The Hong Kong School of Motoring's branch in Yuen Long discharged substandard wastewater into Shan Pui River. The company was convicted and fined $12,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (November 12) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO). The company’s branch in Sha Tin was convicted and fined a total of $36,000 for offences of the same kind in February last year and February as well as September this year.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a complaint from a member of the public in April this year about the Hong Kong School of Motoring's branch in Yuen Long discharging oil, polluting the environment. After an inspection, EPD officers discovered that the branch was discharging wastewater into the nearby Shan Pui River, adversely affecting the river's water quality. After collecting evidence, EPD officers initiated a prosecution against the company operating the branch, HKSM Yuen Long Driving School Limited, under the WPCO.

     The EPD is very concerned about the repeated cases of illegal discharge of wastewater from the Hong Kong School of Motoring and will continue liaising with the company's management on a solution to improve the wastewater treatment facilities of their branch in Yuen Long. The EPD will consider initiating prosecutions against the company directors concerned if the company’s branch in Yuen Long is found illegally discharging wastewater again in future.

     Under the WPCO, anyone illegally discharging wastewater into Hong Kong water bodies commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $400,000 and six months' imprisonment.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
      
     Protestors today (November 12) have been building barricades to block Nathan Road and Shantung Street. They also dug up bricks from pavements and set fire, endangering public safety. Police will use minimum necessary force to disperse protestors.
      
     Police warn the protestors to stop all illegal acts and appeal to members of the public to avoid travelling to the areas.

     The Multi-functional Smart Lampposts Technical Advisory Ad Hoc Committee held its fourth meeting today (November 12).
      
     At the meeting, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data shared with members on the privacy protection matters related to 5G technology. Mobile network operators were invited to join the meeting and explain how the industry would benefit from smart lampposts to develop the 5G network for public use. Members also discussed the design of multi-functional smart lampposts as well as initial findings and recommendations for the Committee report.
      
     The Committee plans to discuss in greater details the initial recommendations before finalising the Committee report. Members then agreed to arrange additional Committee meetings in January and February 2020 for this purpose.
      
     The discussion papers for the Committee will be uploaded onto the Multi-functional Smart Lampposts thematic webpage at www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/our_work/strategies/initiatives/smart_lampposts/.

     A total of 86 wet goods stalls and three fast food stalls were successfully let in an auction for stalls at the 2020 Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair starting today (November 12).
 
     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said that the average bid price for the wet goods stalls auctioned today was $6,575, with the successful bids ranging from $5,440 to $17,000. The highest bid of $17,000 was about three times the opening price of $5,440. The auction of wet goods stalls fetched a total of $565,417.
 
     For the fast food stalls, the 7.6 x 4.8 metre stall was bid at $202,000, against an opening price of $187,430. The winning bids for the two 5 x 4m stalls were $100,590 and $100,390, against an opening price of $100,390.
 
     The auction for the remaining 96 wet goods stalls will be held at 9am tomorrow (November 13).
 
     The spokesman reminded the successful bidders to comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (November 12) that, as public transport services have been affected, all nine Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres of the ImmD will be closed at 8pm. Members of the public who have appointments for today may proceed to the Replacement Centres on later days for identity card replacements, and they need not make another appointment. Subject to the actual circumstances of various districts, individual Replacement Centres may close earlier at any time. Before proceeding to Replacement Centres, applicants are advised to check the latest government press releases or call the Replacement Centres.