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Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 28) that Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool in Sham Shui Po District, closed earlier on due to urgent maintenance works caused by a burst water pipe, will be reopened at 7pm today.
The Government announced today (December 28) that after an open tendering exercise the contract for the design, construction and operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park has been awarded to the Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd.
"The Kai Tak Sports Park, occupying 28 hectares of land, is the Government's most important investment in sports infrastructure in recent decades. When completed, it will become the biggest sports venue in Hong Kong. We are looking forward to working closely with Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd's team to create a world class sports park with high quality facilities for the use and enjoyment of the sports sector and the Hong Kong community," a Government spokesman said.
Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd is a subsidiary of New World Development Company Limited and NWS Holdings Limited established specifically for the project. Its project team comprises overseas and local experts experienced in design, construction, venue management, sales and marketing, and retail and operation. Project team members like Populous, SMG and Lagardère Sports are recognised global industry leaders with extensive experience in the design and operation of large scale international projects as well as the management of major sports venues.
The design by Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd consists of a covered Kai Tak Sports Avenue running in the north-south orientation as the main axis, connecting all key facilities of the Sports Park with the adjacent Station Square, Kai Tak MTR Station and Sung Wong Toi MTR Station and leading to the harbourfront promenade. The focal point of the Sports Park is the 50 000-seat Main Stadium, with "Pearl of the Orient" as its façade design theme. With a soundproof retractable roof and flexible pitch surface the Main Stadium is ideal for hosting major football and rugby games. Through the installation of separation drapes, stage setting and various equipment, the Main Stadium can also be used for hosting entertainment and community events of a different nature and scale.
The Indoor Sports Centre will provide a large multipurpose space, and with most of its 10 000 seats retractable or removable it is not only suitable for hosting major competitions but will also provide many indoor sports courts for everyday community use. The 5 000-seat Public Sports Ground is suitable for hosting school athletics meetings, athletics training and local football league games. It will also be open to the public free of charge for jogging and exercise.
The Kai Tak Sports Park will also provide large open space for public enjoyment, with facilities such as outdoor ball courts, open lawn areas, children's play areas, fitness stations and more. Other facilities in the precinct include a health and wellness centre, a bowling centre, retail, food and beverage outlets and about 850 parking spaces.
There are various energy conservation and sustainability design features such as a photovoltaic system, roof greening, vertical greening and parking spaces with electric vehicle charging facilities. There are also smart city initiatives including an intelligent building management system, wi-fi hot spots, an indoor positioning system, an intelligent car park management system and mobile applications to facilitate precinct information, booking of facilities and wayfinding.
The contract for the Kai Tak Sports Park is for 25 years, including four to five years for design and construction and approximately 20 years of operation. The Government will fund the construction cost of $29.993 billion, while Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd is required to cover all operating costs and pay the Government 3 per cent of the gross income plus $1.724 billion during the operation period.
The construction works will commence in the first quarter of 2019 and are scheduled for completion in 2023. When it commences operation, the Kai Tak Sports Park will provide high quality sports facilities to support the future sports development of Hong Kong. For details, please refer to the project website at www.KaiTakSportsPark.hk.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Monetary Authority (MA):
(a) has reprimanded JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Hong Kong Branch (JPMorgan Hong Kong) in respect of its contraventions of sections 19(2) and 19(3) of Schedule 2 to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Chapter 615 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (AMLO) (Note 1) by failing to establish and maintain effective procedures (I) for identifying and handling wire transfers that did not comply with section 12(5) of Schedule 2 to the AMLO; and (II) for the purpose of carrying out its duties under sections 3 and 5 of Schedule 2 to the AMLO concerning customer due diligence (CDD) and continuous monitoring of business relationships respectively;
(b) has ordered JPMorgan Hong Kong to submit to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), by a date and in a manner to be specified by the MA, a report prepared by an independent external advisor assessing: (I) whether the remedial measures taken by JPMorgan Hong Kong are sufficient to address the contraventions and other deficiencies identified by the HKMA (Note 2); and (II) the effectiveness of the implementation of such measures to address the contraventions and other deficiencies identified by the HKMA; and
(c) has ordered JPMorgan Hong Kong to pay a pecuniary penalty of HK$12,500,000.
