The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, last week led Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) officials on a five-day visit to Australia to promote Hong Kong's opportunities and unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle of having the strong support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world. The goal of the visit was to attract local talent to pursue their careers in Hong Kong.

     Mr Ho, accompanied by the Director of HKTE, Mr Anthony Lau, and his team visited Sydney and Melbourne from March 17 to 21. The delegation met with representatives from five universities ranked among the world's top 100, namely the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, as well as the University of Melbourne and Monash University in Melbourne. The delegation also engaged with a local start-up hub and an innovation institution.

     HKTE hosted three talent engagement events during the visit, sharing information on the latest round of the Talent List update and the settlement support services provided by the office. Two Australian professionals who have been residing in Hong Kong and specialising in the cybersecurity and sustainable finance sectors respectively, joined the delegation to offer insights into recent developments of related industries in Hong Kong.

     Mr Ho said, "Hong Kong is brimming with advantages and opportunities, making it an ideal destination for international talent. In line with Hong Kong's future development, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to promoting and attracting more international high-calibre talent to settle in Hong Kong."

     HKTE also participated in Australia's largest career fair for graduates and undergraduates: the Big Meet 2025. The office set up a booth to showcase Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities, as well as introduce various talent admission schemes and address participants' enquiries.

     This marked HKTE's inaugural visit to Australia. The spokesman from HKTE noted that the accompanying talent come from professions under the Talent List, with the aim of leveraging their insights to attract more talent from relevant fields to develop in Hong Kong. This year, HKTE will continue its efforts in key overseas markets including Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America to proactively attract international high-calibre talent.

        

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting proposals from local performing artists and arts groups for the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme 2026. Selected artists and arts groups will conduct performing arts in public spaces across different districts through outreach activities in 2026.

     Applicants should be registered local non-profit-making performing arts groups or artists that have been active in the performing arts scene in the past year, with experience in public performance. The Department encourages applicants to bring in young talents and set the stage for them to shine in community arts.

     Each applicant is required to submit one proposal with a brief description of the project theme and content. The proposal should cover one or more of the following five types of performing arts: Chinese opera/operatic singing, dance, music, theatre arts (including drama, mime, magic and puppetry), and multimedia. The proposed projects should mainly feature touring performances and may include other activities such as workshops, excerpts from full performances, demonstrations, talks, exhibitions, and more.

     Applications can be submitted online, by post or by hand to the Audience Building Office (10/F, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai). Application forms can be downloaded from the Audience Building Office website (www.abo.gov.hk) or obtained at the Audience Building Office. The deadline for application is noon on May 6 (Tuesday).

     A briefing session on the scheme will be held at 3pm on April 8 (Tuesday) at Room AC1, 4/F, Administration Building of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, to introduce interested individuals and arts groups to the application details of the scheme. There will also be experience sharing by previous Community Cultural Ambassadors. For registration details of the briefing session, please visit the Audience Building Office website.

     For enquiries on the scheme, please call 2591 1611, email to amab1@lcsd.gov.hk, or visit the Audience Building Office website.

     A man who went missing in Sau Mau Ping has been located.

     Ng Chi-kwong Dilly, aged 56, went missing after he left his residence on Hiu Kwong Street on February 24 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on March 7.

     The man was located in Ngau Tau Kok this morning (March 24). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

Attention radio/TV announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following at suitable intervals:
 
     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 24) that due to an overwhelming response from the public, the Hong Kong Flower Show's flower distribution activity on Green Recycling Day has concluded. Members of the public are advised not to proceed to Victoria Park for the collection of flowers.

     A former registered minor works contractor (RMWC), its authorised signatory (AS), a contractor, its subcontractor and a worker were fined $137,000 in total at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 5, for contravention of the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO).  

     The case involved a fatal incident at a composite building at Cheung Wong Road, Mong Kok, when carrying out the removal works of an unauthorised flat roof structure in February 2023. The removal works, being a minor works item, were required to be carried out by a prescribed registered contractor (PRC) in accordance with the simplified requirements of the Minor Works Control System (MWCS). During the removal works, a flat steel bar fell onto the street and struck a pedestrian, who was subsequently certified dead.  

