The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, December 6, 2018 is 105.5 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Law Reform Commission:

     The Archives Law Sub-committee of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) released a consultation paper today (December 6) to invite public views on whether reform of the current public records management regime is needed, and, if so, what kind of reform is to be preferred.   
      
     The Chairman of the Archives Law Sub-committee, Mr Andrew Liao, SC, said in the press conference that on balance, the Sub-committee's provisional views are that it does see a case for the introduction of an archives law to further strengthen the management, protection and preservation of public records and archives in Hong Kong.
                            
     At present, government records and archives management are regulated under an administrative regime under which the Government Records Service (GRS) is the central records management and service agency.
      
     The Sub-committee has studied the laws and practices of a number of jurisdictions, in particular, Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. A comparison reveals that almost all other jurisdictions, including these five studied more closely by the Sub-Committee, have in place archives laws of varying breadths and depths.
    
     "The Sub-committee considers there are considerations in favour of the enactment of an archives law in Hong Kong, but there are also practical concerns over its implementation," Mr Liao said.
  
     He added that records and archives management is a specialised subject in its own right. However, the Sub-committee believes that government records form an integral part of the community's shared heritage that belongs to all, and it therefore seeks to engage as much of the public as possible in this consultation exercise by asking various consultation questions, apart from setting out its observations and provisional views. The public is being consulted on various issues, including:
    

1. Do you think there is a case for introducing an archives law to strengthen the current public records and archives management framework and what are your reasons?
2. Should the current placement of the GRS within the Government continue?
3. Are the existing measures sufficient in ensuring bureaux/departments' compliance with their records management obligations?
4. As regards the scope of public bodies to be covered, our provisional views are that it is more advisable to follow the approach in England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore, i.e. enumerating from time to time specific bodies that should be subject to the public records management regime. In respect of the extent of oversight by the archival authority, we consider that a "bespoke" approach is more appropriate. Do you agree with our provisional views?

 
     The Sub-committee welcomes views, comments and suggestions on any issues discussed in the consultation paper.
      
     All views should be submitted on or before March 5, 2019, to the Secretary, Archives Law Sub-committee, LRC, by mail (4/F, Justice Place, East Wing, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong), by fax (3918 4096) or by email (hklrc@hkreform.gov.hk). 
      
     The consultation paper and the executive summary can be accessed on the website of the LRC at www.hkreform.gov.hk. Hard copies are also available on request from the Secretariat of the LRC at the above address.      

  

     â€‹The owner of Era Auto Service Company on Ka Shin Street in Tai Kok Tsui illegally handled spent lubricating oil and was fined $19,500 by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 6) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) conducted a blitz operation in May this year and detected that Era Auto Service Company arbitrarily placed spent lubricating oil inside the garage after carrying out oil changing service for its customers. The spent lubricating oil, which is classified as chemical waste, was not labelled or stored in a proper leakproof device as stipulated by the law. Upon investigation, the EPD also confirmed that the owner of the repair garage did not register with the department as a chemical waste producer. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the owner concerned for contravening the Regulation.
      
     An EPD spokesman explained that spent lubricating oil generated from repair garages is classified as chemical waste and contains various toxic chemicals. Improper handling of such waste will cause the spent lubricating oil to leak into nearby drains and soil, which pollutes the environment and causes harm to public health.
      
     The spokesman reminded all repair garage operators and workers engaged in the vehicle repair business that they should register as chemical waste producers with the EPD in accordance with the above Regulation. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, and has to be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for treatment. In addition, for replacement of lubricating oil or batteries, vehicle owners should engage the services of vehicle repair garages or companies that have registered with the EPD.

     Under the Regulation, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

     The Music Office Youth Choir (MOYC) and the Music Office Children's Choir (MOCC) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will jointly perform in an annual concert, which this year is entitled "Sing We at Pleasure", at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall at 3pm on January 6 (Sunday). The programme will include a variety of lively works by famous composers past and present.
 
     Dr Angelina Au, Lai Wing-yan, Yau Man-ching and Kobe Ip will be the conductors and pianists. The choirs will sing popular favourites from various countries including "Tundra" by Norwegian composer Gjeilo, which describes Norway's magnificent mountain scenery; renowned Argentina composer Piazzolla's "Libertango"; and American composer Wildhorn's "Tell My Father", which tells the story of a soldier during the American Civil War.
 
     Other highlights include Mendelssohn's "For he has commanded his angels to watch over you", Stevie Wonder's "Don’t You Worry About a Thing" and Greg Gilpin's "For the Beauty of the Earth".
 
     Established in 1980, the MOYC now has 80 members, with ages ranging from 15 to 25. In addition to performing in local concerts, the choir has toured overseas including Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Austria. At the Singapore International Choral Festival 2016, the choir won Gold Awards in the Equal Voices, Mixed Voices and Musica Sacra categories and was also named the champion in the Equal Voices and Mixed Voices categories.
 
     Since its establishment in 1981, the MOCC's membership has grown to 82, with ages ranging from 8 to 15. The choir performs both Western and Chinese choral works, including local premieres and operettas.
 
     Concert tickets priced at $45, $55 and $65 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice.

     Beauty Land, ​a cosmetics store at Shantung Street in Mong Kok, caused noise nuisance to nearby residents by playing songs continuously at night. It was fined $9,000 by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 6) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).
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     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that the department received a complaint from a resident living near Shantung Street in Mong Kok early this year about the cosmetics store concerned persistently playing songs until night, which affected the daily lives of the nearby residents. EPD enforcement officers conducted investigation and assessment and confirmed that the staff of the cosmetics store played songs inside the premises using loudspeakers, which caused noise annoyance to nearby residents. A noise abatement notice was therefore issued to request improvement. EPD enforcement officers then made a follow-up investigation in June and found that the store was still playing songs after 11pm. The sound could be clearly heard inside a flat nearby, which adversely affected the daily lives of the residents. The department then initiated prosecution against the responsible person of the store concerned.
      
     The spokesman reminded all retail shop operators that when they play music or songs inside the shop premises, they should keep the noise down and should not cause annoyance to nearby residents. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence. 
      
     According to the NCO, anyone who violates the requirements of a noise abatement notice commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent conviction.