Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between December 2019 and March 2020. The schedules for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2019 and 2020 were provided to the media in September 2018 and September 2019 respectively. No change has been made to the original schedule.
 

     The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2020 can be downloaded at the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp).

     The Government proposes to amend the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) (Working and Living Conditions) Regulation and the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) (Allotments) Regulation to incorporate two amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) into local legislation.
 
     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau today (November 29) said, "The legislative amendments involve the extension of validity of Maritime Labour Certificates and the safeguards of interests of seafarers being held captive."
      
      The Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development, the Hong Kong Fleet Operation Advisory Committee and the Seafarers' Advisory Board of the Marine Department have been consulted on the legislative proposal. Members supported the proposal.
      
      The proposed legislative amendments were gazetted today and will be tabled at the Legislative Council on December 4 for negative vetting.

     The Government today (November 29) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Mali) Regulation 2019 (the Regulation), which came into operation today.

      "The Regulation implements sanctions against Mali imposed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2484," a Government spokesman said.

      The sanctions implemented under the Regulation include:
 

• prohibition against making available to certain persons or entities any economic assets, or dealing with economic assets of such persons or entities; and
• prohibition against the entry into or transit through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by certain persons.

     Two property owners were fined about $7,000 and $95,000 respectively at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts earlier for failing to comply with the statutory notices issued under the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS) and the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) according to the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO). The penalties are the highest amounts imposed so far with respect to similar cases.
      
     The first case related to a premises in a 36-storey composite building of 35 years old located at Ngau Tau Kok Road in Kowloon. A statutory notice was issued under section 30C(4) of the BO requiring the owner of the premises to appoint a qualified person to carry out an inspection and, if necessary, repair in respect of the windows of the premises.
      
     Since the owner failed to comply with the statutory notice, he was prosecuted by the Buildings Department (BD). The owner was convicted in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on November 12 and fined $6,800.
      
     The second case related to another owner's three premises in a 4-storey building of 64 years old located in Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei. Statutory notices were served under section 30B(5) of the BO requiring the owner of the premises to appoint a registered inspector to carry out an inspection and, if necessary, repair in respect of the balconies of these premises.
      
     The owner failed to comply with the statutory notices and was prosecuted by the BD.  The owner was convicted in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on September 24 and fined $95,100 in total.
      
     "Failing to comply with a statutory notice without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner", a spokesman of the BD said today (November 29).
      
     With regard to the MWIS, pursuant to section 40(1BD) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory notice served on him, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to imprisonment for three months, as well as a further fine of $2,000 for each day that the offence has continued.
      
     As regards the MBIS, pursuant to section 40(1BC) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory notice served on him, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 5 ($50,000 at present) and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $5,000 for each day that the offence has continued.

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (November 29) invited tenders for the contract for Fanling North New Development Area, Phase 1: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (Shek Wu San Tsuen North to Lung Yeuk Tau) (Contract No. ND/2019/04).
      
     The works are scheduled to commence in May 2020 and will take about 59 months to complete. The works mainly comprise:
 

• construction of an approximately 2-kilometre-long dual two-lane Fanling Bypass Eastern Section between Shek Wu San Tsuen North and Lung Yeuk Tau comprising viaduct, at-grade road and underpass sections;
• construction of Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange connecting Fanling Bypass Eastern Section with existing Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau;
• construction of a footbridge across Ng Tung River and a cycle track cum footbridge over Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange;
• construction of a sewage pumping station adjacent to Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange;
• reprovisioning of the On Lok Mun Street Playground, public toilet and refuse collection point near Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange;
• road junction improvement works in the North District; and
• associated ground investigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, slope and retaining wall works, drainage and sewerage works, waterworks, noise barrier works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works.

      
     The CEDD has appointed AECOM Asia Company Limited as the consultant to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from the company at 8/F, Grand Central Plaza, Tower 2, 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin.
      
     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. The closing time for the tender is noon on February 7, 2020. 
      
     Details of the tender notice are available at the CEDD's website (https://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call AECOM Asia Company Limited at 3922 9000 during office hours.