â€‹The Labour Department (LD), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, starting from today (August 8), conducted mobile broadcasts for two consecutive days in popular gathering places of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to call upon them to comply with the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings and mask-wearing requirement in public places.  

     Publicity vans parked at popular FDH gathering places across the territory to broadcast reminders in Chinese, English and major FDH languages (including Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia and Thai) to call upon FDHs to comply with the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings of more than two persons and mask-wearing requirement in public places. During the broadcasts, promotional leaflets were distributed by officers from the departments concerned to appeal to FDHs to maintain environmental hygiene and refrain from conducting unlicensed hawking activities, including cooked food or other hawking activities. Also, the Police increased manpower to step up patrols at those places.
      
     The LD's spokesman said, "The Government announced on August 3, 2020 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202008/03/P2020080300770.htm) that it had gazetted directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) to extend the social distancing measures already in place, including prohibition on group gatherings of more than two persons in public places and requiring a person to wear a mask at all times when the person is boarding or onboard a public transport carrier, is entering or present in an MTR paid area, or is entering or present in a public place (indoor or outdoor). Offenders are liable to prosecution. The Government reminds employers and FDHs to observe and comply with the relevant requirements and restrictions." 

     The LD will continue to conduct publicity to FDHs and appeal to them to avoid non-essential gatherings, stay at home for rest as far as possible, and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times to safeguard their personal health and public health.

            

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (August 8) for people in need of the service.

     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Districts:
———————

Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:
————————–

Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin –
Hin Keng Neighbourhood Community Centre
5 Hin Wo Lane, Sha Tin

Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan –
Shek Wai Kok Community Hall
Shek Wai Kok Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs seized about 3.6 kilograms of suspected heroin and about 11 kilograms of suspected cocaine at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) with a total estimated market value of about $14 million on June 29 and August 6 respectively. 

     Customs officers inspected an air parcel that had arrived in Hong Kong from Malaysia, declared as carrying protein isolate, at HKIA on June 29 and found the batch of suspected heroin concealed inside ten plastic bottles. After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (August 7) arrested a 26-year-old man suspected to be in connection with the case in Kwai Chung.

     Also, Customs officers inspected an air cargo consignment, declared as traditional pastry, arriving in Hong Kong from Malaysia at HKIA on August 6 and found the batch of suspected cocaine mingled with some pastry inside the packaging boxes. Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 34-year-old man suspected to be in connection with the case in Sha Tin. 

     The two arrested men have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts and Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts respectively next Monday (August 10).

     Customs will maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels and express courier channels.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     â€‹The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 8) announced that in view of a recent preliminary confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 found to be related to Sha Tin Market, to safeguard the health and safety of market stall tenants and the public, the market will be closed an hour earlier today at 7pm for deep cleaning and disinfection.

     During the period, FEHD staff will thoroughly clean and disinfect communal areas and facilities in the market, and call for co-operation of market tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls, with a view to improving the overall hygiene condition of the market. In addition, the FEHD will carry out deep cleaning work at the periphery of the market and nearby streets. The cleaning and disinfection work is expected to last about four hours.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD attaches importance to the hygiene conditions of public markets. In addition to regular cleaning work in the daytime, market service contractors also conduct a thorough cleaning in all markets after the markets are closed every day. During this epidemic period, the FEHD has already stepped up cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, including toilets, escalators, elevators and stair handrails with diluted household bleach regularly every day. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also provided in the markets for public use."

     "Moreover, starting from late July, the FEHD has progressively arranged a voluntary one-off free COVID-19 testing service for staff of market stalls and personnel working in markets. No online registration is required. The FEHD works closely with the testing agency to determine the priority of various markets with reference to a risk-based approach and manpower resources. The agency has distributed specimen bottles to operators of market stalls and personnel working in Sha Tin Market."

     The FEHD will continue to closely monitor the situation of each market, and will conduct deep cleaning and disinfection work in other markets if necessary so as to maintain environmental hygiene.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has today (August 8) vehemently criticised the so-called "sanctions" by the United States (US) Government against 11 officials of the Central People's Government and the HKSAR Government as shameless and despicable.
      
     "Imposed under the so-called Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals List of the US Department of the Treasury, the latest US Government measure represents blatant and barbaric interference in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC), using Hong Kong as a pawn in its ploy to create troubles in China-US relationship, out of self-serving interests of some US politicians," a Government spokesman said.
      
     "Taking advantage of anti-government riots in Hong Kong since June last year, the US Congress and the White House have passed successive laws and pronounced executive order targeting the HKSAR under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy.  It should be obvious to and resented by many people, locally and around the world, that the US acts are displaying double standards and hypocrisy, let alone blatantly breaching international laws and basic norms governing international relations. 
      
     "Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the PRC. Upholding and implementing the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' meets the interests of Hong Kong people and represents the shared aspiration of all Chinese people. 
      
     "We have reminded the US ad nauseam of relevant provisions in the Basic Law, particularly Article 12 which stipulates that the HKSAR is a local administrative region of the PRC, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government; that the Constitution of the PRC and the Basic Law of the HKSAR form the constitutional basis of the HKSAR. Unfortunately, all these have fallen on deaf ears.

     "The US Government's claim that the imposition of the so-called 'sanctions' was in response to the enactment of the National Security Law in Hong Kong is a lame excuse that could hardly stand up to challenge.
      
     "National security is a matter of utmost importance to any state, including the US. Laws governing national security are matters for the central government, regardless of whether it is a unitary or federal system of government. Enforcement of national security is likewise under the purview of the central authorities. The National Security Law enacted on June 30, 2020 by the National People's Congress Standing Committee fulfils all these general features and in recognition of the HKSAR's special status, authorises the HKSAR Government to be the main enforcement party. Article 4 of the National Security Law specifies that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR and the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law as well as the provisions in international covenants as applied to Hong Kong shall be protected in accordance with the law.
      
     "These legal provisions, coupled with the rule of law and an independent judiciary in the HKSAR, are clearly ignored by relevant US officials who have chosen to make unsubstantiated and sweeping comments to serve their own interest."
       
     The spokesman said that the escalating violence, anarchy and social chaos last June obviously required Police to fulfill their statutory duty to take lawful measures to maintain public order and public safety. This is no different to the solemn duty and responsibility of any Police Force in the world to protect life and property.  
     
     The spokesman severely condemned the US Government for deliberately making public the personal information of Government officials.
      
     "Such a deplorable move is no less than state-sanctioned doxxing that is a serious breach of privacy and personal safety. We reserve the right to take any necessary legal action," the spokesman said.
      
     "We will fully support the Central Government to adopt counter-measures.
      
     "In an article published yesterday (August 7), Mr Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, urged the US side to bear in mind the fundamental interests of the Chinese and American people and the whole world, and strengthen engagement, dialogue and communication.
      
     "The HKSAR Government much regrets that the US Government's latest move on the so-called 'sanctions' against our senior officials is an utterly disrespectful attempt which will undermine Hong Kong-US relations at various levels. 
      
     "Speaking on behalf of her senior colleagues who are being targeted, the Chief Executive Mrs Carrie Lam said that we are discharging an honourable duty to safeguard national security, protecting the life and interests of not only the 7.5 million Hong Kong people but also the 1.4 billion Mainlanders.  We will not be intimidated," the spokesman said.