Hong Kong Customs today (April 10) conducted an operation to combat the online sale of infringing teacher's e-textbooks and examination papers. During the operation, two persons were arrested and a batch of items suspected to be involved in the case were seized, including three USB flash drives, a batch of discs, two mobile phones and a notebook computer.

     Customs earlier received complaints from a copyright owner alleging that suspected infringing teacher's e-textbooks and examination papers were put on sale through online platforms.

     Through the big data analytics system, Customs officers found that sellers solicited business via a "cross-platform, multiple accounts" approach. Buyers would receive a hyperlink via email to download the suspected infringing teacher's e-textbooks and examination papers after they had transferred money to the designated bank account.

     After investigation, Customs officers took enforcement action today and arrested a 64-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman in Kwun Tong for selling suspected infringing teacher's e-textbooks and examination papers, as well as laundering the relevant crime proceeds.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.

     Under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, a person commits an offence if he deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person's proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

     Two men and a woman were fined from $5,000 to $9,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 10) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in September last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs). 

     During the investigation in one of the clubs on Nathan Road, the OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Also, the club's staff failed to show a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment and the registered drawing upon the OLA officers' request. Moreover, the CoC or its certified true copy was not displayed at a prominent position at the club. Conditions 2, 10, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached. The two men, being the manager and the CoC holder of the club, were charged with contravening section 21(1) (a) or section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     The other club on Nathan Road also served non-members. Also, the club was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawing. Conditions 3 and 19 of the CoC were breached. The woman, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

     A woman was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 10) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in September last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Nathan Road in Kowloon. The OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.

     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for operating the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.

     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (April 10) announced the launch of Tao Arts – Community Arts Scheme, which will be implemented in Sai Kung and Wan Chai Districts this year as a pilot scheme and will be extended to other districts from next year.
 
     Through enhanced collaboration between the LCSD, the District Councils, district non-government organisations and local professional arts groups, the scheme aims to encourage community participation and engagement in arts activities so as to develop sustainable arts projects in different districts.
 
     The LCSD was allocated additional funding of $51 million in the 2019-20 Budget for organising enhanced community arts activities with the 18 District Councils for a period of five years. The LCSD will match the additional funding with the allocation by individual District Councils at a one-to-one ratio to tailor-make the Tao Arts – Community Arts Scheme for the participation of district citizens.
 
     Tao Arts Sai Kung – Community Arts Scheme (CAS) will launch two workshops organised by ArtsArea Management that are specially designed for children and young people from late April. The workshops are free of charge and open for enrolment now. Details are as follows:
 
– Workshop on Cantonese Opera for Youngsters
Instructors: Cheung Po-wah and Pui Jun-hin
(Love and Faith Cantonese Opera Laboratory)
Date: Late April to December
 
– Workshop on Puppetry for Youths and Workshop on Shadow Puppet-making for Youths
Instructor: Wong Fai (Hong Kong Puppet and Shadow Art Center)
Date: May until December
 
     In addition, a dance and movement workshop will be specially held for the elderly to develop their physical and mental ability. Details are as follows:
 
– "Body in Time" workshop
Organiser: Unlock Dancing Plaza
Date: Late April to March 2020
 
     Apart from workshops, there will be various activities such as performance showcases, post-performance experience sessions, joint rehearsals and more to provide further training and performance opportunities for the programme participants. A grand finale will be held in late February next year for participants from Sai Kung District to demonstrate their achievements to the public. Details of the CAS programmes of Wan Chai District will be announced later.
 
     Tao Arts Sai Kung – Community Arts Scheme is sponsored by the Sai Kung District Council and supported by the Sai Kung Cultural Centre and Haven of Hope Christian Service. For enquiries on the CAS, please call 2591 1340 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/taoarts/sk.html. For enquiries on enrolment for the Cantonese opera and shadow puppetry workshops, please call 5943 1323 or email artsareamgt@gmail.com (ArtsArea Management). For enquiries on the "Body in Time" workshop, please call 2778 3488 (Unlock Dancing Plaza).

      

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (April 10) visited Tuen Mun District, where he exchanged views with Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) members and young people, and learnt about the escort service for the elderly in the district.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the TMDC, Mr Leung Kin-man, and the District Officer (Tuen Mun), Ms Aubrey Fung, Mr Law met with TMDC members and exchanged views on issues that concern them.

     Mr Law then proceeded to the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service-Hong Kong to learn about its stairs climbing service for people with decreased mobility living in old buildings. This service is to help these elderly people participate in social and leisure activities and improve their quality of life.

     Mr Law later visited the Tuen Mun District Council Yan Oi Tong Youth Space and met with participants of activities organised by the Youth Space to listen to their learning experience. The Youth Space provides training and workshops for local young people with a view to encouraging them to serve the community in innovative ways.