The disciplinary action (Note 3) follows an investigation by the HKMA which found that, between April 2012 and February 2014, JPMorgan Hong Kong contravened six specified provisions of the AMLO (Note 4) as a result of deficiencies across several key control areas including CDD, periodic review of CDD information and wire transfers. In summary, JPMorgan Hong Kong did not establish and maintain effective procedures:
(a) for the purpose of carrying out its CDD duties. JPMorgan Hong Kong's CDD procedures for certain customers did not require (I) certificates of incumbency or comparable documents to be obtained to verify their existence, and (II) the identities of beneficial owners to be verified. JPMorgan Hong Kong failed to carry out all relevant CDD requirements before establishing business relationships with certain customers;
(b) for the purpose of carrying out its duties to continuously monitor business relationships. As regards groups of related customers, JPMorgan Hong Kong's procedures did not require a periodic review to be conducted of a customer's CDD information if a periodic review had been conducted in respect of another customer in the same group. As a result, JPMorgan Hong Kong failed to carry out periodic reviews of certain customers within relationship groups to ensure that the documents, data and information obtained by JPMorgan Hong Kong were up-to-date and relevant. Among 495 high risk customers in such relationship groups, 259 customers were not subject to annual review; and
(c) for identifying and handling wire transfers which did not comply with the requirement to include the originator's name in the message or payment form accompanying the wire transfer. JPMorgan Hong Kong carried out a number of outgoing wire transfers without including the names of the originators in the relevant SWIFT messages (Note 5).
In deciding the disciplinary action, the MA took into account all relevant circumstances and factors, including but not limited to:
(a) the seriousness of the investigation findings, including the contraventions under section 19 of Schedule 2 to the AMLO which is concerned with the establishment and maintenance of effective procedures;
(b) the need to send a clear deterrent message to JPMorgan Hong Kong and the industry about the importance of effective controls and procedures to address money laundering and terrorist financing risks;
(c) JPMorgan Hong Kong had self-identified and reported certain deficiencies, and had taken positive and extensive remediation work in respect of such deficiencies and after it became aware of the contraventions and other deficiencies identified by the HKMA. In particular, it has enhanced its control functions to prevent similar contraventions from recurring; and
(d) JPMorgan Hong Kong has no previous disciplinary record in relation to the AMLO and co-operated with the HKMA during the investigation and enforcement proceedings.
The Executive Director (Enforcement and AML) of the HKMA, Ms Carmen Chu, said, "This case involved deficiencies across a number of key control areas including CDD, periodic reviews and wire transfers, stemming largely from ineffective procedures and resulting in multiple contraventions of specified provisions of the AMLO. A bank must have procedures that are effective for the purpose of carrying out its duties under the AMLO. Such procedures are essential to enable a bank to identify, understand and mitigate the risks to which it is exposed taking into account the nature, size and complexity of its business. Reference should be made to various guidance and resources provided by the HKMA, including the Guideline on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (For Authorized Institutions) (www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/key-functions/banking-stability/aml-cft.shtml)."
Relevant link: Statement of Disciplinary Action
Note 1: Prior to March 1, 2018, the short title of Chapter 615 of the Laws of Hong Kong was the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance.
Note 2: Taking into consideration the remedial measures already implemented and on the particular facts of this case, the deficiencies concerning wire transfers are not included in the terms of the remedial order.
Note 3: The disciplinary action is taken under section 21 of the AMLO. The AMLO imposes CDD and record-keeping requirements on specified financial institutions, including Authorized Institutions (AIs), and designated non-financial businesses and professions. As regards AIs, the MA is the relevant authority under the AMLO.
Note 4: JPMorgan Hong Kong contravened sections 3(1), 5(1), 12(5), 19(1), 19(2) and 19(3) of Schedule 2 to the AMLO during the period from April 2012 to February 2014.
Note 5: SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 28) investigating an influenza A outbreak at a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) in Wong Tai Sin, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.
"The latest surveillance data showed that the overall influenza activity in Hong Kong continued to increase. It is anticipated that the local influenza activity will further increase and the winter influenza season will arrive soon. Members of the public should maintain good personal protection against influenza," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The outbreak involves 21 male residents aged 67 to 95 and a staff member. They have developed fever, cough and sore throat since December 22. All sought medical attention. Among them, 20 required hospitalisation and six of them were discharged following treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition.
The respiratory specimens of 18 residents tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing.
Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the RCHE to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections. The RCHE has been put under medical surveillance.
RCHEs are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks, which should be reported to the CHP for prompt follow-up.
"Particularly, children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses are urged to receive influenza vaccination as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. They should promptly seek medical advice if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people," the spokesman added.
The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees will hold 3 open meetings and a closed meeting during the week from December 31, 2018 to January 4, 2019 in the LegCo Complex. Details of the meetings are available in the meeting schedule attached.
The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo Committees. Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.