Author Archives: hksar gov

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting tomorrow (May 27) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the National Anthem Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill 2019, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions) Bill 2020, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Ship Leasing Tax Concessions) Bill 2020, the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Bill, the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018, the Occupational Retirement Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2019, the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Supplementary Appropriation (2018-2019) Bill will also resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.

     On Member’s Bill, the Second Reading debate on the St. John’s College (Amendment) Bill 2019 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present “The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 73 of February 2020” and address the Council.
 
     On Members’ motions, Ms Yung Hoi-yan and Ms Alice Mak will move separate motions under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Ms Claudia Mo and Mr Dennis Kwok. The motions are set out in Appendices 1 and 2 respectively.
 
     Mr Lam Cheuk-ting and Ms Mo will move two separate motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the incident of assaults occurred in Yuen Long Station of West Rail Line of the MTR Corporation Limited on July 21, 2019. The motions are set out in Appendices 3 and 4 respectively.
 
     Mr Alvin Yeung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Mr Kwong Chun-yu will move three separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law and the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the incident of assaults occurred in Prince Edward Station of the MTR Corporation Limited on August 31, 2019. The motions are set out in Appendices 5-7 respectively.
 
     Ms Tanya Chan, Dr Kwok, Dr Fernando Cheung and Mr Kenneth Leung will move seven separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law and the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the Police’s handling of protesters and persons performing duties in the protests during the “anti-extradition to China” movement. The motions are set out in Appendices 8-14 respectively.
 
     Mr Chung Kwok-pan and Dr Priscilla Leung will move two separate motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the causes and consequences of the social conflicts or disturbances arising from the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and related matters. The motions are set out in Appendices 15 and 16 respectively. Mr James To will move an amendment to Dr Leung’s motion.
 
     Mr Charles Mok, Mr Jeremy Tam and Dr Kwok will also move four separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon persons concerned to produce papers and testify. The motions are set out in Appendices 17-20 respectively.
 
     Meanwhile, Mr Kwok will move a motion on no confidence in the Fifth Term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as set out in Appendix 21. Ms Mo will move an amendment to Mr Kwok’s motion.
 
     Mr Ho Kai-ming will move a motion on ensuring children’s right to play for them to grow up happily. The motion is set out in Appendix 22. Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Dr Kwok, Dr Cheung, Dr Chiang Lai-wan and Mr Hui Chi-fung will move separate amendments to Mr Ho’s motion.
 
     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 21 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 26) provided an update on its investigation into the suspected food poisoning cases involving sandwiches announced on May 21, 22 and 25, and reminded… read more

     The Government received over 14 000 applications under the Subsidy Scheme for Beauty Parlours, Massage Establishments and Party Rooms launched under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund of the Government. The vetting of applic… read more

     A 42-year-old man was fined $10,000 by the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts today (May 26) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).
 
     The man was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was stopped by staff of the Immigration Department at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao-Bridge Control Point on March 24. He was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was fined $10,000 by the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts.
 
     A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and that the Government will not tolerate such actions. The spokesman reiterated that compliance with quarantine orders is of paramount importance in Hong Kong’s fight against COVID-19.
 
     Pursuant to the Regulation, save for exempted persons, all persons who have stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan in the 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality or travel documents, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Moreover, pursuant to the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E), starting from March 19, all persons arriving from countries or territories outside China would also be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. The DH solemnly reminds persons under quarantine to comply with the statutory requirements and conduct quarantine for 14 days. read more

     Tai Wo Recycle Resources (HK) Limited in North District and CP Leader Environmental Technology Limited as well as Eastone Investment Limited in Yuen Long did not comply with the relevant requirement of air pollution abatement notices to reduce odour emissions from the production of plastic pellets by a deadline. The three companies were convicted and fined a total of $22,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (May 26) and on May 19 and 5 respectively for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been greatly concerned about the pollution caused by open-air waste plastic recycling yards in the New Territories recently. The department has conducted targeted operations and stepped up law enforcement actions to combat non-compliance. During a series of operations carried out by enforcement officers of the EPD from the latter half of last year until now, air pollution abatement notices have been issued to 18 recycling yards, requesting them to reduce odour emissions from the production of plastic pellets by a deadline. After the expiry of the deadline, enforcement officers of the EPD discovered that eight of the recycling yards, including the three companies mentioned above, did not improve on their non-compliant situations and continued to cause odour nuisance, which allegedly contravened the APCO. The EPD then took follow-up action against the recycling yards. In addition to the three convicted companies, the remaining five cases are either under investigation by the EPD or being scheduled for hearings in the courts.

     A spokesman for the EPD reminded operators of waste plastic recycling yards that they must properly service and maintain their waste plastic management facilities with a view to ensuring their effective operation. They should equip their recycling yards with suitable and effective air pollution control equipment, for instance adopting fully enclosed production lines and installing effective ventilation as well as air purifying systems for their production lines to reduce air pollutant emission. In addition, operators of waste plastic recycling yards should arrange for experienced technicians to carry out regular inspections and maintenance so as to avoid causing air pollution nuisance to residents nearby. The EPD will continue to closely monitor the performance of waste plastic recycling yards in terms of environmental protection and strictly combat illegal activities.

     According to the APCO, anyone failing to comply with any requirement of an air pollution abatement notice commits an offence. Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 on a first conviction. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment may be imposed on a subsequent conviction. read more