Author Archives: hksar gov

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, June 15, 2018 is 100.2 (up 0.6 against yesterday’s index). read more

     The Chief Executive has appointed Ms Alice Law as Managing Director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) and Deputy Chairperson of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Advisory Committee for a period of three years from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021. The appointment was made under sections 6A, 6B and 6R of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).

     Ms Law was selected through an extensive search that commenced in October 2017 by a selection panel chaired by the Financial Secretary. She has been working with the MPFA since July 2012 as an Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer.

     Announcing the appointment today (June 15), the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “Ms Law has extensive regulatory and public service experience. She has played a key role in the implementation of major initiatives to reform the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System. She has also spearheaded a range of initiatives to improve the corporate governance of trustees to protect the interests of scheme members.

     “I would like to thank members of the selection panel who have contributed to the successful completion of the selection exercise,” he added.

     Members of the panel are Mr Joseph Yam, Mr Abraham Shek, Dr David Wong Yau-kar, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau.

     Mr Chan also took the opportunity to thank the outgoing Managing Director of the MPFA, Mrs Diana Chan, who has played a key role in leading and steering the MPFA in developing and improving the MPF System which includes the launch of the Default Investment Strategy, the implementation of the Employees’ Choice Arrangement and the preparation for the development of eMPF. He wishes her well in her retirement.


Profile of Ms Alice Law
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     Aged 53. Ms Law graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1987, and obtained her Master of Laws degree from the University College London in 1989. After practising as a solicitor between 1991 and 1998, she served in the Securities and Futures Commission from 1998 to 2012, with her last position as Senior Director (Policy, China & Investment Products). She joined the MPFA in 2012 as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, and will assume the position of Managing Director of the MPFA on July 1, 2018. read more

     To promote reading in the community, the Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch a three-month trial scheme from July 1 to October 1, extending the opening hours of the following four designated public libraries on Sundays and public holidays. Details are as follows:
 

	Original opening hours	Opening hours during the trial period
Hong Kong Central Library
Sundays	10am to 9pm	10am to 9pm (remains unchanged)
Public holidays	10am to 7pm	10am to 8pm
Hong Kong Island – Smithfield Public Library (small library)
Sundays	10am to 5pm	10am to 8pm
Public holidays	10am to 1pm
Kowloon – Lai Chi Kok Public Library including Students’ Study Room (district library)
Sundays and public holidays	9am to 5pm	9am to 8pm
New Territories – Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library including Students’ Study Room (major library)
Sundays and public holidays	9am to 5pm	9am to 8pm

 
     “After considering factors such as the library usage statistics, the public demand for services and the availability of supporting facilities, the above-mentioned four public libraries of different regions and types are selected for the trial scheme,” an LCSD spokesperson said.
 
     “Upon completion of the trial scheme, the LCSD will conduct a review to assess the cost-effectiveness, feasibility, operational arrangements, long-term manpower and financial implications of the new service hours,” the spokesman added.
 
     For details, please refer to the attachment or visit www.hkpl.gov.hk. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 15) reminded members of the public that to facilitate road repair work at the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel, the following temporary traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented at the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel from 10pm on June 23 (Saturday) to 6am on June 24 (Sunday):
 
(i) The slow lane of the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel (Kowloon bound) from its toll plaza to its Kowloon exit, and the slip road leading from the Kowloon exit to Hammer Hill Road and Lung Cheung Road, will be closed to all vehicular traffic;
 
(ii) Vehicles from the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel Kowloon bound exit heading for Hammer Hill Road and Lung Cheung Road eastbound will be temporarily diverted; and
 
(iii) KMB routes No. 74D, 74X, 75X, 80X, 82X, 83X, 84M, 85M, 88, 89C, 89D, 89X, 277X and 286M heading for Kowloon will be diverted from 9.30pm on June 23 to 6am on June 24. The bus stop on Choi Hung Road westbound near Sze Mei Street serving KMB routes No. 82X and 85M will be temporarily relocated.
 
     Due to the lane closure, the TD anticipates that the traffic at the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel will be relatively busy during the above period. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience when passing through the road sections concerned and consider using alternative routes. Appropriate traffic signs will be erected on-site to guide motorists.
 
     Members of the public are advised to use railway services or bus services via the Lion Rock Tunnel or the Tsing Sha Highway to Kowloon. They are also advised to plan their journey in advance and allow more travelling time to avoid unexpected delay.
 
     The TD and the tunnel operator will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate traffic and transport measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television.   
 
     Details of the temporary traffic and transport arrangements are now available on the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk). read more

     Three illegal workers comprising a Nigerien, a Pakistani and a Vietnamese, were jailed at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (June 14).
 
     During operation “Twilight” conducted on May 7 and 8, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided stalls in Mong Kok and a restaurant in Tseung Kwan o respectively. A male Nigerien illegal worker, a male Pakistani illegal worker and a male Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 30 to 37, were arrested. When intercepted they were setting up stalls and performing kitchen work. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants. Meanwhile, an employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
 
     The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. After the trial, they were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 15 months to 16 months.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are 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 Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
 
     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 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 interference, 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