Two women were each fined $5,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (July 22) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in January and December last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected two suspected unlicensed guesthouses on Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po and on Sai Yee Street in Prince Edward. During the inspections, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room or "capsule-like accommodation" in these guesthouses on a daily basis.
      
     According to the OLA's records, these guesthouses did not possess licences under the Ordinance on the days of inspection. The women responsible for managing the premises were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
      
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (July 22) 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 –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, 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

     A man who went missing in Tsing Yi has been located.

     Yeung Wah-kwong, aged 38, went missing after he left his residence in Cheung Hong Estate on July 7 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on July 19.

     The man was located at a park on Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui this morning (July 22).
     

     The results of the 2020 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination were released today (July 22). Young persons in custody obtained satisfactory results in the examination this year.
 
     A total of nine young persons in custody from Pik Uk Correctional Institution, Cape Collinson Correctional Institution and Lai King Correctional Institution enrolled in this year's HKDSE Examination. They took a total of 44 examination papers and obtained level 2 or above in 30 papers, or 68.2 per cent of all papers taken. A candidate at Cape Collinson Correctional Institution who scored the highest result, with 20 marks overall in the six papers taken, met the general entrance requirements for local universities. A candidate at Pik Uk Correctional Institution, who obtained 23 marks in six subjects but only attained level 2 in English last year, was determined to retake the English subject and finally achieved level 3 in the examination this year, enabling him to meet the general entrance requirements for local universities. He decided to take a social work course if admitted to university, and would make use of his personal experience to help people in society.
 
     The exams sat included the four core subjects of Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies as well as the two electives of Economics and Tourism and Hospitality Studies.
 
     Education has long been provided by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) to help young persons in custody further their studies, find jobs and reintegrate into society after their release.
 
     Assistant Commissioner (Rehabilitation) of the CSD, Mr Wan Ming-ki, said, "Study prepares persons in custody for their reintegration into society, and academic qualifications obtained in public examinations improve their chances of finding jobs or furthering their studies."
 
     Preparation of young persons in custody for the HKDSE Examination is not an easy task, Mr Wan added. Most of them only attained an academic level of junior secondary before entering the institution, yet manage to complete the three-year curriculum in less than a year. In the process, the persons in custody demonstrate their determination and perseverance in overcoming learning difficulties. Family support as well as guidance and assistance from CSD staff and teachers are also very important to them. In addition to gaining accredited qualifications, it is imperative that young persons in custody are able to establish positive attitudes and values through participation in examinations, Mr Wan said. He encouraged young persons in custody to continue to seize the chance to study and strive for a better future. He also called on the public to offer rehabilitated offenders equal opportunities and support their reintegration into society.
 
     The department provides a half-day education programme and half-day vocational training for young persons in custody under the age of 21. Guidance and assistance are also in place for adult persons in custody, who are encouraged to participate in studies on a voluntary basis.

      

     The Housing Department today (July 22) learnt that a senior technical officer has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

     The officer was identified as a close contact of the senior technical officer who was notified of testing positive for COVID-19 on July 16. The officer has been staying in a quarantine centre since July 16. The department was informed today that the officer concerned is now classified as a confirmed case.

     The officer works on the seventh floor of Block 3 at the Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters in Ho Man Tin. The floor concerned is not a public floor and is not open to the public. He last performed duties on July 15.

     The officer concerned has no recent travel history. He has been wearing facial masks when performing duties, his body temperature was normal and he followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. The department will continue to closely co-operate with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on disease prevention measures. The workplace of the officer concerned, including the common areas, has been fully cleaned and sterilised in accordance with the guidelines of the CHP.

     During the pandemic, the department has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the buildings, providing facial masks and other personal protective equipment for staff, and requesting staff to wear facial masks when in contact with others and at public places. Cleaning and sterilising measures for the working environment of the department have also been stepped up.

     The department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its quarantine work.