The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 8) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and perso… read more
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Windsand” for four consecutive days from March 4 to yesterday (March 7). A total of four suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided nine target locations including a factory, warehouses, restaurants and a vegetable transfer station. Four suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men, aged 28 to 37. All of them were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Two men, aged 41 and 43, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.
An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment.”
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
　　A four-day showcase event organised by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund (CMDF) of the Government commenced today (March 8) to present the fruitful achievements of the CMDF since its launch, and promote Chinese medicine (CM) knowledge and cul… read more
The Government announced today (March 8) the following senior appointments:
(a) Mr Tony Yau Kwok-ting, Director of Water Supplies, will take up the post of Director of Highways on March 22, 2024, when Mr Chan Pai-ming commences his pre-retirement leave;
(b) Mr Roger Wong Yan-lok, Principal Government Engineer, will succeed Mr Yau as Director of Water Supplies on March 22, 2024;
(c) Mr Poon Kwok-ying, Deputy Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, will take up the post of Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services on March 31, 2024, when Mr Pang Yiu-hung commences his pre-retirement leave; and
(d) Ms Carol Yuen Siu-wai, former Director of Marine, has proceeded on pre-retirement leave on March 2, 2024. Mr Wong Sai-fat, Deputy Director of Marine, is currently acting Director of Marine.
Commenting on the appointments of Mr Yau, Mr Wong and Mr Poon, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, “The three appointees have proven leadership and management skills, as well as profound professional knowledge. I am confident that they will be able to lead the respective departments to meet the challenges ahead and continue to deliver quality services to the community.”
On the retirement of Mr Chan and Mr Pang, Mrs Yeung said, “Mr Chan has served with professionalism and dedication in the civil service throughout the past 32 years. As Director of Highways, Mr Chan has overseen the completion of major highways and railway projects and steered the implementation of cross-boundary railway projects, enhancing Hong Kong’s transport infrastructure network. Mr Pang has served with professionalism and commitment in the civil service throughout the past 35 years. As Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Pang has led the department to face many challenges and to excel in providing quality electrical and mechanical engineering services to the community and ensuring that electrical, mechanical and energy technologies are harnessed in a safe, reliable, economical and environment-friendly manner. I wish them a fulfilling and happy retirement.”
On the retirement of Ms Yuen, who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave, Mrs Yeung said, “Ms Yuen has rendered over 37 years of loyal and dedicated service. During her tenure as Director of Marine, Ms Yuen led the Marine Department in the implementation of various new initiatives, and made valuable contribution to enhancing navigational safety, ensuring efficient operation of the port and promoting Hong Kong as an international maritime centre. She also played an instrumental role in the formulation of the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy. I wish her a fulfilling and happy retirement.”
Brief biographical notes of the six officers are set out below:
Mr Chan Pai-ming
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Mr Chan joined the Government as an Engineer in October 1991. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in August 2009, to Government Engineer in April 2012 and to Principal Government Engineer in May 2015. He has been the Director of Highways since December 2018.
Mr Pang Yiu-hung
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Mr Pang joined the Government as an Assistant Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in October 1988. He was promoted to Chief Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in January 2009, to Government Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in April 2015 and to Deputy Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services in September 2018. He has been the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services since November 2020.
Mr Tony Yau Kwok-ting
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Mr Yau joined the Government as an Engineer in October 1998. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in October 2017, to Government Engineer in July 2019, and to Principal Government Engineer in June 2021. He has been the Director of Water Supplies since January 2023.
Mr Roger Wong Yan-lok
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Mr Wong joined the Government as an Assistant Engineer in August 1995. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in September 2016, to Government Engineer in July 2019, and to Principal Government Engineer in June 2022.
Mr Poon Kwok-ying
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Mr Poon joined the Government as an Assistant Electronics Engineer in September 1994. He was promoted to Chief Electronics Engineer in December 2013, to Government Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in September 2018 and to Deputy Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services in August 2021.
Ms Carol Yuen Siu-wai
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Ms Yuen joined the Government in June 1986 as a Chinese Language Officer. She later joined the Administrative Service in June 1988 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2014. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the Civil Service Bureau, the Trade and Industry Department, the Security Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. She was Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) from October 2016 to July 2019, Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communication and Creative Industries) from May 2020 to January 2021, and Director of Marine from February 2021 to March 2024.
The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (March 8) announced the publication of a new draft San Tin Technopole Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) for the development of the San Tin/Lok Ma Chau area (the STLMC area) of the San Tin Technopole. The previous San Tin OZP is replaced by the new OZP. The Board also announced amendments to the approved Ngau Tam Mei OZP and the approved Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP.
