Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, in the Legislative Council today (December 18):
 
Question:
 
     Some scientists have pointed out that global warming has resulted in the sea level rising continuously. It has been reported that according to the findings of a recent projection made with a new digital elevation model for geographic information, it is forecast that under high carbon emission scenarios, by 2050, up to 340 million people worldwide will be exposed to the threats of sea level rise. By then, extensive areas in Hong Kong (including Kam Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, Tseung Kwan O, the airport in Chek Lap Kok, Kai Tak, Kowloon East and Kowloon West) may face permanent inundation. In respect of addressing the threats of inundation, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that the Government has earmarked $300 million to develop a Common Spatial Data Infrastructure and a three-dimensional digital map of the whole territory, and the project may help in the prediction of areas to be affected by flooding, whether the project will collect, process and analyse data on climate change and sea level rise, as well as on the flooding risks of various districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) of the measures put in place to further promote the use of innovation and technology in addressing the threats of inundation in various districts brought about by global warming; and
 
(3) as the Civil Engineering and Development Department commissioned a consultant in April this year to undertake a feasibility study entitled "Coastal Hazards under Climate Change and Extreme Weather and Formulation of Improvement Measures", whether the scope of the study covers all the aforesaid districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; when the findings of the study will be published?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     As climate change goes drastic, threats induced by extreme weather are expected to be more frequent and severe, to which the Government has been attached great importance. To step up climate actions and to draw up long-term policies, the Government established an inter-departmental Steering Committee on Climate Change (SCCC) under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for Administration to steer and co-ordinate the climate actions of various bureaux and departments in April 2016. The Government also announced the Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ in January 2017, setting out in details the new targets and key measures on mitigation, adaptation and resilience to combat climate change. Under the directive of the SCCC, the Climate Change Working Group on Infrastructure was formed to co-ordinate efforts among works departments to combat the adverse effects brought by climate change and extreme weather on government infrastructures.
 
     The Government noted a recent report published by a foreign agency stating that there could be widespread flooding in Hong Kong coastal areas by 2050. Based on the observations of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), the global digital elevation model adopted by the concerned research institute has not taken into account the local measured data in Hong Kong. The application of such model in the Hong Kong areas may cause considerable limitations and uncertainties in the prediction.
      
     Having consulted the advice from relevant bureaux and departments, we provide a consolidated response to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Lau below:

(1) The Government has announced in the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong to develop a Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) and three-dimensional (3D) digital map to provide government departments as well as public and private organisations with an information infrastructure to share spatial data, supporting various smart city applications. According to the development progress of the CSDI and the 3D digital map, it is anticipated that spatial data to be released through the CSDI after 2022 will cover across different government bureaux and departments (B/Ds). B/Ds and public and private organisations can effectively incorporate relevant spatial data into the 3D digital map, which will be rolled out by 2023, to support a wide range of smart city's application and analyses. Relevant weather and flooding data, such as rainfall intensity and tidal data, can be consolidated and released through the CSDI to facilitate relevant B/Ds to evaluate effect of flooding arising from weather change and formulate contingency measures.
 
(2) Government departments have been proactively introducing innovative technologies to enhance the capability of infrastructure in coping with climate change and extreme weather. Apart from the CSDI and the 3D digital map mentioned in the above item (1), the Drainage Services Department (DSD) adopts the state-of-the-art numerical hydraulic models to review the existing drainage system under the ongoing Drainage Master Plan Review Studies to formulate drainage improvement measures. This will further enhance the stormwater drainage capacity and hence reduce the risk of flooding. The DSD also makes good use of technology to co-ordinate emergency clearance of blocked drains and watercourses throughout the territory. For instance, the performance of crucial hydraulic structures will be closely monitored by telemetry and video. Water levels of major rivers and channels are also real-time monitored under the Flood Monitoring and Reporting System. Rainfall, tide levels and water levels data are collected at the sites and continuously sent back to the monitoring centre. With these real-time hydraulic data, the DSD can quickly analyse any flooding situation and, when necessary, timely liaise with other departments for their planning and arrangement of rescue, evacuation and flood shelters as appropriate. In addition, the DSD and relevant departments have set up an early alert system at storm surge spots and overtopping wave spots. According to the alert system, the HKO will issue early alert to relevant persons regarding the forecast of storm surge and water level by SMS. On the other hand, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) has introduced advanced surveying technology including imaging sonar, integrated multi-beam echo sounder and laser scanning system, as well as unmanned aerial vehicle to inspect marine structures effectively with a view to enhancing the capability of marine structures to cope with extreme weather. In an on-going study, entitled "Study on Coastal Hazards under Climate Change and Extreme Weather and Formulation of Improvement Measures", the CEDD will make reference to latest approaches and technologies adopted by advanced countries in combating climate change for infrastructure. Suitable protection measures will also be recommended in the study to alleviate the flooding risk in the coastal areas of Hong Kong.
 
(3) The CEDD commissioned consultants to undertake a feasibility study entitled "Study on Coastal Hazards under Climate Change and Extreme Weather and Formulation of Improvement Measures" in April 2019. The study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of the low-lying coastal or windy locations, and to carry out relevant investigations of storm surges and waves in order to assess the impacts of extreme weather on the low-lying coastal or windy locations. The consultants are reviewing the meteorological and oceanographical information such as data of tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong in the past, sea levels, storm surge and wave conditions, etc. Computer modelling, which covers the territory-wide coastal environment of Hong Kong, will be used to analyse this information so as to gain a better understanding on the conditions of the low-lying coastal or windy locations, including Hong Kong Island areas (e.g. Eastern District, South District), Kowloon areas (e.g. Lei Yue Mun, parts of Kwun Tong coast areas), and the New Territories areas (e.g. Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung, parts of north-west coast areas of Yuen Long), etc, under the effect of extreme weather. Based on the results of the analysis, the consultants will explore and evaluate appropriate protection measures for the low-lying coastal or windy locations. The study is scheduled for completion in about 18 months.

