According to section 53(1) of the District Councils Ordinance, an election petition may be lodged with the Court of First Instance only during the period of two months following the date on which the Returning Officer has published … read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: ​As at noon today (January 29), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health (DH) the admission of 56 patients (31 male and 25 female, aged 13 … read more
​Hong Kong Customs launched a large-scale territory-wide special operation codenamed “Guardian” on January 27, with about 200 Customs officers mobilised to conduct spot checks and inspections in various districts on surgical masks available in the market regarding their compliance with the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO). As at today (January 29), inspections were conducted at over 180 retail spots selling surgical masks. The special operation is ongoing.
The spot check operation focused on three aspects of surgical masks, namely false origin claims, non-compliance with consumer goods safety standards and false trademarks. Up till now, Customs officers have inspected retail spots including chain stores, pharmacies, medicine stores and shops selling daily necessities. Apart from test purchases of surgical masks for safety tests, Customs has also contacted brand owners to assist in affirming the authenticity of the brands and origins. Customs also made test purchases on an Internet platform to inspect products’ trade descriptions, safety and trademarks.
The “Guardian” operation is ongoing to ensure that the surgical masks being sold in the market comply with the TDO and the CGSO. Immediate announcements will be made if any irregularities are spotted during the operation.
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, or sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark 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 supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong 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 subsequent conviction.
Customs has all along attached great importance to public safety and consumer rights. Law enforcement action will be taken immediately if any violation of the TDO or the CGSO is detected.
Customs reminds traders not to sell products with false origins or false trademarks, or unsafe consumer goods. Members of the public should also make purchases in reputable shops.
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).
In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 29) for people in need of the service.
The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 30) when the cold weather warning is still in force.
To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department’s hotline 2835 1473 for more information.
The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Districts
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Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts
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Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories
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Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung
North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung:
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long read more
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department today (January 29) announced an adjustment to the auto-LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations from February 1 to February 29, 2020, in accord… read more