Tag Archives: China

     The special arrangement for renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences implemented in previous years before Budget Day has proved to be effective in avoiding a rush. The arrangement will be adopted again this year.

     “The special arrangement was effective in maintaining the number of applications for renewal of vehicle or driving licences at more or less the normal level during the last few days before the Budget announcement. There was no abnormal queuing and the arrangement was well received by the public,” a Transport Department (TD) spokesman said today (February 15).

     Details of the arrangement for this year are as follows:

* All vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 27), i.e. vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and with licence expiry dates falling on or before June 26, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, at any time up to and including June 26.

* All full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructor’s licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 27), i.e. those expiring on or before June 26 and those that have expired for less than three years at the time of renewal, can be renewed at the present rate at any time up to and including June 26.

     The special arrangement only applies to the renewal of vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructor’s licences that meet the conditions above. It does not apply to any other licensing services.

     It is not necessary for eligible licence holders to rush to TD licensing offices to renew their licences on speculation that those licence fees may increase in the coming Budget.

     “The arrangement is made solely to deal with the potential problem of long queues. The content of the Budget is a separate issue on which the TD has no information,” the spokesman emphasised.

     At present, applications for renewal of vehicle and driving licences can be submitted online, by post and via the drop-in boxes in the four licensing offices of the TD and designated Post Offices. Members of the public are encouraged to renew their licences through these channels. read more

     The Government today (February 15) announced the appointment of three new members and the re-appointment of one incumbent member to the Committee on Financial Assistance for Family Members of those who Sacrifice their Lives to Save Others for a term of two years with effect from today.
 
     The three new members are Mr Law King-shing, Ms May Wong May-kwan and Miss Edna Chow On-lai.
 
     Mr Law King-shing is the Chairman of the Kwai Tsing District Council and currently serves in the Municipal Services Appeals Board.
 
     Ms May Wong May-kwan is the Executive Director of Hans Andersen Club and has served in the Advisory Committee of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged.
 
     Miss Edna Chow On-lai is the Regional Training and Development Manager of SMCP Asia Limited and currently serves in the Committee on Services for Youth at Risk.
 
     Incumbent member Ms Liu Po-chu has been re-appointed. She is a professional accountant and currently serves in the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, welcomed the appointments and said he looked forward to working closely with members of the Committee in the new term. He also thanked the three outgoing members, Mr Suen Kai-cheong, Mr Weber Lo Wai-pak and Dr Annissa Lui Wai-ling, for their contribution to the work of the Committee during their term of appointment.
 
     The Committee considers and approves applications under the Financial Assistance Scheme to Family Members of those who Sacrifice their Lives to Save Others. The Scheme represents the Government’s recognition of the brave acts and sacrifice undertaken by these individuals and seeks to alleviate the financial hardship that their family members may face as a consequence of their death.
 
     The membership list of the Committee with effect from today is as follows:
 
Chairman:
Secretary for Labour and Welfare
 
Members:
Miss Edna Chow On-lai
Mr Law King-shing
Ms Liu Po-chu
Ms May Wong May-kwan read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Twilight” from February 11 to 14. A total of 16 illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested.
      
     During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 23 target locations including a company, construction sites, a farm, a garbage collection point, a park, a residential building, restaurants, shops and warehouses. Sixteen illegal workers and four employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised seven men and nine women, aged 24 to 59. Among them, one woman was a holder of recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. Meanwhile, three men and one woman, aged 23 to 41, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
      
     “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties,” an ImmD spokesman said.
 
     The 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. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
      
     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 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 screening of 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 threat 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 interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

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     The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) announced today (February 15) the launch of the new Enriched Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Training Programme for the Elderly, on top of a new round of the ICT Outreach Programme for the Elderly, to promote digital inclusion among the elderly at different levels and serve more elderly persons.
      
