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Attention TV/radio announcers:  Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:       Here is an item of interest to swimmers.       The Leisure and … read more

     Some 360 participants from representatives of the building industry and the property management sector, government officials and academia attended the Building Safety Symposium organised by the Buildings Department (BD) at the Hong Kong Palace Museum today (October 27) to exchange views on the application of innovative technologies to enhance building safety as well as the safety of construction works.
      
     Speaking at the symposium, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the Development Bureau has taken the lead to strengthen collaboration among the Buildings Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Urban Renewal Authority, so as to address the issue of dilapidation of aged buildings. The Government will continue to provide practical support to owners to help them complete building inspections and repairs as soon as possible. At the same time, the Government has stepped up law enforcement against owners who have not actively fulfilled their obligations, including instigating prosecution.
      
     Ms Linn pointed out that in order to strengthen enforcement power to deal with building safety issues, it was announced in the recent Policy Address that the Buildings Ordinance will be comprehensively reviewed by exploring raising the penalties, streamlining prosecution procedures and lowering the prosecution threshold against non-compliance with notices served under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme, repair and investigation orders, unauthorised building works and other illegal building works, with a view to increasing deterrence and enforcement effectiveness. She appealed to enhanced collaboration among various departments and agencies as well as active co-operation from the community and the industries, so as to jointly safeguard building safety and to create a safe, quality and sustainable built environment.
      
     In her welcoming speech, the Director of Buildings, Ms Clarice Yu, said that in the face of challenges in design and construction of new developments, as well as the impact of ageing buildings on building safety, the Government and the industry have sought to integrate smart technologies into the life cycle of buildings to facilitate building design, building construction and preventive maintenance, which could also help promote building safety and sustainability, enhance efficiency, reduce costs and mitigate the impact of labour shortage on the construction industry.
      
     Ms Yu said that the BD is committed to exploring and adopting innovative technologies to enhance building safety control and services. She cited as an example that when dealing with cases of fallen concrete and rendering from the external walls of buildings and serious unauthorised building works (UBWs) in recent months, the BD had used drones to conduct inspections over the buildings concerned, coupled with the use of three-dimensional modelling, which enabled it to make an immediate assessment of the safety condition of the buildings, thereby enhancing work efficiency.
      
     The theme of this year’s symposium is “Expanding Opportunities for a Safer and More Sustainable Built Environment”. In the symposium, a number of local experts spoke on the following topics:
 

• Prevention is Better than Cure: Periodic Inspection and Maintenance of Buildings;
• Application of/Experience on Technologies and AI in Inspection and Maintenance of Buildings;
• Safety Roles and Responsibilities: from Truss-out Scaffold to Design for Safety;
• Innovation to Enhance Quality, Efficiency and Cost-effectiveness in Building Management and Maintenance;
• Intelligent Building Management with BIM – Asset Management; and
• Innovation in Design and Monitoring of Building Works for Safety.

      
     In addition to the above speeches, the symposium also featured two panel discussion sessions and four innovative technology booths were set up in the foyer of the venue. The University of Hong Kong, Cyberport Startups, the Architectural Services Department and the BD demonstrated the use of drones, artificial intelligence and related innovative technologies to assist in the inspection of dilapidation at building exterior walls and UBWs.
      
     The Building Safety Symposium was the closing event of the Building Safety Week 2023. Over the past week, the BD also organised the Building Safety Carnival and the BD Inno Tech Open Day to enable the public to gain a better understanding of the importance of building safety and to experience the convenience and improvement which innovation has brought to the building industry. A total of about 7 200 attendees participated in the two events. read more

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) today (October 27) signed the updated Cooperation Arrangement on Management of Cross-boundary Dumping.       &n… read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” for three consecutive days from October 24 to yesterday (October 26). A total of 10 suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and five overstayers were arrested.

     During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 17 target locations including industrial buildings, residential buildings, restaurants and retail shops. Five suspected illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised one man and four women, aged 37 to 46. Among them, one woman was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. Two men and one woman, aged 35 to 54, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

     During operation “Champion”, enforcement officers raided 52 target locations in New Territories North region and Western district, including recycling yards and warehouses. Five suspected illegal workers and five overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men and one woman, aged 32 to 64. Three male and two female overstayers, aged 34 to 46, were arrested.

     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is 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 spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. 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. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an 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 ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats 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 intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 27) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From October 20 to yesterday (October 26), the CHP recorded three imported DF cases. The patients had been to the Maldives, Taiwan and Nepal respectively during the incubation periods.

     As of yesterday, 43 imported cases of DF had been recorded in 2023. In 2022, 26 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some places in Asia (such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand) compared to the same period last year. Members of the public, while travelling abroad, should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     “Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

 
     ​DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
    

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

    
* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     ​The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. read more