The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (May 31). The value of total retail sales in April 2019, provisionally estimated at $37.7 billion, decreased by… read more
The Government announced today (May 31) its financial results for April 2019, the first month of the current financial year. Expenditure for the first month amounted to HK$41.9 billion and reve… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
　　The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 31) published the biannual issue of the Medication Safety Bulletin (MSB). This issue reported on the Annual Medication Safety Forum, which was held in December 2018. The Forum is one of the HA’s key initiatives to promote risk management among healthcare professionals in public hospitals.
　　The latest issue also reminded colleagues of the medication alert regarding SGLT-2 Inhibitors, shared details of cases on oral anti-coagulants, and featured how New Territories West Cluster discussed and learned from its near-miss incidents.
　　The publication has already been posted on the Internet for the attention of healthcare professionals. Members of the public are also welcome to read it via the following link www.ha.org.hk/msb. The MSB is published every six months, on the last Fridays of May and November. The next issue will be published on November 29. read more
Five red tides have been sighted, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 31).
Three red tides were spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) at Golden Beach, Castle Peak Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun on May 30. Red flags were hoisted at the Beaches immediately.
In addition, staff of the LCSD spotted two red tides at Cafeteria New Beach and Kadoorie Beach in Tuen Mun on May 31. Red flags were hoisted at the beaches immediately.
All five red tides still persist but no associated death of fish has been reported so far.
A spokesman for the working group said, “All five red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to overseas studies, Phaeocystis globosa can produce foam that may cause harmful effects to fish.”
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Ma Wan fish culture zone to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Twilight” from May 27 to 30. A total of 15 illegal workers and seven suspected employers were arrested.
During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 26 target locations including commercial buildings, a constructional site, industrial buildings, a massage parlour, offices, restaurants, a shopping mall, warehouses and a wet market. Fifteen illegal workers and seven employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised eight men and seven women, aged 23 to 58. Among them, four men and a woman were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, three men and four women, aged 30 to 65, 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, 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. 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 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