The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, May 25, 2020 is 109.2 (up 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, May 23, 2020 was 109.1 (up 0.1 against last Friday’s index). read more
The National People’s Congress will deliberate a draft Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security.
The Director of Fire Services, Mr Joseph Leung, said that the Fire Services Department (FSD), as a member of the HKSAR disciplinary forces, fully supports the Security Bureau in leading all disciplinary forces to discharge their due duties for safeguarding national security and the safety of Hong Kong.
In the past year, the violence in Hong Kong has been escalating, with rioters wilfully blocking roads, setting fires and hurling petrol bombs, and the FSD frontline personnel have been obstructed to varying degrees in carrying out their duties. This has posed extremely serious challenges and threats to the department’s firefighting, rescue and ambulance services, which the FSD needs to provide as quickly as possible. The FSD strongly condemns the acts of the rioters.
The FSD will continue to unfailingly support the Police to take resolute enforcement actions to stop violence and curb disorder. Meanwhile, as in the past, the department will remain steadfast in its duties, stand united to fulfil its statutory duties, and strive to protect the lives and properties of the public, making Hong Kong a safe place to live and work.
Mr Leung said the FSD firmly believes that as long as the Government practically and effectively prevents and curbs any acts of violence and terrorism, we can effectively safeguard national security and ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under “one country, two systems”. read more
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (May 25) released the latest maintenance cost information on lifts in private residential and commercial premises for public reference.
The EMSD had earlier engaged an independent consultant to conduct a sampling survey on the maintenance costs of lifts in private residential and commercial buildings in Hong Kong. The consultant analysed the data collected from some 7 600 lifts at about 1 760 locations, and calculated the average monthly maintenance costs of the lifts as follows:
Private Residential Buildings
| Lift travel level | Rated speed of lift | Average monthly lift maintenance cost | Changes as compared with last survey (Note) |
| 1 to 15 | ≤1.0m/s >1.0m/s |
$4,127 $5,034 |
+1.5% +3.3% |
| 16 to 25 | ≤1.5m/s >1.5m/s |
$4,714 $5,993 |
+4.6% +6.0% |
| 26 to 35 | ≤1.75m/s >1.75m/s |
$5,752 $7,498 |
+3.3% +3.2% |
| More than 35 | ≤2.5m/s >2.5m/s |
$8,053 $8,892 |
+0.1% +0.5% |
| Lift travel level | Rated speed of lift | Average monthly lift maintenance cost | Changes as compared with last survey (Note) |
| 1 to 15 | ≤1.5m/s >1.5m/s |
$5,285 $7,525 |
+2.8% +2.7% |
| 16 to 25 | ≤2.0m/s >2.0m/s |
$6,484 $10,773 |
+0.1% +2.8% |
| 26 to 35 | ≤3.0m/s >3.0m/s |
$8,511 $13,937 |
+2.3% +5.6% |
| More than 35 | ≤3.5m/s >3.5m/s |
$14,314 $21,548 |
+2.8% +0.9% |
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 25) that the Spiral Lookout Tower in Tai Po Waterfront Park will be temporarily closed from June 1 to 21 for repair works. read more
Two illegal workers comprising one Vietnamese and one Indian were jailed by Shatin and Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on May 22 and 23 respectively.
During operation “Breakthrough” conducted on May 20, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. A female Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 60, was arrested while working as a dish washing worker. In addition, ImmD investigators raided a hotel in Tsuen Wan. A male Indian illegal worker, age 36, was arrested while working as a garbage collection worker. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was also arrested and investigation is ongoing.
The two illegal workers were charged at Shatin and Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on May 22 and 23 respectively with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were each sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screenings on vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more