The three OZPs provide the statutory planning framework for the development of the San Tin Technopole and the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (SPS WCP).
The planning scheme area of the draft San Tin Technopole OZP, covering about 1 004 hectares, which has incorporated the northern part of the approved Ngau Tam Mei OZP mainly occupied by brownfield sites, and some pieces of land previously not covered by any statutory plan, is bounded by Shenzhen River and the SPS WCP to the north, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park of the San Tin Technopole at the Loop to the north-east, Kwu Tung North New Development Area and Hadden Hill (Ki Lun Shan) to the east, Ngau Tam Mei area, San Tin Barracks and Tam Mei Barracks to the south, and Mai Po area to the west.
Land designated for specific uses, namely “Innovation and Technology” (“I&T”), “Mixed Use”, “Cultural and Community Uses with Supporting Uses and Community Uses with Supporting Uses and Facilities”, “Logistics, Storage and Workshop”, etc totalling about 313.24 hectares, are zoned “Other Specified Uses” (“OU”). Amongst which, the “OU(I&T)” zone accounts for about 210 hectares.
About 44.78 hectares are zoned “Residential (Group A)” for high-density residential developments. This zone includes sites for subsidised and private housing.
About 78.48 hectares are zoned “Village Type Development”, which is to designate existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion. A site of about 0.6 hectares to the south of San Tin Highway is designated as “Village Type Development (1)” for reprovisioning of village houses/building lots affected by Government projects.
About 56.52 hectares are zoned “Government, Institution or Community” (“G/IC”), which is primarily for the provision of government, institution and community facilities serving the needs of local residents and/or at a wider district, region or the territory.
About 55.88 hectares are zoned “Open Space” for the provision of outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents, workers as well as the general public.
About 207.29 hectares are zoned “Green Belt” (“GB”), which is primarily for defining the limits of urban and sub-urban development areas by natural features and to contain urban sprawl as well as to provide passive recreational outlets.
About 139.36 hectares are zoned “Conservation Area” (“CA”), which is intended to conserve the ecological value of wetland and fish ponds, or to protect and retain the existing natural landscape, ecological or topographical features of the area.
The amendments to the approved Ngau Tam Mei OZP mainly involve (i) excising land area for incorporation into the draft San Tin Technopole OZP No. S/STT/1 to reflect the boundary of the STLMC area of the San Tin Technopole, (ii) rezoning a site abutting San Tam Road from “Residential (Group C)” to “G/IC(1)” for development of a proposed social welfare facility, and (iii) rezoning a site to the north of the Tam Mei Barracks from “Comprehensive Development Area” to “GB” to reflect the existing site conditions.
The amendments to the approved Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP mainly involve (i) incorporating an area from the north-western part of the San Tin OZP, with the major part rezoned from “CA” and “OU” annotated “Comprehensive Development and Wetland Enhancement Area” to “OU” annotated “Wetland Conservation Park” (“OU(WCP)”) for the establishment of the SPS WCP and the remaining part retained as “CA”, and (ii) rezoning an area around Tam Kon Chau, Pak Hok Chau and Yau Mei San Tsuen from “CA”, “Recreation” and “OU” annotated “Comprehensive Development to include Wetland Restoration Area” to “OU(WCP)”. The “OU(WCP)” zone covers a total area of about 348.63 hectares.
The Notes and Explanatory Statements of the Ngau Tam Mei OZP and Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP are amended to take into account the above amendments. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zones and the planning scheme areas, where appropriate.
The new draft San Tin Technopole OZP No. S/STT/1, as well as the draft Ngau Tam Mei OZP No. S/YL-NTM/13 and the draft Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP No. S/YL-MP/7 incorporating the amendments, are available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Fanling, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long East District Planning Office, (iv) the Yuen Long District Office and (v) the San Tin Rural Committee.
Any person may make written representations in respect of the new draft San Tin Technopole OZP and the amendments to the Ngau Tam Mei OZP and the Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP to the Secretary of the Board on or before May 8. Any person who intends to make a representation is advised to read the Town Planning Board Guidelines No. 29C on “Submission and Processing of Representations and Further Representations” (TPB PG-No. 29C).
Submission of a representation should comply with the requirements set out in TPB PG-No. 29C. In particular, the representer should take note of the following:
* If the representer fails to provide his or her full name and the first four alphanumeric characters of his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport number as required under TPB PG-No. 29C, the representation submitted shall be treated as not having been made; and
* The Secretariat of the Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.
The Guidelines and the submission form are available at the above locations (i) and (ii) and the Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk).
Copies of the draft OZPs are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZPs can be viewed on the Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more