Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) hosted a spring reception in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, tonight (February 12) to celebrate the Chinese New Year and promote bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Brunei. 
      
     In his welcoming remarks, the Director-General of HKETO Jakarta, Mr Law Kin-wai, highlighted Hong Kong’s business advantages and promoted the ample opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He also briefed the guests about the latest economic and social situation in Hong Kong, and garnered their support for HKETO Jakarta, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in promoting closer exchanges between the two places.  
      
      The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam, Ms Yu Hong; the Regional Director of South East Asia and South Asia of the HKTDC, Mr Peter Wong; and over 100 key local business representatives and guests from the Bruneian community attended the reception, sharing the joy and well wishes with each other in the festive season.
      
     HKETO Jakarta will be holding further Chinese New Year celebration programmes in other Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries under its purview in February and March.

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 12) investigating a suspected case of paralytic shellfish poisoning affecting a family of four.      The cas… read more

     A contractor who carried out illegal site formation works in a conservation area in Pok Wai, Yuen Long, and caused mud and dust dispersion which adversely affected the environment, was convicted today (February 12). The contractor, the land occupier and the construction worker concerned were fined a total of $25,000 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today for contravening the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation.

     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that the department received a report last July from a member of the public that illegal site formation works were being conducted in a private lot in Pok Wai, Yuen Long. During the inspection, the EPD officers successfully intercepted a dump truck and an excavator, which were involved in soil dumping and bulldozing works at the lot concerned. The illegal works caused mud and dust dispersion which adversely affected the environment. After investigation and evidence gathering, the department subsequently initiated prosecution against the contractor, the land occupier and the construction worker concerned in accordance with the EIAO and the Regulation.

     The spokesman said that the area concerned belongs to a conservation area under the Nam Sang Wai Outline Zoning Plan, which aims to preserve the ecological value and functions of existing fish ponds in the area. According to the EIAO, it is an offence to conduct earthworks at a conservation area without an environmental permit issued by the EPD. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and six months’ imprisonment. In addition, according to the Regulation, site formation is classified as notifiable work and contractors are required to notify the EPD in accordance with the statutory requirements and adopt dust emission control measures. Anyone who fails to notify the EPD about site formation works commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $25,000. Anyone who conducts construction works without adopting the measures stipulated by the Regulation to prevent the dispersion of dust is liable to a fine of $50,000.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The spokesperson for Yan Chai Hospital (YCH) made the following announcement today (February 12):        Three male patients (aged 55 to… read more

     A woman was fined $15,000 at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (February 12) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
           
     The courts heard that in May last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Hoi Wan Street in Quarry Bay. 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”. read more