Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (July 17) intercepted a male remand person in custody smuggling suspected dangerous drugs into the centre by concealing them inside his body.

     The 53-year-old person in custody was remanded in the institution for the offence of possession of dangerous drugs on July 16. After undergoing X-ray body scanning, he was suspected to have swallowed suspected dangerous drugs before admission. He was therefore separated and put under close monitoring.

     By 6.47pm today, he had discharged six pellets of suspected dangerous drugs wrapped in plastic sheet. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up.

     A spokesperson for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline and a drug-free environment for all persons in custody."

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened in Tuen Mun this morning (July 17), in which a male worker was suspected to have been struck by falling objects when he was working outside a building at which dismantling of bamboo scaffolds was being carried out at the external walls. He was seriously injured and was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and has expressed its deepest sympathy to the victim's family.
 
     A LD's spokesman said, "We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors suspending the dismantling of bamboo scaffolds at external walls of buildings. The contractors cannot resume the work process until LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken."
 
     The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
 
     The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
 
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
 
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

     Police today (July 17) laid a holding charge against a 27-year-old man with one count of murder.

     The man was suspected to be in connection with a murder case happened on July 6 in Yuen Long in which a 17-year-old man died.

     The case will be mentioned at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 18).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 16) seized about 1.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.7 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kharkiv, Ukraine yesterday. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside the false compartment of her hand-carry suitcase. The woman was then arrested.

     The arrested woman, aged 35, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 18).

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

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

  

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 17) arrested a female director and a saleslady of a beauty parlour suspected of having applied a false trade description to beauty service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a saleslady of a beauty parlour had falsely claimed it would arrange an interest-free instalment for a customer in settling the payment for the beauty service procured. The consumer later discovered that the company did not arrange the instalment payment. She had to make an arrangement with the bank on her own and needed to pay the additional handling fee and interest.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested two women aged 36 and 39.

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

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

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