Regarding a media report and media enquiries about the Request for Inspection and Survey Checking (RISC) forms for the works of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR), the Highways Department (HyD) today (February 10) responded as follows:

     The project involved is "HZMB HKLR – Section between Scenic Hill and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF)" (Contract No. HY/2011/03).  The contract included design and construction of the section of HKLR between Scenic Hill on the airport island and the HKBCF, and road links between the HKBCF and the Hong Kong International Airport.  The main contractor is China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited and the engineering consultant is Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong Limited.

     The Resident Site Staff (RSS) of the engineering consultant reported to the HyD in end July 2018 that the contractor had not submitted over 10 000 RISC forms in time according to the contract requirements, which accounted for about 28 per cent of this type of forms that had to be submitted under the contract.

     The HyD had immediately requested the RSS of the engineering consultant to submit the site construction records and received the relevant records in August 2018, including a large number of photo records taken by the RSS during the construction. The HyD has separately appointed an independent consultant to examine such records to ascertain whether the RSS of the engineering consultant have fulfilled their duties of supervising the works of the contractor.

     The independent consultant has examined all the records in detail, conducted random checks on the files of the relevant records kept in the computers and met the engineering staff to verify the authenticity of the documents. The independent consultant concluded that as the RSS were able to provide ample evidence in a short period of time, it showed that the engineering consultant had all along stored a large number of photo records in a systematic manner.

     During the investigation, the independent consultant had met the RSS of the engineering consultant at different ranks to learn more about the details of the construction works and records kept. All RSS they met were familiarised with the details of the supervision works, indicating that they had truly been involved in the supervisory duties.

     During the examination by the independent consultant, no forgery of documents had been found. The independent consultant also confirmed that the RSS of the engineering consultant had discharged their site supervisory duties after examining the records, and submitted a report to the HyD in October 2018.

     According to the contract requirements, the contractor has submitted the RISC forms with the dates of the signatures indicating when the forms had been duly signed instead of the construction dates of the relevant works to show that it was a late submission.

     The HyD emphasised that the matter does not involve quality issues, but that the contractor had not submitted the documents in time according to the procedures. The HyD had already reflected the unsatisfactory performances of the engineering consultant and the contractor in this matter in the quarterly performance reports, and urged them for improvement. The Government has all along attached great importance to work quality and safety. Before the commissioning of the HZMB, it was confirmed that the construction works were carried out according to the contract requirements and the technical and safety requirements of the works were also met.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 9) seized about 4.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million at Hong Kong International Airport .

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha, Qatar yesterday afternoon. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside the false compartment of his suitcase. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 20, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 11).

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

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

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     The car park at Hong Kong Wetland Park is full. Motorists going to the Park can use the nearby public car parks at Tin Heng Estate, Tin Yat Estate, Grandeur Terrace or Tin Yip Road.
 
     Members of the public are encouraged to take public transport to the Park.

     The Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED) administered by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) will be open for applications all year round from tomorrow (February 11).
      
     To support the employment of persons with disabilities, the SWD launched SPED in June 2013 to provide employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications. The programme seeks to facilitate employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhancing their work efficiency.
      
     The subsidy is capped at a maximum support level of $20,000 for each employee with disabilities. Starting from 2014-15, a grant of up to $40,000 may be considered for deserving cases for which the price of a single item of assistive device and its essential accessories exceeds $20,000.

     A wide range of assistive devices and workplace modifications which cater to the special needs of employees with disabilities at the workplace will be considered. Examples include computer accessories or adaptive equipment, optical magnifying devices, hearing and assistive devices, Braille products and handrails.
      
     The Po Leung Kuk has been commissioned to serve as the SPED Administrator. It will assist in administering and promoting SPED, provide advisory services and follow up on the progress of the subsidised programmes, prepare assessments on the applications and make recommendations to the Committee on the SPED set up by the SWD for consideration.
 
     Employers may apply for a subsidy under the SPED through nomination of the following referring organisations:

1. non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating SWD-subvented vocational rehabilitation services;
2. NGOs running training courses for persons with disabilities or persons recovering from work injuries with the funding support of the Employees Retraining Board;
3. the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department;
4. the Vocational Training Council; or
5. the SPED Administrator (Po Leung Kuk).

             
     Employers may submit their completed application forms together with the required documents by mail or by hand to the SWD through the referring organisations. No application fee is required and each applicant may submit more than one application.

     For enquiries, please contact Po Leung Kuk SPED Office by phone at 3980 9677, by email at sped@poleungkuk.org.hk or by fax at 3980 9633.
      
     For more details, the information note and the SPED application form, people may visit and download from the SWD homepage www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_rehab/sub_listofserv/id_vocational/id_sped.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (February 12) to consider eight applications for new issue, renewal, transfer and amendment of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):

Hong Kong:
——–
Zoo in Sheung Wan
Le Cleret Brasserie and LONG CHIM HONG KONG in Central
Le Reve in Causeway Bay
GOTTHARD BASE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE in North Point

Kowloon:
——–
GUESS in Tsim Sha Tsui
Neway Karaoke Box and THE BREWERY in Mong Kok
 
     The board will also consider revoking the liquor licence of AROY-D THAI RESTAURANT in Kowloon City.
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except the private session on confidential items.