The Labour Department (LD) reminds any person who wish to operate an employment agency (EA) to be properly licensed before operation or he/she may face prosecution.

     The above reminder follows the conviction of a company, which was fined $20,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (June 4), for operating an EA without a valid licence (in Fanling under the business name Sincere Honest Employment Centre Limited).

     In August 2018, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the LD received a complaint against the company concerned from an employer seeking to engage a foreign domestic helper. Since the investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the operator had operated an EA without a licence and that the complainant was willing to act as prosecution witness, the LD had taken out prosecution against the operator.

     According to the law, any establishment or person operating a business in Hong Kong for the purpose of obtaining employment for another person or supplying personnel to an employer is subject to the regulation of Part XII of the Employment Ordinance (EO) and the Employment Agency Regulations. Irrespective of the modus operandi or the job types involved, all EAs must obtain a licence issued by the LD before undertaking any EA activities.

     LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law as well as the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies at all times. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licences. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 enacted on February 9, 2018 has raised the penalty for the offences of unlicensed operation of EAs and overcharging job-seekers commissions to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.

     For complaints about unlicensed operation or overcharging of commissions by EAs, please call EAA of the LD at 2115 3667 or visit its office on Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, and the Law Officer (International Law) of the Department of Justice, Mr Paul Tsang, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Security meeting today (June 4):

Reporter: Could you just clarify whether the Chief Executive has the power to reject the Central Government's order to extradite a particular person under Article 24 of the extradition bill related to issues such as national defense as well as diplomacy?         

Secretary for Security: If you look at the provision under Section 24 (of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance), actually there are several steps. The Central Government is on notification by the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government. After the notification, after the due process has been completed, of course, we will also have to report to the Central Government about the Chief Executive's decision to surrender a particular fugitive. After all these steps, according to Section 24, the Central Government can issue a directive to the Chief Executive if there are things that have serious impact on foreign affairs (or defence). But it will only happen on notification by, first of all, the Hong Kong SAR Government, so this is a procedure that will happen after the first step of notification. If the Hong Kong SAR Government does not notify because the Hong Kong SAR Government does not consider this is a case worth dealing with, then there is no notification given to the Central Government. So Subsection 3 of Section 24 in which the Central Government can give directive would not happen.            

Reporter: Mr Lee, in effect, can you confirm to us that with this clause, it is only giving the Central Government a veto power to an extradition case. But it does not reverse, as your colleague said trumped any decision by Hong Kong government and the Judiciary whether it is a veto power only?       
 
Secretary for Security: I think since we have explained it many times, maybe I ask our legal expert to answer your question. 
 
Law Officer (International Law): Under Section 24 (3), the CPG (Central People's Government) does have the power to give an instruction to the Chief Executive to do or not to do a surrender. That's expressly provided for in the section.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Correctional officers at Shek Pik Prison stopped a fight among persons in custody today (June 4).

     At 4.41pm today, three male persons in custody aged between 29 and 31 were found fighting inside the workshop. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the fight and called for reinforcement.

     During the incident, one of the said persons in custody sustained injury to his hand. He was required to be referred to a public hospital for further examination and treatment after receiving treatment provided by the institution Medical Officer. Another person in custody sustained injury to his head. After treatment provided by the institution Medial Officer, he did not need to be sent to public hospital. The remaining person in custody did not sustain any injury.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The three persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     Members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) held separate meetings today (June 4) with members of the Tuen Mun District Council (DC) and the North DC respectively at the LegCo Complex to discuss and exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

     During the meeting with the Tuen Mun DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on the replanning of the San Hui old area; proposal for replacing the 400kV high voltage pylons with power cable tunnels in the vicinity of Yuen Long Highway along Sun Fung Wai, Yick Yuen and Yuen Tau Shan; request for building a large car park in Tuen Mun Area 54; the commissioning dates and the relevant public transport arrangements of the Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link, the Tuen Mun Western Bypass and the West Rail South Extension; and request for following up on the proposals for improving the traffic congestion of Wong Chu Road and Tuen Mun Road and more, in view of the massive housing construction in areas including Tuen Mun Areas 16, 17 and 28.  The meeting was convened by Mr Luk Chung-hung and attended by Mr Yiu Si-wing, Mr Chan Han-pan, Mr Leung Che-cheung, Ms Alice Mak, Mr Christopher Cheung, Mr Poon Siu-ping, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Dr Junius Ho, Mr Holden Chow, Mr Lau Kwok-fan, Mr Kenneth Lau, Dr Cheng Chung-tai and Mr Kwong Chun-yu.

     As for the meeting with the North DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on request for LegCo to amend legislation on keeping the cityscape clean; request for the Government to introduce legislative amendments to streamline the procedures for resuming private land for implementation of livelihood-related projects in North District; proposal for providing a designated access road connecting the Fanling Highway to North District Hospital for use by ambulances; request for reserving land in the new development area in the North District for social welfare purposes and for reprovisioning of old school premises; and the planning of the North District.  The meeting was convened by Dr Lo Wai-kwok and attended by Mr Chan Hak-kan, Mr Ma Fung-kwok, Mr Chan Chi-chuen, Dr Fernando Cheung, Dr Elizabeth Quat, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Holden Chow, Ms Yung Hoi-yan, Mr Lau Kwok-fan and Mr Gary Fan.

            

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 4) announced that four kinds of canned coffee beans imported from the United States (US) are being recalled regardless of batches, as the coffee beans might eject from the can when opened, causing injury. The CFS urged the public not to open the affected products. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess them.
      
     Product details are as follows: 
 
(1) Product name: Hayes Valley Espresso Whole Bean Coffee
Brand: BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
Place of origin: US
Net weight: 6 ounces/170 grams per can
 
(2) Product name: Bella Donovan Whole Bean Coffee
Brand: BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
Place of origin: US
Net weight: 6 ounces/170 grams per can
 
(3) Product name: Three Africas Whole Bean Coffee
Brand: BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
Place of origin: US
Net weight: 6 ounces/170 grams per can
 
(4) Product name: Night Light Decaf Whole Bean Coffee
Brand: BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
Place of origin: US
Net weight: 6 ounces/170 grams per can 

     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted that all batches of the above-mentioned products were under recall by the manufacturer as the coffee beans might eject from the can when opened, which might cause injury. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local major importers and retailers for follow-up." 

     The spokesman said that preliminary investigation found that a local importer, City Super Limited, had imported a total of about 1 100 cans of the above four affected products into Hong Kong and some of them were distributed for sale at its chain supermarkets. The importer concerned has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected products, and initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries.
      
     The spokesman urged members of the public not to open the affected products if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately.
      
     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.