Meetings of Legislative Council and its Committees

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

Details of the meetings of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees to be held in the LegCo Complex during the week from January 13 to ‍17 are available in the meeting schedule attached.

The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.

Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo and its Committees. Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.

Tender amounts submitted for site in Tai Hang

The Lands Department announced today (January 10) that in respect of the tender for the site Inland Lot No. 9076 at No. 135 Tai Hang Road, Hong Kong, which was awarded on December 18, 2019, to the successful tenderer, Bright Vision International Limited (parent company: CITIC Pacific Limited), on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $3,200,000,000, the tender amounts submitted by the unsuccessful tenderers in descending order are published on an anonymous basis as follows:

(1)	$3,066,000,000
(2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24)	$2,873,243,500 $2,705,800,000 $2,699,999,999 $2,610,000,000 $2,608,000,000 $2,600,080,000 $2,543,880,000 $2,438,000,000 $2,433,624,360 $2,322,000,000 $2,320,000,000 $2,220,000,000 $2,204,800,000 $2,100,300,000 $2,083,180,000 $1,933,000,000 $1,786,800,000 $1,720,000,000 $1,700,000,000 $1,560,000,000 $1,538,000,000 $1,500,000,000 $1,000,000,000

The information disclosed in this press release is for information only.

Special traffic arrangements for race meeting in Sha Tin tomorrow

Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (January 11).

The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

Cluster of Rhinovirus cases in Castle Peak Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Castle Peak Hospital made the following announcement today (January 10):

     Ten patients (aged 56 to 75) in a female forensic psychiatric ward had presented with respiratory symptoms since January 7. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Rhinovirus. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

Hong Kong Customs conducts territory-wide spot checks on safety of folding tables and chairs (with photos)

Hong Kong Customs has conducted a special operation, starting on January 7 and concluding today (January 10), during which inspections of folding table and chair products were made at 80 retailing shops across the territory. Meetings with trade representatives were also held to ensure the sector's compliance with the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO).

The operation was conducted on two levels. On the retail level, Customs inspected a total of 80 retail spots in different districts that sell folding tables and chairs. The spots visited included chain and non-chain stores. Inspection officers made on-site checks on the availability of locking devices on tables and chairs and saw whether they worked properly. Initial inspection found no folding tables and chairs that were suspected of contravening the CGSO. Locking devices were also found to be functioning normally. Apart from carrying out on-site inspections, officers test-bought samples as well for safety tests.

Apart from conducting the retail inspection, officers also met with trade representatives to remind them that folding table and chair products must comply with the CGSO requirements. The representatives were also advised to provide clear and bilingual instructions and safety tips for customers' safe use. Both sides also discussed the possible refinement of locking device design.

Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and using folding table and chair products:

Three Dos

Do purchase a product with a locking device;
Do lock the product right after unfolding it. Check if the locking device operates normally and see in particular if there is any ageing or breakage; and
Do stop using the product if the locking device is broken.

Three Don'ts

Don't adjust the locking device arbitrarily for the sake of convenience, no matter whether the device is an automatic one or not;
Don't allow children to play with the product; and
Don't let children staying alone use the product.

Traders should pay attention to the CGSO, under which 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, including the consideration on whether there are any reasonable means to make the consumer goods safer. 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 been combating consistently the sale of products that fall short of the CGSO. Law enforcement action will be taken immediately if any violation of the CGSO is detected.

A total of 557 safety inspections on folding tables and chairs were conducted in the past three years and no case of CGSO violation was found.

The spot-check operations are ongoing.

Members of the public with information relating to unsafe consumer goods may make a report via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).