The concrete batching plant of China Concrete Company Limited located on Tung Yuen Street in Yau Tong was convicted and fined $8,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (July 9) for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) as a result of not operating in accordance with a licence condition again.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been closely monitoring environmental nuisances caused by the non-compliant operation of concrete batching plants in Yau Tong. Enforcement officers of the EPD conducted a blitz inspection in December last year and found that the vehicle cleaning facility of the aforementioned concrete batching plant was not operating properly. As a result, concrete mixers carried dust and mud stuck to their bodies and wheels to public roads when leaving the plant, breaching the relevant condition of a specified process licence. After collecting evidence, the EPD initiated a prosecution against China Concrete Company Limited.

     According to the conditions of licences issued under the APCO, the body and wheels of a concrete mixer must be washed thoroughly with pressurised water sprays before the vehicle leaves a concrete batching plant. In addition, wastewater generated from vehicle cleaning must be properly collected and treated. A spokesperson for the EPD reminded the concrete manufacturing sector that they must strictly adhere to the conditions of their licences, and properly manage as well as adopt their concrete manufacturing procedures. They must also adopt the best practicable pollution control measures to avoid polluting the environment and adversely affecting nearby residents.

     First-time offenders breaching the conditions of licences issued under the APCO may be liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on a second or a subsequent conviction.

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, held a press conference this morning (July 9) to announce the results of three direct investigation reports. The reports are "Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Allocation of Swimming Lanes in Public Swimming Pools and Its Monitoring Mechanism", "Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Regulation of Public Coaching Activities at Public Swimming Pools" and "Utilisation of Low-charge Hospital Beds in Private Hospitals". Details of the reports can be found on the website of the Office of The Ombudsman: ofomb.ombudsman.hk/abc/en-us/news.

        

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, July 9, 2020 is 106.9 (down 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The service hours of two service points of Mobile Library 9 at Oi Tung Estate in Aldrich Bay and Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan will be extended from July 14 (Tuesday), while the mobile library stop at Kut Shing Street in Chai Wan will be suspended on the same day, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 9).
 
     For the service point at Oi Tung Estate in Aldrich Bay, the additional service period will run from 10am to 1pm on every alternate Tuesday (except public holidays). The existing opening hours from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm every Thursday (except public holidays) will remain unchanged.
 
     For the service point at Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan, the additional service period will run from 2.30pm to 6pm on every alternate Tuesday (except public holidays). The existing opening hours from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm every Saturday (except public holidays) will remain unchanged.
 
     For enquiries about Mobile Library 9 services, please call 2505 4690.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 9) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza in Quang Ngai Province in Vietnam, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the province with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Vietnam for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 650,000 poultry eggs from Vietnam in the first three months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Vietnamese authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.