Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government announced today (April 1) that the Chief Executive (CE) has appointed Ms Teresa Ko Yuk-yin as the convenor-cum-member of the Pensions Appeal Panel (PAP) and the Appeal Panel on Government’s Voluntary Contributions under the Civil Service Provident Fund Scheme (APGVC) for a term of three years with effect from April 8, 2022.

     The Government also expressed gratitude to the retiring convenor, Mr Walter Chan Kar-lok, for his dedicated service and invaluable contribution to the two appeal panels over the years.

     The PAP is a statutory body established under the Pension Benefits Ordinance responsible for advising the CE on petitions made by civil servants against decisions to cancel, suspend, reduce or refuse to grant pension benefits. The APGVC is an administrative panel set up to tender advice to the CE on representations made by civil servants against decisions to forfeit or recover their accrued benefits attributable to government voluntary contributions under the Civil Service Provident Fund Scheme.

     The other two members of the appeal panels are Mr Henry Wu King-cheong and Ms Connie Lam Tsui-wa. read more

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced today (April 1) that with a view to resuming public services gradually under the COVID-19 infection control measures in place, the provision of some basic public services of th… read more

     To regulate the use of snake cages (a type of cage trap) for fishing, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (April 1) announced that implementation of the amendment of registration conditions for the Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel (registration certificate) regarding the part on cage traps has commenced, while the grace period for existing registration certificate holders with cage traps registered has ended.

     An AFCD spokesman said, “In light of the concerns of the public and fishermen organisations on the impact of using snake cages for fishing on local fisheries resources, the AFCD decided earlier on to amend the registration conditions of the registration certificates relevant to cage traps in accordance with section 17 of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171), with a view to regulating the use of snake cages for fishing in Hong Kong waters.”

     The part of the conditions of registration certificates relevant to cage traps is amended as follows: “Any collapsible cage traps should not be connected in any way to another; or should not exceed five metres in any of its extended dimensions.”

     The grace period for existing registration certificate holders with cage traps registered ended on March 31. The AFCD is issuing new registration certificates with the amended conditions to registration certificate holders with cage traps registered. The amended conditions will take effect on the date specified in the new registration certificate. The AFCD will take enforcement action against fishing using snake cages which is in breach of the registration conditions after they take effect. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     The grace period of individual registration certificate holders who have applied to the AFCD has been extended to December 31.

     For enquiries, please contact the Fisheries Enforcement and Special Projects Division of the AFCD by telephone (2150 7109) or email (fish_lic_enf@afcd.gov.hk). read more

     A Government spokesman announced today (April 1) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (March 31) was sufficient and stable.

     According to the latest information, the quantity of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong yesterday (as of midnight) by land and water transportation was about 2 400 tonnes, comparable to the average daily supply from the Mainland on a normal day. The volume of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong sold through the wholesale markets of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Vegetable Marketing Organization was about 770 tonnes. The average wholesale prices of choi sum and pak choi stood at $12.80 and $6.40 per catty respectively yesterday. The supply of eggs to the wholesale market remained steady, with the average daily supply standing at about 3.2 million for the past week, largely comparable to the average daily supply on a normal day last year.

     The total supply of chilled meat from the Mainland yesterday was about 43 tonnes. The supply of live pigs was normal.

     The supply of chilled poultry from the Mainland was over 140 000 head yesterday, and about 10 000 live chickens were slaughtered locally. The supply was sufficient.

     Regarding the rice supply, in compliance with the requirement of the Government, stockholders of rice have to maintain the reserve stock of rice at a level sufficient for consumption by the local population for 15 days. The trade generally stocks double the required amount, which is sufficient for one month’s consumption by Hong Kong citizens. In recent years, the import and consumption of rice in Hong Kong has stood at a steady level of around 320 000 to 330 000 tonnes per year. The import quantity (including reserve stock) as of end-February 2022 was 29 000 tonnes. Suppliers also maintain a reserve for food that can be stored, such as frozen meat, for around three months’ stock generally.

     The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities and major food suppliers to ensure a stable food supply.

     The AFCD updates and publishes the fresh food supply information daily. Members of the public may visit the AFCD website for updates on daily supplies and wholesale prices of fresh food (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_fresh/agr_fresh.html). read more

     The Government yesterday (March 31) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 4pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Sham Shui Po (i.e. Chak Tin House, Pak Tin Estate, Sham Shui Po, excluding social service units on G/F) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
 
     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from March 18 to March 31, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before April 2, 2022. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 9.30am today (April 1) and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 11am today.
 
     The Government provided food packs for persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government and rapid antigen test kits were also distributed to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.

     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 9.30am today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 11am. Test records of 59 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Two persons were found not having undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing orders were issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminds the 26 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more