Author Archives: hksar gov

     A Bangladeshi worker holding a recognisance form was jailed at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (May 6).
      
     Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate an illegal employment case in March. Enforcement officers arrested a male Bangladeshi worker, aged 37, who was found washing dishes at a reastaurant in Yuen Long. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
 
     The illegal worker was 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. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
      
     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

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, at the Launch Ceremony of Hong Kong Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project Phase 2 today (May 7):
 
Dr Eric Li (Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club), Professor William Hayward (Dean of Social Sciences, the University of Hong Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning everyone. May I begin by saying how pleased I am to join all of you today for the launching ceremony of Phase 2 of the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project.
 
     Phase 1 of this most meaningful project began three years back in 2016. Since then, Jockey Club End of Life Community Care has benefited many elderly and patients suffering from terminal illness, by providing them with a comprehensive range of life caring services including medical, emotional and psychological support. Aside from such much-needed services, this project has effectively raised public awareness on the need for end-of-life care. Meanwhile, the project has taught and inspired most on how best to approach life’s end with positive perspectives.
 
     It is thus gratifying to know that the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has committed to support this project for another three years, until 2021. Their continued support could definitely enable service providers to enhance their services, thereby providing even more caring services for more of those in need.  
 
     On this note, let me wish the second phase of the End-of-Life Community Care Project every success. I must once again thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club and all the service providers for their contributions and hard work in providing our “last milers” with love and care as they soldier on with dignity.
 
     Thank you very much. read more

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (May 8).      The arrangements will come into effect two hours be… read more

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2019 today (May 7):

Laura (Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Mrs Laura M Cha), Charles (Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Charles Li), Sir Brian (Chairman of the London Metal Exchange, Sir Brian Bender), Matthew (Chief Executive of the London Metal Exchange, Mr Matthew Chamberlain), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. 

     It gives me great pleasure to be here with you, for the LME Asia Metals Seminar, one of the highlights of the LME Asia Week, now in its seventh year. 

     This is, by the way, the first time the seminar has taken place at HKEX Connect Hall, which opened just 15 months ago. Formerly the trading hall of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Connect Hall is now a state-of-the-art showcase for the Hong Kong financial market.

     And for Hong Kong’s financial market, one of the key building blocks is the commodities market, which plays a crucial role in the overall economy.

     The Hong Kong Commodity Exchange, established in 1976, traded in products such as cotton, sugar and gold futures.

     In 1985, it gave way to the Hong Kong Futures Exchange, which, of course, is now part of the HKEX.

     Hong Kong remains a derivatives leader in the Asia-Pacific region, with the Hong Kong Futures Exchange trading in a wide range of futures products.

     That only underlines the crucial role that the commodities market has played, and continues to play, in our overall financial market. Indeed, a well-established commodities market is instrumental in enabling manufacturing and infrastructure development and other critical economic activities.  

     Take batteries for e-vehicles as an example, the manufacture of which involves the use of a variety of metals, and some of them are traded on the London Metal Exchange.

     The commodities exchange ensures a constant supply of essential metals, meeting the hedging needs of electric-vehicle manufacturers around the world.

     Let me add that the LME established an electric vehicles’ Metals Team and Advisory Group in 2017. The LME believes in the future of electric vehicles, and the long-term need that growing business will have for battery metals in the coming years and throughout this 21st century, in Asia and around the world. To that end, the LME is actively exploring new risk-management tools for electric-vehicle battery materials, keen to serve the industry’s evolving risk-management requirements. 

     That can only fuel – please do excuse the term – the development of batteries for e-vehicles. The LME’s electric-vehicle focus shows, as well, the role of the financial market in serving the real economy.

     Speaking of the market, last year LME’s total volume exceeded 157 million lots. That was up an encouraging 17 per cent over the previous year, underscoring the boundless business opportunities in metals trading.

     That’s certainly the case here in Asia, given the continuing opening-up of the economy of the Mainland of China. 

     In short, I’m confident that the demand for commodities – for manufacturing and other uses in the region – will enjoy significant growth in the coming years.

     Indeed, the financial services sector in general looks very promising, given the launch of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in February this year.

     The Greater Bay Area Development is a national strategy embracing Hong Kong, Macao and nine prosperous cities in the Pearl River Delta of the Guangdong Province. Together, their GDP amounted to US$1.6 trillion. Their collective population, exceeding 70 million, which is nearly the size of the New York, San Francisco and Tokyo Bay areas combined. These, ladies and gentlemen, make the Greater Bay Area one of the biggest and most affluent consumer markets on the Mainland.

