The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) is running a series of seminars for directorate and senior civil servants under the theme of "Understanding the Constitutional Order and Safeguarding National Security". The first seminar took place today (July 9) at the Central Government Offices.
 
     The seminar today covered the topic of "The Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law", with talks delivered by the Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), Ms Maria Tam, and Professor at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law and member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee, Professor Albert Chen. The seminar was attended by around 400 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks. In view of the enthusiastic response to the seminar and the large number of participants, some participants took part in the seminar through simulcast at the Central Library.

     Addressing the seminar, the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said: "The NPCSC promulgated the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR (NSL) for implementation in Hong Kong in late June last year. Moreover, the NPCSC approved amendments to Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law this March to improve the electoral system, putting into practice the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong', and the relevant local legislative exercise has recently been completed. In view of the above developments, it is all the more important for civil servants, as the backbone of the HKSAR Government, to understand accurately the constitutional order established under the Constitution of our country and the Basic Law."
 
    The second and the third seminars of the series will be held in August and September respectively, with contents covering implementation of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, improvements to the electoral system, as well as the significance of safeguarding national security and the NSL. Speakers include Ms Maria Tam, Ms Elsie Leung and Mr Johnny Mok, SC. 

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (July 9) announced that enhanced security measures will be implemented at the Court of Final Appeal Building (CFA Building) starting from July 12.

     "The introduction of enhanced security measures aims to help ensure the safety of judges and judicial officers, Judiciary staff and court users in the CFA Building," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.

     Court users will be required to undergo security screening, including screening by metal detector and bag inspection, when entering the CFA Building. The Judiciary will deploy additional staff and security guards to provide guidance and assistance for court users.

     Out of security considerations, court users will not be allowed to bring water or drinks into the CFA Building upon implementation of the security screening. The Judiciary will provide drinking water and encourage court users to bring their own cups.

     The spokesman said, "We have taken into account all relevant matters including operational efficiency and the convenience of court users when implementing the security screening."

     In implementing security screening in the CFA Building, the Judiciary will make every effort to minimise inconvenience caused to court users. However, it is inevitable that more time will be required for court users to gain access to courtrooms. The Judiciary urges the relevant parties and other court users to arrive at the CFA Building earlier, in particular during the peak hours in the mornings or after the lunch breaks.

     Security arrangements have been implemented on floors with courtrooms at the High Court Building, the Family Court and the Small Claims Tribunal. The relevant arrangements are planned to be extended to cover the whole West Kowloon Law Courts Building by the end of this year. 

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (July 9) that a site, Lot No. 1677 in Demarcation District No. 115 at the junction of Lau Yip Street and Chung Yip Road, Yuen Long, New Territories, in the 2021-22 Land Sale Programme will be disposed of by public tender. The tender invitation for the lot will commence on July 16 and close on August 13.

     Lot No. 1677 in Demarcation District No. 115 has a site area of about 15,208 square metres and is designated for private residential purposes. The minimum gross floor area and the maximum gross floor area are 4,379.8 sq m and 7,299.8 sq m respectively.

     Land sale documents including the Form of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plan of the lot will be available for downloading from the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk), and the sale plan will be available for inspection by the public from July 16, when the particulars of the tender will also be gazetted, until the close of the tender.

     As a green initiative, free hard copies of sale plans will no longer be provided starting from this tender exercise. Members of the public may purchase them at the Survey and Mapping Office of the LandsD (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) until the close of the tender.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     Details of the meetings of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees to be held in the LegCo Complex during the week from July 12 to 16 are available in the meeting schedule attached.
 
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change.  Please refer to the LegCo Calendar on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
 
     Members of the public can watch or listen to the meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meetings at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     Luen Yick Builders Limited, Wai Yiu Professional Engineering Limited, the proprietor of a contractor and another contractor were fined $104,000, $94,000, $94,000 and $100,000 respectively, at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 9) for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
 
     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on December 10, 2020, at a five-storey building under renovation in Aberdeen. A worker, while collecting bags of concrete debris on the roof of the building, fell to a 1/F canopy. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away on the same day.