Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a work accident that happened at a slope in Kowloon Tong this morning (March 23), in which a male worker fell to his death from the slope while conducting slope maintenance work. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victim’s family.
 
     The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending making access to/egress from and maintaining the slope. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken.”
 
     The spokesman added, “We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
 
     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, providing a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
 
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
 
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and properly use provided personal protective equipment to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at noon today (March 23), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 213 patients (108 male and 105 female, aged 10 months … read more

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 16.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine from a transshipment container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound with an estimated market value of about $17.7 million on March 13.

     By means of risk assessment and intelligence sharing with World Customs Organization, Customs officers selected a transshipment seaborne container, declared as containing frozen poultry products, from Brazil heading for Japan via Hong Kong for inspection.

     Upon inspection, Customs officers found that some screws of the access panel of the evaporator fan, which was part of the container’s refrigeration unit, were not installed. After opening the panel, the batch of suspected cocaine was found at the top portion of the fan.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Risk assessment has all along been an effective strategy adopted by Customs to intercept the import and transit movements of dangerous drugs in various channels. The department will continue to step up anti-narcotic efforts by risk assessment and intelligence analysis with international co-operation.

     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).

    

     The Government and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) jointly announced today (March 23) a $1 billion package of relief measures for the aviation industry in view of the sustained challenges the industry has to face due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
 
     To provide timely and direct support to companies across different sectors at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the Government together with the AA put together a $1 billion package comprising a government waiver of $670 million for Air Traffic Control Charges in 2019/20 for the AA, which will be passed on in full to the airport community, and $330 million in contributions from the AA.
 
     The relief package is expected to benefit over 400 companies, including airlines, aviation support and associated passenger services, airport retail tenants and restaurants, and airport staff. The major portion of the support will be allocated to direct support measures for the aviation industry. Further rental concessions will also be provided to retail and restaurant tenants at HKIA. To demonstrate care for the airport staff, a training incentive will be provided to front-line airport staff who take on training while they are on unpaid leave. 
 
     A Government spokesman said, “The aviation industry is an important driver for Hong Kong’s economy. We are determined to maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international aviation hub, and even more so in challenging times. With the package of relief measures jointly rolled out by the Government and the AA, we stand with the airport community to weather the storm together.”
 
     The $1 billion relief package for the aviation industry is provided in addition to the two rounds of relief measures announced in September 2019 and February 2020 respectively, amounting to about $1.6 billion. read more

     Police today (March 23) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwun Tong.      Wong Ching-tong, aged 58, went missing after he was last seen on Lei Yue Mun Road on M… read more