in Hong Kong may obtain event details from the HKTE WeChat and LinkedIn or by contacting HKTE via email (hkte@hkengage.gov.hk).
