The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The spokesperson for North District Hospital (NDH) today (July 30) announced a sentinel event: A 64-year-old male patient was found lyi… read more
The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, met with the Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr Lyu Erxue, at the Central Government Offices today (July 30) to exchange views on issues including the aviation development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Mr Chan said that the Outline Development Plan for the GBA promulgated the development of a world-class airport cluster in the GBA, consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub, as well as promoting positive interaction amongst the cities in the GBA.
He pointed out that there were three aviation authorities in the GBA, and the civil aviation personnel could learn from each other their various exemplary experiences. With their concerted efforts, the standard of civil aviation industry in the GBA would be further enhanced to a world-class level. The GBA is densely populated and economically vibrant. The airports in the GBA are closely located with heavy traffic flow, and its aviation industry is growing rapidly. Hong Kong is committed to advancing the construction and implementation of the Three-Runway System at the Hong Kong International Airport. Mr Chan believed that, through close co-operation and exchange of views among stakeholders, the airports in the GBA would grow and benefit together.
Mr Lyu said there had been rapid developments in air transport in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in recent years. The three parties maintain close contact and collaboration, which contributed to building a solid foundation for the safe and smooth operation of civil aviation in the GBA. The Outline Development Plan for the GBA announced this year brought new opportunities and challenges for civil aviation. The Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao will further consolidate and deepen co-operation and develop approaches that are both practical and effective so as to enhance efficiency and create an airport economic area with international influence.
Witnessed by Mr Chan and Mr Lyu, the Director-General of the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the CAAC, Mr Che Jinjun; the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong, Mr Simon Li; and the President of the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao, Mr Chan Weng-hong, signed the Agreement on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Airspace Collaborative Development. Through friendly dialogues and collaboration, in accordance with the Basic Law and respective law and regulations of parties concerned, the three parties agreed to promote technical exchange among aviation industry in the GBA; collaborate in personnel training and training accreditation; as well as continue with the introduction of new technologies, air traffic management data platforms and personnel interaction at different levels. Mr Chan thanked the support of CAAC on the civil aviation development in Hong Kong, and was pleased to note that the Pearl River Delta Region Air Traffic Management Planning and Implementation Tripartite Working Group will continue to take forward air traffic management enhancement measures to progressively achieve the ultimate target runway capacity of 102 air traffic movements per hour under the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport and support the sustainable development of other airports in the region.
The three parties will sign the Co-operative Arrangement on Enhancing Aviation Security on August 1 in Macao to promote sharing of information and technical exchange so as to enhance aviation security.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, hosted a lunch for representatives of international and local chambers of commerce at Government House at noon today (July 30) to exchange views with them on Hong Kong’s challenges and opportunities with a view to formulating policy measures that would better meet the needs of the community in the upcoming Policy Address.
Mrs Lam said that due to the China-US trade friction and uncertainties in the external environment, Hong Kong’s economic momentum has weakened in recent months, with only a modest growth of 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year and no room for optimism for the second quarter and the entire year. She said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been closely monitoring the global and local economic situations and maintaining close contact with the business sector, including numerous local small and medium enterprises, to understand their needs. She added that the HKSAR Government will introduce measures in a timely manner to help companies cope with the economic downside risks.
Mrs Lam also said that the disputes in society in recent months are not conducive to Hong Kong’s continued development and that she would spare no efforts to deal with them. Emphasising that the rule of law is the cornerstone of the city’s success and violence is not a solution to any problem, she expressed the hope that various sectors would jointly uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong. She pointed out that everyone should continue to have confidence in the city and she firmly believes that with the concerted efforts of various sectors, Hong Kong would find opportunities amid difficulties.
Over the years, the Chief Executive would be invited by chambers of commerce to attend the Joint Business Community Luncheon after delivering the Policy Address to introduce the new initiatives and answer questions. To express her gratitude to the business sector for their long-standing support, and to listen to their views on the forthcoming Policy Address, she hosted a lunch for the chamber representatives for the first time at Government House this year. More than 40 leaders or senior representatives of major chambers of commerce attended.
​The first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting was held in Hong Kong yesterday (July 29) and today (July 30). The meeting was hosted by the Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence and Investigation) of Hong Kong Customs, Ms Ida Ng. The Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, Ms Liu Hong, and the Assistant Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Ms Chau Kin-oi, led a delegation respectively to attend the meeting.
During the meeting, the three customs administrations exchanged views and shared their experiences on the enforcement and strategy for protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and had an in-depth discussion on co-operation for IPR enforcement. They agreed to enhance collaboration for cross-boundary intellectual property cases based on the existing co-operation practices between Guangdong and Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao as well as Hong Kong and Macao so as to make enforcement against IPR infringement more efficient in the three places.
In addition, the delegations visited a logistic centre of an express company in Tsing Yi to learn about the regulatory and enforcement work carried out by Hong Kong Customs over express parcels as well as the close partnership between Hong Kong Customs and the logistic industry.
Hong Kong Customs has made, and will continue to make, every effort to protect the interests of IPR owners and combat infringing activities.
Win Sense (China) Limited operating a recycling site in Lin Ma Hang, North District and a person-in-charge of a recycling site in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long were convicted and fined a total of $21,500 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (July 30) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation as a result of illegally storing chemical waste at their recycling sites.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has all along been striving to combat the illegal collection, storage and handling of regulated chemical waste at open recycling sites in the New Territories, and taking stringent law enforcement actions against non-compliant operations of recycling sites. During blitz operations at the end of last year and January this year, the EPD discovered that waste lead-acid batteries (LABs) and waste LCD monitors, which were classified as chemical waste, were illegally stored at the open recycling sites in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long and Lin Ma Hang, North District. Some of the chemical waste was stored outdoors without order. A number of waste LABs and around 900 waste LCD monitors with an estimated export market value of $140,000 were seized in the blitz operations. The EPD initiated prosecutions against the operating company and the person-in-charge of the recycling sites involved under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation after gathering evidence. Lately, EPD enforcement officers inspected the above-mentioned recycling sites and noticed that chemical waste was properly stored there. The EPD believes that a series of law enforcement actions taken by the department has strengthened the deterrent effect.
The spokesman stressed that waste LCD monitors and waste LABs are hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste. Chemical waste is hazardous by nature and, if not properly handled and transported, will pollute the environment as well as pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. Offenders contravening the above regulation may be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment on first conviction, and a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment on a second or subsequent conviction.
For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD’s website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html. read more