     An investigation by the Buildings Department (BD) found that an RMWC and its AS submitted a notice of commencement of the minor works related to the removal of an unauthorised roof structure to the BD in February 2023. The RMWC confirmed that the specified plans and detailed drawings were prepared and signed by the AS. However, after the above-mentioned incident, the RMWC admitted that it actually was not involved in the concerned works, including that it was unaware of the details of the works, had not prepared any specified plan or detailed drawing, and did not provide any site supervision or method statement for the works. The RMWC knowingly misrepresented a material fact in the form submitted to the BD and had violated section 40(2A)(c) of the BO. Under section 40(5) of the BO, the AS, who permitted the commission of the above offence was deemed guilty of such an offence. The BD instigated prosecution action against the RMWC and its AS under the BO in February last year. They were convicted and fined $30,000 each at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court on March 5.

     In addition, an investigation by the BD found that the contractor who was actually responsible for the removal works was not listed in any of the registers of registered contractors kept by the BD. The contractor knowingly failed to appoint a PRC to carry out the minor works required by the Building (Minor Works) Regulations, thereby violating section 9AA(2) and section 40(1AB) of the BO. Moreover, it did not have a proper plan of the works, did not prepare suitable method statements, and failed to provide sufficient precautionary measures. The removal of the flat roof structure was carried out in an unsafe or dangerous manner, resulting in the fatal incident, thereby violating section 40(2B)(a) of the BO. Under section 40(5) of the BO, the contractor permitted the RMWC and the worker, who carried out the works, to commit offences under sections 40(2A)(c) and 40(2G) of the BO respectively, and was deemed guilty of such offences. Therefore, the BD instigated prosecution action against the contractor under the BO in February last year. The contractor was convicted and fined $32,000 in total at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 5.

     The investigation found that the subcontractor responsible for the scaffolding works did not provide adequate preventive measures to the working platform as required by the Code of Practice for Demolition of Buildings. The removal works of the flat roof structure was carried out in an unsafe or dangerous manner, resulting in the fatal incident, thereby violating section 40(2B)(a) of the BO. The BD instigated prosecution action against the subcontractor under the BO in February last year. The subcontractor was convicted and fined $15,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 5.

     The investigation also found that the worker, who carried out the removal works, was not a PRC, and did not carry out the minor works under the supervision of any such contractor, thereby violating section 40(2G) of the BO. Moreover, he carried out the removal works in an unsafe or dangerous manner leading to the fatal incident, violating section 40(2B)(a) of the BO. The BD instigated prosecution action against the worker under the BO in February last year. He was convicted and fined $30,000 in total at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 5.

     A spokesman for the BD said that the MWCS aims to assist building owners in carrying out small-scale building works safely in private buildings lawfully through simplified statutory procedures. Pursuant to section 40(1AB) of the BO, any person who contravenes section 9AA(2) of the BO (i.e. knowingly fails to appoint a PRC to carry out minor works required by the regulations) shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $100,000.

     Under section 40(2A)(c) of the BO, in case of minor works, any RMWC who knowingly misrepresents a material fact in any plan, certificate, form, report, notice or other documents given to the BD, shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for up to 18 months.

     In accordance with section 40(2B)(a) of the BO, in case of minor works, any person directly concerned with the relevant building works, who carries out or authorises or permits such works to be carried out, in such manner that it causes injury to any person or damage to any property, shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for up to 18 months.

     Pursuant to section 40(2G) of the BO, any person other than a PRC or a person acting under the supervision of any such contractor, who, without reasonable excuse, certifies or carries out minor works shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for six months, and a further fine of $5,000 for each day that the offence has continued.

     Moreover, pursuant to section 40(5) of the BO, any person, being a person directly concerned in or with any building works or street works, who permits the commission of any offence specified in section 40 of the BO shall be deemed to be guilty of such an offence and shall be liable to the prescribed penalty. 

     The spokesman reminded that it is in the interest of building owners to appoint a prescribed building professional and PRC for the carrying out of minor works. Building owners should also request the contractor to be appointed to substantiate whether he is a qualified registered contractor. The lists of registered contractors are available on the BD website (www.bd.gov.hk).