     The new Enriched ICT Training Programme is a two-year programme for elderly persons on basic ICT knowledge. Eleven Elder Academies (EAs) have been commissioned to run relevant training courses. Elderly people can take advanced training courses at these EAs to learn about the adoption of digital technology in their daily lives, such as how to use e-Government services, mobile applications and social media. Students in the district can also take part in the voluntary work of the EAs, such as by serving as teaching assistants, to exchange experience in digital living with the elderly, which will in turn foster harmony between elderly people and the young.
      
     Apart from enhancing their own ICT knowledge, participants who have completed the training courses will be able to serve as trainers to help more elderly people acquire technology knowledge. The measure will further assist the elderly in coping with the development of the digital society, thus achieving greater digital inclusion. 
      
     The EAs are currently formulating detailed arrangements for the training courses. Enrolment is expected to commence in the second quarter of this year. The 11 EAs are located across the territory:
 

Region	Elder Academy joining the Enriched ICT Training Programme
Hong Kong Island	HKSKH Eastern District Elder Academy Hong Kong Island Elder Academies Cluster
Kowloon	Institute of Active Ageing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon West Elder Academies Cluster LST YKH & Buddhist HWCP Innovation Elder Academy
New Territories	Elder Academy of the Open University of Hong Kong Kiangsu-Chekiang (Shatin) Elder Academy New Territories West Elder Academies Cluster Pak Kau Caritas Elder Academy Pui Shing Elder Academy TM Hope Elder Academy

 
     “A web-based learning portal organised by the OGCIO will also be launched in the second half of this year. Online learning resources targeting the elderly and those in need will be collated and developed through non-profit-making organisations and EAs. These resources will subsequently be made available on this dedicated online platform to facilitate learning with an interesting approach and inspire them to embrace smart living,” a spokesman for the OGCIO added.
      
     Separately, the OGCIO regularised the ICT Outreach Programme from 2018-19 onwards and extended it to a two-year programme, allowing greater flexibility for non-profit-making organisations in planning activities. The new round of the Outreach Programme commenced at the end of 2018, with the Caritas Hong Kong-Services for the Elderly, the Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club, the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, the Po Leung Kuk and the Yan Chai Hospital Social Services Department as participating organisations. Since its launch in 2014, the response to the Outreach Programme has been overwhelming, benefitting over 5 700 institutionalised and “hidden” elderly people, as well as those receiving day care centre and home care services and elderly people with dementia.
      
     The spokesman for the OGCIO said, “The Government has been striving to implement various digital inclusion initiatives. Over $20 million in funding support will be allocated in the coming two years for the two Programmes. We look forward to creating an ambience of ICT adoption among the elderly. By encouraging elderly persons to pass on knowledge they acquired to their peers, we hope that the Programmes not only help them embrace the benefits of ICT adoption, but also strengthen their connection with the community and their self-confidence, thus bringing them a joyful and flourishing life in their golden years.”
      
     Details of the two Programmes can be viewed via www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/our_work/community/ict_programmes_for_elderly. read more

     The Government published in the Gazette today (February 15) the Financial Reporting Council (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 in an effort to enhance the regulatory regime for auditors of listed entities. 
 
     The Amendment Ordinance enables the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to become a comprehensive and independent oversight body regulating auditors of listed entities, and to be responsible for the inspection, investigation and disciplinary functions with regard to these auditors. Under the new regime, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants will continue to perform the statutory functions of registration, setting requirements for continuing professional development, and also setting standards on professional ethics, auditing and assurance in respect of relevant auditors, subject to oversight by the FRC.    
    
     The Amendment Ordinance ensures that Hong Kong’s regulatory regime for auditors of listed entities is benchmarked against international standards and practice, and will also enable Hong Kong to be eligible for joining the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators, which is an important forum for international co-operation on the regulation of auditors.
 
     A government spokesperson said, “The Amendment Ordinance enhances the existing regulatory regime for auditors of listed entities, allowing it to be independent from the audit profession, thereby providing better protection to investors. This is crucial to strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre and capital market. We are working closely with relevant parties on the preparations for implementing the new regulatory regime as soon as practicable.”
 
     The Amendment Ordinance was enacted by the Legislative Council on January 30, 2019, and will commence operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury by notice published in the Gazette. read more