Author Archives: hksar gov

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, August 16, 2019 is 106.5 (up 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     An order to remove and dispose of human remains buried in 2012 in six public cemeteries was gazetted today (August 16).
 
     The order was made under section 119A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132), which empowers the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH) to direct the removal and disposal of human remains buried in public cemeteries for a period of not less than six years.
 
     The six cemeteries are the coffin sections of Wo Hop Shek Cemetery, Cheung Chau Cemetery, Tai O Cemetery and Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery on Lantau; the “T” Section of Sandy Ridge Cemetery; and the Government Urn Section of Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery in Lo Wu.
 
     People who wish to arrange for private exhumation and disposal of the human remains subject to removal should apply to the department’s Cemeteries and Crematoria Office on the Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, on or before August 30 this year. Enquiries can be made on 2364 5399.
 
     Any remains buried in the six cemeteries not exhumed as required will be cremated at a government crematorium. The ashes will be buried at Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery or other cemeteries as may be decided by the DFEH. read more

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (August 16) announced that in response to requests from interested tenderers, the tender period for the contract for Kai Tak Development – Stage 5B Infrastructure Works at the Former North Apron Area has been extended to noon on September 13.

     The CEDD invited tenders for the contract on June 28. The original tender period was scheduled to expire at noon on August 23.

     The extension of the tender period was gazetted today. Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD’s website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/engineering-contracts/tender-notices/index-id-46.html).

     â€‹The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. For enquiries, please call the company at 3922 9000 during office hours. read more

Attention TV/Radio Announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has annou… read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Twilight” from August 13 to 15. Six illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested.

     During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided nine target restaurants. The illegal workers comprised six men, aged 23 to 52. Among them, five men were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, three women, aged 32 to 60, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
      
     “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him 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,” an ImmD spokesman said.

      The spokesman warned that it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
          
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. 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. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.

     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 officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat 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, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more