Five persons engaged in renovation works and cargo transportation were involved in the illegal roadside dumping of construction and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste in Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. They were fined a total of $29,500 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (October 2) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO). In addition, three car owners refused to provide drivers' information to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) about illegal dumping cases at Yuen Long and Ta Kwu Ling. They were fined a total of $14,500 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts on September 18, September 24 and today for contravening the WDO.
      
     The EPD successfully traced six fly-tipping cases through the surveillance camera systems installed at fly-tipping black spots in March and May this year. Video clips were recorded by surveillance camera systems installed at the black spots of Ho Fat Lane in Tuen Mun, Tai Chung Road in Tsuen Wan and Lam Tin Street in Kwai Chung. After evidence gathering, the EPD subsequently prosecuted five persons involved under the WDO. One of the persons involved at the black spot in Kwai Chung illegally disposed of construction waste and garbage in the same place three times in three days.
      
     An EPD spokesman said that the EPD has installed surveillance camera systems at fly-tipping black spots in order to step up monitoring and deterrence against illegal waste disposal and to assist in law enforcement.
      
     For the fly-tipping case at a black spot in Kwai Chung, a member of the public took video footage of the waste discarded from a vehicle at the black spot. According to the video footage and testimony reported by the member of the public, the EPD successfully prosecuted the two persons involved.
      
     Separately, the department received a complaint from a member of the public early this year about illegal dumpling activities at Lut Chau in Yuen Long and Lin Ma Hang Road in Ta Kwu Ling. The EPD traced the three vehicle owners involved after investigation and issued notices to the owners asking for the contact information of the drivers involved. No reply was received after the deadline and the EPD subsequently prosecuted the car owners involved under the WDO.
       
     The EPD urges members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of waste from vehicles. They can record videos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111 to help combat illegal dumping. The spokesman said that registered vehicle owners may be prosecuted if they refuse to provide the information required for law enforcement, such as the identity of the driver or person involved.
       
     The spokesman reminded those involved in renovation and construction works and the transportation sector that demolition waste as well as C&I waste should be delivered to the Government's waste treatment facilities for proper disposal in accordance with legal requirements. It is unethical and unlawful to dispose of waste in public places and on the roadside. Under the WDO, it is an offence for anyone to dispose of waste in public places. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 2) reported an update on its investigation into a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) announced on September 21.

     The case involves a 71-year-old male patient, who was admitted to Pok Oi Hospital (POH) on July 11 for underlying illness. He is now in a serious condition.

     Water samples and environmental swabs were collected from POH to test for Legionella in a joint investigation by the CHP and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department on the possible source of infection and to support the implementation of control measures.
 
     Testing results revealed that the total Legionella count of one out of 14 water samples collected from the basin in the patient's bathroom was six colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml), which was higher than the action level of water systems in low-risk areas of hospitals, i.e. one cfu/ml or above. All six environmental swabs tested negative for Legionella species.

     "Our epidemiological investigations show that the patient mainly stayed in the ward in POH in the entire incubation period. His respiratory specimen and the water sample from the basin in the patient's bathroom were of the same sequence type of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Information so far has thus indicated that the patient had likely acquired LD in POH," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "We noted that POH has conducted disinfection of the water systems concerned. The CHP has provided health advice against LD to hospital staff and in-patients, including those with weakened immunity who should use sterile or boiled water for drinking, teeth brushing and mouth rinsing," the spokesman said.

     "Medical surveillance in the ward to which the patient was admitted has been enhanced in collaboration with POH and no additional cases have been identified thus far. We will maintain close liaison with POH to monitor the latest developments. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing," the spokesman added.
 
     As of September 29, 79 LD cases had been reported in 2018. In 2017 and 2016, there were 72 and 75 cases respectively.

     Two nominations for the Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election were received by the Returning Officer today (October 2), the first day of the nomination period.

     Particulars of the nominees are available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/legco2018kwby/eng/nominat.html).
 
     The nomination period will run until October 15. If the number of validly nominated candidates is more than one at the by-election, a poll will be held on November 25, 2018 (Sunday).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announces today (October 2) that a tender of 3-year Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 10-year Government Bond issue 10GB2108 under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme will be held on October 10 (Wednesday), for settlement on October 11 (Thursday).
 
     An additional amount of HK$4.0 billion of the outstanding 10-Year Bonds (issue no. 10GB2108) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on August 4, 2021 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.46 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears. The Bonds Fixings on October 2, 2018 is 100.47 with an annualised yield of 2.300 per cent.
 
     Under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme, tender is open only to Recognised Dealers which are appointed as Primary Dealers. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the current published list, which can be obtained from the Government Bond Programme's website at www.hkgb.gov.hk; Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
 
     Tender results will be published on the HKMA's website, the Government Bond Programme's website, the Reuters screen (HKGBINDEX), and Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) not later than 3pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Government Institutional Bond Issuance Programme Tender Information
—————————————————————————————– 

     Tender information of re-opening of 10-Year Government Bonds under the Institutional Bond Issuance Programme:
 

 
Price/Yield Table of the re-opening Government Bonds at tender for reference* only:
        

 
* Disclaimer
 
The information provided here is for reference only. Although extreme care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, the HKMA does not warrant that all, or any part of, the information provided is accurate in all respects. You are encouraged to conduct your own enquiries to verify any particular piece of information provided on it. The HKMA shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any use or reliance on any of the information provided here.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session after attending the Construction Quality Forum and Construction Innovation and Technology Fund Launching Ceremony today (October 2):
 
Reporter: Just now in your speech, you mentioned that there are a few very high profile quality issues with major projects, and that the Government will face it. But earlier, there are still concerns that with the restart of construction at Exhibition Centre Station, there are concerns about the safety issues because they lowered the acceptable levels for subsidence. What do you have to say to that?
 
Secretary for Development: I think the Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So, has explained the rationale for restarting the construction very clearly, so I am not going to repeat that. From the Government's point of view, we will do everything possible to ensure that our construction industry can provide services that are of the highest standard possible. As I said in the speech just now, actually, if you look at our international track record, Hong Kong has been performing in a most impressive manner. For eight years in a row, we have been ranked number one by one of the leading organisations in the world. So, I think, on the one hand, we need to face our inadequacies frankly and honestly, but at the same time, we don't need to be too shy about our achievement. The fact is that Hong Kong has been leading in the world in the area of public infrastructure.  

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)