Attention TV and radio duty announcers:
Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:
As the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 3 is now in force, classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are suspended today.
Attention TV and radio duty announcers:
Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:
As the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 3 is now in force, classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are suspended today.
Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-crime operation codenamed "Net One" in Sham Shui Po District from August 1 to yesterday (August 12) and seized suspected illicit cigarettes, suspected infringing goods and a small amount of suspected dangerous drugs with a total estimated market value of about $680,000.
During the operation, about 90 000 illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $240,000 as well as about 3 000 items of suspected infringing goods including clothing, bags and phone accessories with an estimated market value of about $440,000 were seized. The small amount of suspected dangerous drugs seized includes cocaine and methamphetamine.
A total of 15 men and 10 women, aged between 29 and 79, were arrested during the operation.
Hong Kong Customs reiterates that it will continue to combat illegal activities on various fronts, including through close contact and timely joint operations with the Police and other law enforcement agencies.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale an infringing item commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, any person who possesses a dangerous drug commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illegal activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Three illegal workers, comprising an Indian, a Pakistani and a Vietnamese, were jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts on August 10 and 13.
During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Powerplayer" on June 27, enforcement officers raided a recycling shop in Sham Shui Po. A male Indian illegal worker, aged 43, was arrested. When intercepted he was conveying goods. 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.
During an anti-illegal worker joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force mounted on August 8, enforcement officers raided a residential building under renovation in Mong Kok. A male Pakistani illegal worker, aged 36, was arrested. When intercepted he was conveying and disposing debris. 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.
Furthermore, during operation "Twilight" conducted on June 13, ImmD investigators raided a sports ground in Sheung Shui. A male Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 54, was arrested. When intercepted, he was repairing the turf. 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.
The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on August 10 and 13 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. After trial, they were 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.
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (August 13) awarded a consultancy agreement for the Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works extension. The scope of the agreement comprises carrying out investigation study, site investigation, design, preparation and assessment of tenders and supervising the construction works of the Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works extension.
The extension project aims to increase the water treatment capacity of Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works from the existing 150 000 cubic metres per day to 300 000 cubic metres per day to cope with the future water demand in North Lantau. The project comprises the extension of Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works and the uprating of the transfer capacity of the associated raw water supply systems. The construction is tentatively scheduled to commence in 2021 for completion in 2025.
Speaking at the contract-signing ceremony today, the Assistant Director (New Works) of the WSD, Mr Luk Wai-hung, said, "With the implementation of this extension project, Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works will continue to provide reliable fresh water supply supporting the sustainable developments in North Lantau."
The consultancy agreement was awarded to Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited at $54 million.
