Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (July 14) to consider five applications for new issue, renewal and amendment of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):

Hong Kong:
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PIRATINO in Sheung Wan
STARBUCKS COFFEE in Central
CHUKFO TAIPAN RESTAURANT in Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
————
LM CAFE in Tsim Sha Tsui
“Sun Yau Kei Restaurant” in Yau Ma Tei

     The board will also consider revocation of the liquor licence of Annapurna in Sheung Wan.

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai. In response to the latest developments of coronavirus disease 2019, to avoid the gathering of people in an enclosed environment and safeguard the health of all participants, only half of the public seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for all open hearings of the LLB in the interim. read more

     The total number of local companies registered under the Companies Ordinance was 1,381,355 as at the end of June this year, compared to 1,380,185 by the end of 2019, according to the statistics released by the Companies Registry today (July 12).
 
     A total of 48,760 local companies were newly registered during the first half of 2020, which shows a decrease of 19.66 per cent when compared to the figure in the second half of 2019.
 
     The Registrar of Companies, Ms Ada Chung, said, “To implement one of the relief measures to support enterprises as announced by the Financial Secretary in the 2020-21 Budget, the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 will take effect on October 1 to waive the registration fees of annual returns delivered on time for two years. 
 
     “With a view to encouraging the wider use of the Registry’s electronic services, the fees payable for the incorporation of companies and registration of non-Hong Kong companies through electronic means will also be reduced by 10 per cent with effect from October 1.”
 
     Ms Chung said, “To foster the position of Hong Kong as a premier international asset and wealth management centre, the Limited Partnership Fund Bill introduced by the Government into the Legislative Council was passed on July 9.” She added that the new regime would help to attract private equity and venture capital funds to set up and operate in Hong Kong so as to facilitate the channelling of capital into corporates, especially start-ups in the innovation and technology field in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     Regarding non-Hong Kong companies that have established a place of business in Hong Kong, 876 companies were newly registered under the Companies Ordinance in the first half of 2020, compared to 1,093 in the second half of 2019. The total number of registered non-Hong Kong companies reached 13,117 by the end of June 2020.
 
     The number of charges on assets of companies received for registration in the first half of 2020 was 7,634, a 25.43 per cent decrease from 10,238 in the second half of 2019. The number of notifications of payments and releases received for registration in the first half of 2020 was 7,836, a decrease of 25.69 per cent when compared to 10,545 in the second half of 2019.
 
     The number of documents delivered for registration during the first six months of 2020 decreased by 12.14 per cent to 1,395,062, compared to 1,587,910 in the second half of 2019.
 
     A total of 2,422,311 searches of document image records were conducted using the Registry’s electronic search services in the first half of 2020, a decrease of 5.10 per cent compared to the figure of 2,552,529 in the second half of 2019.
 
     As for the licensing of trust or company service providers, during the first half of 2020, a total of 235 trust or company service provider licences were granted. The number of licensees reached 7,013 as at the end of June. 
 
     For details of the half-yearly statistics, please visit the “Statistics” section of the Registry’s website (www.cr.gov.hk). read more

     Two property co-owners of a premises in Sheung Shui were fined about $24,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts earlier for failing to comply with a statutory notice issued under the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS) according to the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO). The penalty is the highest amount so far imposed in such cases.

     The case related to a premises in a 49-year-old, three-storey, composite building located at Lung Sum Avenue. A statutory notice was issued under section 30C(4) of the BO requiring the co-owners of the premises to appoint a qualified person to carry out an inspection and, if necessary, repairs of the windows in the premises.

     Since the two property co-owners failed to comply with the statutory notice, they were prosecuted by the Buildings Department (BD) and were convicted and fined on June 2.

     “Failing to comply with a statutory notice without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner”, a spokesman of the BD said today (July 12).

     Pursuant to section 40(1BD) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory notice served on him or her, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to imprisonment for three months, as well as a further fine of $2,000 for each day that the offence has continued. read more

     The Home Affairs Department has opened 19 temporary heat shelters today (July 12) as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.
 
     The shelters will be closed at 10pm if the warning is cancelled before 4.30pm. Otherwise, the shelters will be open until 8am tomorrow.
 
     For further information, please call the department’s hotline on 2572 8427.
 
     The 19 temporary heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
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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
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:
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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 read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 12) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming, sweating or toweling off; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may obtain more information from the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. read more