     In short, there is vast business and financial potential waiting to be harnessed.  The good news is that the Development Plan supports Hong Kong’s lead role as the international financial centre and global offshore Renminbi business hub for China.  It also recognises our position as an international asset management and risk management centre, and a financing hub for infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

     No less critical, it supports our goal of progressively promoting mutual financial market access with the Mainland.

     The confidence of the Mainland and international communities in Hong Kong reflects our longstanding dual status, as one of the world’s leading financial centres, as well as China’s international financial capital.

     As mentioned by Laura, Hong Kong has ranked first globally, six times in the past decade, in funds raised through IPOs (initial public offerings). 

     And our stock market capitalisation, which stood at more than US$4 trillion at the end of this January, is the world’s sixth-largest.

     Earlier this year, Hong Kong was named the world’s freest economy – for the 25th year in a row – by the Heritage Foundation. Their annual “Index of Economic Freedom” called Hong Kong, and I quote, “an exceptionally competitive financial and business hub”.

     I couldn’t have said it any better. In short, ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong’s financial sector – and that very much includes our commodities market – has what it takes to lead, not just in the Greater Bay Area, but also in Asia, in this 21st century of opportunities.

     My thanks to the HKEX for organising the annual LME Asia Week. You have a full and rewarding day of market intelligence and insight ahead of you. And even more rewards this evening, with another industry highlight on tap – the annual LME Asia dinner.

     I’m told some 2 000 influential professionals from the metals trading industry, as well as businesses, finance and government, are going to attend the gala black-tie event.  They are from the Mainland of China and throughout Asia, from Europe and North America, as well. I know it will be a memorable evening.

     I wish you all the best of business, whatever you’re trading, in the coming year. And I look forward to seeing you here again in 2020.

     Thank you very much.

  

     The Labour Department (LD) today (May 7) launched a special programme called “Career Let’s go” to meet the pre-employment training and employment needs of secondary school leavers who choose to enter the employment market upon graduation. The special programme, which lasts until August this year, aims to assist school leavers in obtaining the latest employment information, devising a career plan and enhancing their employability.

     A spokesperson for the department said that a series of diverse pre-employment training and employment services will be launched under “Career Let’s go”, which are expected to draw about 26 000 participants.

     The spokesman said, “The LD has identified a large number of job vacancies suitable for secondary school leavers. They can browse the vacancies on the dedicated webpage of ‘Career Let’s go’ and make applications according to their personal aspirations.”

     The dedicated webpage also provides details on various types of job fairs organised by the LD, including:

* Job fairs for young people under the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) – some of the posts offered are complemented with pre-employment training, after which trainees will undergo salaried on-the-job training for six to 12 months;

* Recruitment days at LD job centres in different districts and industry-based recruitment centres – employers of various industries will offer on-the-spot job interviews, thus saving job seekers’ time; and

* Large-scale job fairs – a wide array of vacancies open to job seekers are provided, many of which are suitable for secondary school leavers.

     The spokesman said, “Moreover, Youth Employment Start (Y.E.S.) will launch a ‘Happy@Work’ programme with a view to enhancing the job-hunting skills of school leavers as well as helping them unleash their potential at work and learn the true value of working through a series of training courses and interactive drama. Coupled with career assessment and career consultation at Y.E.S., respectively located in Mong Kok and Kwai Fong, we assist young people to make early planning for their career.

     “Secondary school leavers opting to enter the employment market are encouraged to enrol in the LD’s YETP, which provides one-stop comprehensive pre-employment and on-the-job training without any pre-set quota. Not only is it free of charge, trainees will also receive an allowance.”

     In addition, in August the LD will hold the Award Ceremony of YETP Most Improved Trainees 2019 cum Concert in collaboration with Radio 2 of Radio Television Hong Kong to showcase the improvements made by trainees after joining YETP. The event will launch recruitment activities for a new YETP programme year as well as encourage school leavers to embrace challenges and strive for their dreams.

     For details of various events under “Career Let’s go”, please refer to the appendix. The latest information will be uploaded to the dedicated webpage of “Career Let’s go” (www.jobs.gov.hk/careerletsgo). Enquiries can be made on the LD’s 24-hour hotline 2717 1771 which is handled by “1823”. read more