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 36 000 items of suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million at Man Kam To Control Point on December 13.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted an incoming container truck at Man Kam To Control Point on that day. The batch of suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods, including mobile phones, watches, mobile phone accessories and footwear, was found inside the container. The 65-year-old male driver was then arrested.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested two men, aged 41 and 51, suspected to be involved in the case in Tsim Sha Tsui on December 16. About 170 items of suspected counterfeit mobile phone parts were further seized at a shop in the district.

     Investigation is ongoing and the three arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

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

     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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

  

     Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (December 18):
 
Question:
 
​     In December 2016, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched a pilot scheme under which Internet Protocol (IP) cameras were installed at six illegal refuse deposit blackspots (blackspots) across the territory to step up efforts in combating acts of illegal refuse deposit. The scheme is now called the "Internet Protocol Camera Scheme" (the Scheme). From June 2018 to May 2019, FEHD installed IP cameras at 118 blackspots across the territory under the Scheme. FEHD has extended the Scheme for two years starting from the third quarter of 2019, and will install IP cameras at 150 blackspots across the territory in phases according to the locations and priorities proposed by the various District Councils (DCs). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the locations of the 150 blackspots at which IP cameras will be installed (set out by DC district);
 
(2) given that FEHD will, after installing IP cameras at targeted locations, monitor such locations to suitably adjust its plans, of the guidelines or criteria based on which FEHD makes decisions on changing the locations of cameras; the number of occasions on which FEHD made such changes since the implementation of the Scheme, and set out the information relevant to each change, including the reasons for and the date of the change, as well as the locations of the IP cameras before and after the change;
 
(3) of the number of blackspots in each DC district in each year since the implementation of the Scheme; the change in the number of cases in which vehicles owners were prosecuted and convicted for illegal dumping of refuse, subsequent to the implementation of the Scheme;
 
(4) as FEHD has indicated that recorded footage which has not captured suspected cases will be deleted after random checking, of the average retention period of such footage (with a breakdown by DC district), and the details of the relevant random checks, including the procedure to be followed, the frequency of random checks and the target number of footage to be inspected during each random check; and
 
(5) of the number of occasions on which FEHD provided recorded footage to other government departments since the implementation of the Scheme, and set out, by name of department, the details of each occasion on which recorded footage was provided, including the reasons for and the date of providing the relevant footage, as well as the locations of the IP cameras concerned?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
​     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched a scheme on installation of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras (the Scheme) in June 2018 to combat illegal refuse dumping in various districts. As District Councils (DCs) indicated that the hygiene condition of relevant illegal refuse dumping spots showed significant improvement after the implementation of the Scheme, the FEHD has extended the Scheme for two years from August 2019 after consulting the DCs. The FEHD will install IP cameras at priority locations proposed by the DCs with a view to stepping up efforts to combat illegal refuse dumping activities. 
 
     My reply to the Member's question is as follows:
 
(1) The FEHD has installed IP cameras at 150 illegal refuse dumping spots. The locations are listed at Annex 1.
 
(2) If illegal refuse dumping at individual spots is significantly abated (e.g. evident decrease in the amount of refuse dumped or in the number of related complaints) upon installation of IP cameras, the FEHD will install cameras at new locations and change the recording locations as prioritised by the DCs. From June 2018 to November 2019, the FEHD changed the recording locations for 33 times. Details are at Annex 2.
 
(3) The DCs have proposed a list of locations for installation of IP cameras in FEHD's consultation exercise in 2019. The number of locations proposed by each DC is at Annex 3. The number of cases in which vehicle owners were prosecuted and convicted for illegal refuse dumping from June 2018 to November 2019 is at Annex 4.
 
(4) The FEHD conducts monthly random checks on recorded footage. Footage without suspected cases being captured will be deleted, which means the footage will be retained for about one month on average.
 
(5) The FEHD provided recorded footage to other government departments in response to their requests for crime prevention or detection purpose. Such provision from June 2018 to November 2019 with districts, departments and request dates is set out at Annex 5.

     A man who went missing in Sham Shui Po has been located.

     Man Kam-lim, aged 74, went missing after he left his residence in Fu Cheong Estate on December 16 morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located in Sun Chui Estate in Tin Sum in the small hours today (December 18). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     A 43-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 18) for assaulting a Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspector (TACI) in the exercise of his duties. The man was also fined $1,500 each for a smoking offence and failing to produce a proof of identity when required by a TACI. 

     The incident took place at the Sheung Shui Bus Terminus on June 28, 2019. The man assaulted the TACI when he was being issued a Fixed Penalty Notice by the TACI for a smoking offence. He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe smoking ban requirements and co-operate with law enforcement officers.

     "Threatening or using violence on enforcement officers is a serious offence and carries serious legal consequences," the spokesman said.

     As of today, there have been seven cases of assaulting TACIs in 2019. Since 2007, 93 cases have been recorded and 23 out of 78 offenders convicted for assaulting TACIs were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court was immediate imprisonment for four months.