The fourth report of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is available online today (February 4). 

     "The HKSAR report forms part of the third periodic report submitted by the People's Republic of China to the United Nations (UN) under the Covenant", a government spokesman said. 

     "The report sets out the progress of the implementation of the ICESCR in Hong Kong since the hearing on the previous report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 2014 till end 2018. It also responds to the concerns and recommendations of the Committee at the hearing."

     In line with established practice, the report will be examined by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in a future hearing, the date of which is to be fixed. 

     The full text of the report, in Chinese and English, is available on the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/press/reports_human.htm).  Copies of the report will be distributed to stakeholders, including Legislative Council Members, members of the Human Rights Forum, Children's Rights Forum, Ethnic Minorities Forum, Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony and relevant non-government organisations, as well as at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of District Offices later.

      Hong Kong Customs conducted a targeted operation in January to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities involving goods destined for the United States. About 10 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million were seized. 

     Through intelligence exchanges with the US customs authorities, Hong Kong Customs took enforcement action in January and stepped up inspection against suspicious express consignments destined for the United States. 

     During the operation, about 10 000 suspected counterfeit goods including medicine, mobile phones, handbags, shoes and clothing were seized. 

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions. 

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods with any forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). 
 

    

     The Government announced today (February 4) the appointment of eight new members and the re-appointment of 17 incumbent members to the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) for a two-year term from February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2022.

     In the coming two years, the LanDAC will be responsible for advising the Government, through the Secretary for Development, on initiatives and specific proposals which are conducive to realising the sustainable development and conservation of Lantau from a holistic perspective, so as to capitalise on the unique strategic advantages of Lantau for meeting the long-term social, housing and economic development needs of Hong Kong.

     Membership of the LanDAC from February 1, 2020 is as follows:

Chairman
———-
Secretary for Development

Non-official members
———————–
Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting
Mr Chan Kai-yip
Mr Marvin Chen#
Mr Dane Cheng#
Mr Holden Chow Ho-ding#
Dr Kenneth Chu Ting-kin
Ms Sammi Fu Hiu-lam#
Mr Francis Kwok Ching-kwong
Mr Billy Lam Chung-lun
Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing
Mr Lau Chun-kong#
Ms Rita Lau Suk-han#
Dr Michael Lau Wai-neng
Professor Joseph Lee Kok-long
Ms Liao Shu-hang
Professor Lo Hong-kam#
Professor Becky Loo Pui-ying
Dr Eunice Mak Hoi-cheung
Ms Alice Mak Mei-kuen
Mr Jack So Chak-kwong
Professor Nora Tam Fung-yee
Mr Andrew Wan Siu-kin
Mr Wong Man-hon#
Ms Elise Wong Sin-tung
Mr Randy Yu Hon-kwan

Ex-officio members
———————
Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) or representative
Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) or representative
Permanent Secretary for the Environment or representative
Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport) or representative
Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) or representative
Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs or representative
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism) or representative
Director of Civil Engineering and Development
Director of Planning

# new member

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (February 4), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health (DH) the admission of 64 patients (33 male and 31 female, aged 9 months to 81 years) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent. Specimens of the patients concerned have been sent for testing. There are still 88 patients under isolation.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     An operational event at Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) was reported on the website of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Ltd (YNPC), a Security Bureau spokesperson said today (February 4).

     In accordance with the arrangement agreed with the power grid, Unit 2 of YNPS was put in standby mode during the Lunar New Year holidays. On February 2, the server of the computer information and control system of Unit 2 experienced a malfunction. Station staff took timely action to switch to the backup control system to continue to monitor the condition of the Unit. The fault was swiftly resolved, and the system promptly returned to normal condition. During the repair, Unit 2 remained in a safe condition all along.
 
     After the aforementioned event, YNPC has taken timely action to report the situation to the relevant regulatory authority. The event was classified as Level 0 in accordance with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations, and had no effect on the safe operation of the nuclear power station or on the health of the workers, the nearby public or the environment.
 
     YNPC has disclosed the details of this event on its website. They can be viewed at the "operational events" section under the "nuclear and radiation safety information" webpage of the YNPC website (www.yjnp.com.cn) (Chinese only).