Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting today (June 19):

Reporter: You made an apology this morning, but why haven't you bowed now?
 
Secretary for Security: I think I have expressed my apology. And I expressed my apology because as the Chief Executive said, it is because of the inadequacy of our work. So I have expressed my apology already and I hope that we will be working hard so that in future, in pushing or making proposals for the policies that the Government wants to make, there will be a good consultation and there will be a good communication so that views and opinions are taken into (account) for the benefit of the whole of Hong Kong.

Reporter: Secretary, in anticipation of this Friday of the ultimatum set by some netizens, would you promise them clearly that, in this term of Government before 2020, the Government would not carry out the extradition bill, i.e. the bill has been withdrawn in effect? And also another question is, to resolve the Taiwan case, would you consider the private member's bill being tabled by some lawmakers?   
   
Secretary for Security: The private member's bill has been proposed and the Government has been consulted on its way forward. This will do after a thorough discussion among our colleagues, but we will of course explain the Government's position on the proposed bill. What is your first question?  
 
Reporter: Would you withdraw the bill and promise that it will not be re-tabled in this term of Government, in effect?   

Secretary for Security: I think the Chief Executive has indicated that in the coming year we shall have a lot of things that we want to take action into for different areas – to improve livelihood, to create opportunities for development, to do more for the economy. So there will be a long list of things that the Government will take into consideration seriously for the progress of Hong Kong. We accept the reality if it does happen that in this LegCo term, if the bill will not have an opportunity to be considered again, then we will accept that fact.         
 
Reporter: What about this term of Government?  

Secretary for Security: I think the LegCo year expires, or the LegCo term expires differently from the Government's term. The LegCo term is a period of four years, whereas the Government period is five years.     
 
Reporter: How can people lodge complaints against the Special Tactical Unit if they do not have an ID number on their uniform? How can they do it? 
 
Secretary for Security: CAPO (Complaints Against Police Office) has been investigating complaints of different natures and CAPO will take into consideration all factors, including information available from the Police organisation as to who will be involved in what kind of job, at what time, at what hours. The CAPO system has been used in a lot of similar circumstances, so I will ask every one of you to give CAPO the opportunity to make investigation, so that they can look into all the circumstances of fact including information that they may gather from sources, such as the Internet and any person who may provide information to them. The investigation will be done thoroughly and impartially, and it will be submitted to the Independent Police Complaints Council for scrutiny.            

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     â€‹A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 19) said that the FEHD will continue to step up enforcement actions against the unauthorised display of easy-mount frames and other display fittings for business promotion in public places, and will prosecute the beneficiaries of such commercial publicity materials. Two telecommunications companies were fined for $150,000 and $200,000 respectively at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on June 18 for unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials.

     The spokesman said the FEHD has all along been concerned about the illegal activity of displaying commercial publicity materials on busy streets. FEHD officers stepped up enforcement actions in the vicinity of Fuk Wah Street, Shum Shui Po from December last year to January this year, and removed a total of 94 posters and their stands. Upon further investigations, the department issued 15 and 20 summonses respectively to two beneficiaries, i.e. the two telecommunications companies, for the unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials on Government land. The two companies were convicted yesterday and fined for a total of $150,000 and $200,000 respectively, with the maximum fine of $10,000 imposed for each offence.

     Under Section 104A(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), any person displaying or affixing a bill or poster on Government land without permission commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and a daily fine of $300 upon conviction. FEHD officers can also remove the commercial publicity materials and the display fittings and recover the removal costs from the persons concerned pursuant to the relevant legislation.

     The spokesman reminds street promoters and related commercial organisations to refrain from displaying commercial publicity materials illegally. The department will continue to carry out enforcement actions to curb such illegal activities and improve the district environment.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a male Psychiatry ward, the spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital gave the following update today (June 19):
 
     One more 46-year-old patient in the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. An appropriate viral test was arranged for the patient and the test result was positive for Influenza A. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to the 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 yesterday (June 18) conducted an operation and raided a repair workshop using counterfeit mobile phone parts with its storage centre in Tuen Mun. A total of about 3 900 items of suspected counterfeit mobile phones and parts with an estimated market value of about $940,000 were seized.

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a mobile phone repair workshop used counterfeit parts in the course of providing repair service. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of a trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the repair workshop and its storage centre inside an industrial building in the district where the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones and parts was seized.

     Preliminary investigation revealed that the workshop targeted overseas customers to provide mobile phone repair services using counterfeit parts and to sell counterfeit mobile phone parts.

     During the operation, a 47-year-old male director and a 24-year-old male manager of the workshop were arrested. 

     Investigation is ongoing.

     The Divisional Commander (Intellectual Property Transnational Investigation), Mr Szeto Chi-fai, said at a press conference today (July 19) that Customs will continue to step up enforcement to combat the sale and use of counterfeit mobile phone parts. He reminded consumers to repair their mobile phones at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

     He also reminded traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the possession of counterfeit goods for any trade or business is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark 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 infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

      

     The Civil Service Bureau announced today (June 19) that the Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) has decided that civil service pay for 2019-20 should be adjusted as follows, taking retrospective effect from April 1 this year:

(a) a pay increase of 4.75 per cent for civil servants in the upper salary band and the directorate, subject to the pay points referred to in (i) and (ii) below the dollar values of which should be as specified:
 
(i) Master Pay Scale (MPS) 34 at $74,515 and MPS 35 at $75,265; and
 
(ii) General Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale (GDS(O)) 20 and Police Pay Scale (PPS) 36 at $74,390, and GDS(O) 21 and PPS 37 at $75,135; and
 
(b) a pay increase of 5.26 per cent for civil servants in the lower and middle salary bands.
 
     In arriving at this decision, the CE-in-Council has thoroughly considered the staff side's response to the pay offers and all the relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including:
 
* the net pay trend indicators;
* the state of Hong Kong's economy;
* changes in the cost of living;
* the Government's fiscal position;
* the pay claims of the staff side; and
* civil service morale.
 
     The Government will submit the 2019-20 civil service pay adjustment proposal to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for consideration as soon as possible.