Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Home Affairs Bureau today (June 5) made the following statement on a “Joint Special Meeting of 17 District Councils” to be held by 17 District Councils (DCs) on June 6.
      
     Seventeen DCs, including Eastern, Wan Chai, Southern, Central and Western, Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po, North, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, will hold a “Joint Special Meeting of 17 District Councils” on June 6 to discuss the National People’s Congress Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security.
      
     It is specified in section 61 of the District Councils Ordinance (the Ordinance) (Cap. 547) that functions of a DC are to, inter alia, advise the Government on issues related to the district as stipulated in the Ordinance. Items and documents to be discussed in a DC must be compatible with the DC functions specified in the Ordinance. According to the DC Standing Orders of the districts, the Chairman shall approve the agenda of a meeting of DC and shall ensure that the agenda items are compatible with the functions of DC as stipulated in section 61 of the Ordinance.
      
     In view that the topic to be discussed at the above meeting is not an issue at the district level, and is not compatible with the DC functions specified in section 61 of the Ordinance, this DC meeting is legally invalid and the DC secretariats cannot provide secretariat service for the meeting, and staff from District Offices and DC secretariats will neither attend the meeting nor take any follow-up actions regarding the item discussed in the meeting. 

     The Government urged DC members to focus on livelihood issues and advise the Government on district affairs from a pragmatic perspective. read more

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the Police Force today (June 5) to learn more about the use of technology in police investigations and to meet with staff of various grades to exchange views on matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management), Mr Kwok Yam-shu, Mr Nip first visited the Crime Support Group and was briefed on the functions and operation of the Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System. The system is used mainly in work such as large-scale incident case investigations, the identification of victims in disasters and epidemic case analyses.

     Mr Nip was particularly interested in knowing how the Police make use of the system to assist the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health in the tracing of the sources of infection and relevant contact tracing for confirmed cases during the COVID-19 epidemic.

     Mr Nip then proceeded to the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau to receive an update on the bureau’s work in combating technology crime and safeguarding cyber security in Hong Kong, as well as on the challenges ahead. He also toured the Cyber Range, which is equipped with advanced training management systems to facilitate team-based simulation exercises on cyber defence in a virtual environment. The range helps enhance the Force’s capabilities in detecting cyber threats and handling cyber security incidents.

     Mr Nip expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Police colleagues for displaying dedication and professionalism in coping with the challenges arising from social incidents during the past year and the COVID-19 epidemic.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Nip met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to listen and exhange views with them on issues of concern. He also conveyed his warmest regards to those police officers who were attacked and had sustained injuries in the social incidents last year. He encouraged them to continue to stand fast in their posts and protect the safety of the public.

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Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Serv… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on “Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China” (Chapter 2) of the Director of Audit’s Report No.74 at 9am tomorrow (June 6) in Conference Room 2 of the LegCo Complex.
 
     Five witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by the PAC members.
 
     The programme for the public hearing is as follows:

Date: June 6 (Saturday)
Time: 9am
Venue: Conference Room 2

Subject: Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (Chapter 2 of the Director of Audit’s Report No.74)

Witnesses:
Mr Caspar Tsui
Secretary for Home Affairs
 
Mr Yeung Tak-keung
Commissioner for Sports
 
Mr Paul Cheng
Principal Assistant Secretary (Recreation and Sport) 1
Home Affairs Bureau
  
Mr Ronnie Wong
Honorary Secretary General, Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China
 
Mr Abraham Cheng
Executive Director, Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

     The PAC is chaired by Mr Abraham Shek, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Kenneth Leung. Other members include Mr Paul Tse, Mr Steven Ho, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Shiu Ka-fai and Ms Tanya Chan. read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs today (June 5) searched four pharmacies in Mong Kok and Tsuen Wan and seized 464 boxes containing a total of 23 200 surgical masks with a suspected false description of the distributor’s address. A director and three salespersons of the pharmacies involved were arrested for suspected violation of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). Customs appeals to members of the public to stop using the surgical mask concerned since its source is unknown.

     Customs earlier received information alleging that one type of surgical mask labelled with “USA Face Mask” supplied by a pharmacy was suspected of bearing a false description of the distributor’s address. A test-buy operation and follow-up investigation were conducted upon receiving the allegation.

     Customs sent the test-bought sample to the laboratory for tests on bacterial counts and test results revealed that the sample is in compliance with the bacterial count standard. However, investigation revealed that the information about the distributor was a false claim. Customs officers today conducted enforcement action and searched four pharmacies in Mong Kok and Tsuen Wan concurrently. A total of 464 boxes of surgical masks with the suspected false description of the distributor’s address were seized. The mask was packed in boxes of 50 pieces each and was sold for $100. The three men and one woman arrested in the operation, aged between 30 and 39, have been released on bail for further investigation.

     Investigation of the case is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not excluded. 

     Customs again reminds members of the public to observe the following tips when purchasing surgical masks:
 

• Pay attention to the product descriptions shown on labels, including the manufacturing date and the validity period;
• Check the packaging of surgical masks to see if there is any damage and if the masks have any stains or odd smells. Do not make purchases if in doubt;
• Check with the shopkeepers immediately when there is any doubt; and
• Purchase surgical masks at reputable retail shops.

     This enforcement action is part of the “Guardian” operation, which has been running for more than four months since its launch on January 27. About 5 000 officers have been mobilised to conduct over 33 000 inspections at retail spots in various districts to ensure that common protective items sold in the market comply with the TDO and the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO).

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Under the CGSO, it is an offence to import, manufacture or supply consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.

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