Author Archives: hksar gov

     A man was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (July 25) for selling and possession of infringing optical discs for sale purpose, in contravention of the Copyright Ordinance (CPO).

     Hong Kong Customs conducted an anti-piracy operation in Mong Kok and raided a shop which sold infringing optical discs on May 10, 2018. During the operation, a 55-year-old salesman was arrested and about 4,000 infringing optical discs were seized at scene. The arrested person later absconded while he was on bail pending further investigation. Customs then applied for a Warrant in the First Instance from court. He was intercepted by the Police yesterday (July 24) and was subsequently charged by the Customs under the CPO. The case was brought up to the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts for plea this morning.
      
     Hong Kong Customs welcomes the sentence, saying that the custodial sentence imposes a considerable deterrent effect and delivers a clear warning to the selling and possession of infringing goods for trade purpose. It also reflects the offence’s seriousness.

     Under the CPO, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.

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

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Amid the worsening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Hong Kong, various clusters of local cases have been emerging in the community. To tie in with the Government’s epidemic control strategy on early detection of occult infection to minimise the risk of community transmissions, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has extended the “Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Programme” to provide COVID-19 test for individuals who perceive themselves to have higher risk of exposure and experience mild discomfort.
      
     The spokesman of the Hospital Authority (HA) said, “to support the implementation of this new arrangement by CHP, 22 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the HA (see appendix) will be available for the aforesaid members of the public to collect or return the specimen bottles free of charge from next Monday (July 27). This pilot voluntary test arrangement, tentatively scheduled for four weeks, will not involve any consultation services by doctors.”
      
     The HA spokesman remarked, “infection control is the prime consideration in the choice of clinics. GOPCs are typically limited in space while handling a large number of patients, a majority of which are elderly and chronic patients. In anticipation of a high participation rate of the programme, the specimen bottles will be distributed before the clinics’ normal service hours to avoid affecting patient services and undue gathering at the clinics and the vicinity. The segregation of people collecting the specimen bottles and the clinic patients during service hours will reduce the risks of cross-infection. The clinics that distribute specimen collection pack are available in many districts for the convenience of the public. The choice of clinics has duly considered the availability of outdoor waiting area with better ventilation instead of inside the clinics. Clinics inside housing estates and shopping malls with high volume of pedestrian traffic are also avoided for infection control consideration.”
      
     Staff of the 22 GOPCs will distribute the specimen collection packs (including specimen collection bottle, packaging plastic bags, guidelines for collection of deep throat saliva samples, etc) between 7.30am and 8.30am from Monday to Friday (except public holidays) in the designated area outside the clinics. Only one pack will be distributed to each person while stocks last.
      
     The HA spokesman added that each GOPC will distribute 110 specimen collection packs every day. The participant is required to return the deep throat saliva specimen with proper packaging within three working days, together with the necessary information for laboratory tests. The 22 GOPCs will have designated collection points outside the clinics for return of the specimen bottle between 10am and 11am from Monday to Saturday.
      
     “Overwhelmed by a large volume of tests for clinical diagnosis, public hospital laboratory service capacity is already saturated for the time being. The specimens collected by this programme will be handled by an accredited local laboratory. For specimens tested positive for COVID-19, the cases will be reported to the CHP for confirmation in accordance with prevailing mechanism. The participants concerned will be notified by CHP for admission to public hospitals for isolation as soon as possible. Participants should assume test result being negative if they do not receive notification in three working days after submitting the specimen.”
      
     The HA spokesman also appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary gatherings during the epidemic. For epidemic control and public safety, people are reminded to wear masks and maintain social distance while collecting or returning the specimens. Clinic staff will advise people at the end of the queue to leave and collect specimen collection packs on some other days or from other clinics, when there are too many people gathering at a particular clinic. The HA appealed for public understanding and cooperation towards the arrangements. read more

     The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) today (July 25) learned that a Customs Officer has preliminarily tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).The officer is posted to the Customs Marine Base, Stonecutters Island and mainly performed logistic duties. He made no contact with members of the public at work.

     The officer last performed his duties this Sunday and Monday (July 19-20). He felt unwell yesterday (July 24) and sought medical treatment at hospital. During the early hours of this morning, he was notified to have preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. Being under isolation treatment in hospital, the officer is in stable condition.

     The officer has no recent travel history. He has been wearing surgical masks when performing duties and has properly maintained social distancing with people he has had contact with. His body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.

     The department has been closely co-operating with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on the CHP’s epidemiological investigations. The colleagues working with the officer are asymptomatic. Customs has liaised with the CHP for arranging those officers to undergo COVID-19 testing. The concerned working places have also been arranged to undergo a thorough cleaning and sterilisation.

     C&ED is highly concerned about the epidemic of COVID-19 and has remained highly vigilant since the epidemic broke out. Relevant hygienic measures for infectious diseases provided by the CHP have been strictly adopted. All officers have their body temperatures checked before performing their duties. They are also required to wear proper personal protective equipment.

     The department will continue to step up the cleaning and sterilising measures for all working locations and remind all officers to strictly comply with the hygienic measures of infectious diseases provided by the CHP. The officers will also be reminded to consult a doctor promptly if they have any discomforting symptoms. read more

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 25) 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
No. 5, Hin Wo Lane, Sha Tin

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

Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue 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 read more

     Police today (July 25) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.      Mok Wai-pui, aged 52, went missing after he left his residence on Fung Shing Street … read more