The Government Property Agency invited tenders for the purchase of 10 former government quarters in September 2018 and today (November 8) announced the tender award for the following six properties at the highest total sale price of $285,410,199:

(i) The 4th Floor of Block 41 and Car Parking Space No. 80 on Ground Floor of Blocks 41, 42, 43 and 44, Baguio Villa, No. 550 Victoria Road, Hong Kong (at $36,000,000);

(ii) The 11th Floor of Block 41 and Car Parking Space No. 178 on Upper Ground Floor of Blocks 41, 42, 43 and 44, Baguio Villa, No. 550 Victoria Road, Hong Kong (at $34,300,000);

(iii) The 2nd Floor of Block 43 and Car Parking Space No. 138 on Upper Ground Floor of Blocks 41, 42, 43 and 44, Baguio Villa, No. 550 Victoria Road, Hong Kong (at $ 32,100,199);

(iv) Apartment No. 2 on the 18th Floor of Block A and Car Parking Space No. 28 on C1 Floor of Block A, Elm Tree Towers, No. 8 Chun Fai Road, Hong Kong (at $46,900,000);

(v) Flat B on the 4th Floor and Car Parking Space No. 9 on Upper Ground Floor, MacDonnell House, Nos. 6 and 8 MacDonnell Road, Hong Kong (at $62,310,000); and

(vi) Apartment No. B2 on the 8th Floor and Car Parking Space No. 19, Po Shan Mansions, Nos. 10 and 12 Po Shan Road, Hong Kong (at $73,800,000).

     The tenders for the following four properties have been cancelled:

(i) The 8th Floor of Block 41 and Car Parking Space No. 10 on Ground Floor of Blocks 41, 42, 43 and 44, Baguio Villa, No. 550 Victoria Road, Hong Kong;

(ii) The 13th Floor of Block 41 and Car Parking Space No. 160 on Upper Ground Floor of Blocks 41, 42, 43 and 44, Baguio Villa, No. 550 Victoria Road, Hong Kong;

(iii) Apartment No. 1 on the 16th Floor of Block A and Car Parking Space No. 27 on C1 Floor of Block A, Elm Tree Towers, No. 8 Chun Fai Road, Hong Kong; and

(iv) Apartment A on the 2nd Floor and Car Parking Space No. 9 on Ground Floor, Pokfulam Mansion, No. 94B Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong.
     
     All tenderers have been informed of the tender result in writing.

     The dance theatre production "Swan Lake/Loch na hEala" will be staged in the New Vision Arts Festival (NVAF) this month at the Kwai Tsing Theatre.
 
     A depression sufferer was shot dead in Ireland during a stand-off with the police in 2000, prompting a widespread public outcry. Deeply touched by the incident, acclaimed Irish choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan turned the classic "Swan Lake" traditions into a story for modern times.
 
     Drawn by this case and other stories of people on the margins of society, Keegan-Dolan brought together the Irish myths of "Children of Lir", magical realism and dark desolation to turn "Swan Lake" traditions into a ferocious, heart-rending reinvention. A depression sufferer replaces the prince while the cursed swans are silent victims of sexual abuse. Alongside such weighty themes and a searing original score, flashes of light and life shine through, taking viewers on a roller-coaster quest to transcend fate and find the redemption made possible through love.
 
     Performed by Teac Damsa of Ireland, "Swan Lake/Loch na hEala" features live music by Slow Moving Clouds and the contributions of an array of artists such as set designer Sabine Dargent, costume designer Hyemi Shin, lighting designer Adam Silverman and performers including Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Zen Jefferson, Anna Kaszuba, Alex Leonhartsberger, Mikel Murfi, Erik Nevin, Keir Patrick, Rachel Poirier and Carys Staton. The production won the National Dance Award for Best Modern Choreography and Irish Times Theatre Awards for Best Production and Costume Design.
 
     "Swan Lake/Loch na hEala" (in English with Chinese surtitles) is one of the programmes of the NVAF. It will be performed at 8pm on November 16 and 17 and at 3pm on November 18 at the Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium, with a meet-the-artist session to be held after the performance on November 16. Tickets priced from $160 to $420 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the NVAF is celebrating its ninth edition this year and is being held from October 19 to November 18. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.
 
     "Swan Lake/Loch na hEala" is a co-production by Michael Keegan-Dolan; Sadler’s Wells Theatre London; Colours International Dance Festival, Theaterhaus Stuttgart; Dublin Theatre Festival; and Theatre de la Ville, Luxembourg. International touring is supported by Culture Ireland.
 

    

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, today (November 8) visited the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA). He met with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and matters that concern them.

     Mr Law first met with the Director-General of Communications, Miss Agnes Wong, and the directorate staff to get an update on the work of the Department as the executive arm and secretariat of the Communications Authority (CA), and how it assists the CA in administering and enforcing ordinances regulating broadcasting and telecommunications services.
 
     He then toured various branches of the OFCA to learn more about colleagues’ work, which includes administering broadcasting licences, investigating complaints against radio frequency interference, planning and assigning radio frequency spectrum, conducting spectrum auctions and doing preparatory work for the upcoming 5G mobile services.

    Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters of concern. He encouraged colleagues to continue contributing to the provision of quality broadcasting and telecommunication services with dedication and professionalism.
 

  

      The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (November 8) that the temporary wood waste collection area in the Kai Tak Development Area will stop receiving tree waste after 6pm on November 10 (Saturday).
 
      An EPD spokesman explained that the collection area was only set up for temporary stockpiling as a result of the huge number of fallen trees and broken branches collected after super typhoon Mangkhut, and that the site is not suitable for long-term reception or storage of tree waste. In the past few weeks, the quantity of tree waste received at the collection area has substantially reduced. In addition, the area has to be vacated for the long term development purposes. Consequently, since early November, the EPD has started to close the collection area in phases to facilitate the handling of the remaining tree waste there.
 
      Currently, various government departments and their contractors are delivering the collected tree waste to the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill or the North East New Territories Landfill directly, while the collection area will be closed for receiving tree waste after 6pm on November 10.
 
      To encourage waste reduction, reuse and resource recycling, the EPD earlier selected a portion of tree waste from the collection area and transferred it to the Community Green Stations (CGSs) in Eastern District, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun, for collection by members of the public or groups for onward reuse or upcycling. Interested parties can visit the CGSs to collect the tree waste for free before December 31, and they can call the CGSs to enquire about arrangements and to make appointments in advance. The collection area has already been closed for public collection of wood since November 1. Before its closure, a total of 435 logs were collected by 85 members of the public.
 
      The EPD has all along been encouraging government departments and the community to minimise yard waste in accordance with the principle of reduction, reuse and recycling. To speed up the handling of a large quantity of tree waste and facilitate onward recycling, the EPD has procured an industrial grade wood shredder, which will be placed in the open space near T·PARK, and it is estimated that about 100 tonnes of tree waste can be shredded every day. The shredded wood will be utilised as far as possible to conduct various treatment trials, such as using them as a bulking agent in the composting process at the Organic Resources Recovery Centre; turning the shredded wood and wood pellets into solid fuel for boilers or cement manufacturing; or turning them into soil cover for use at landfills. To minimise the possible impact caused by the storage of a large quantity of logs or shredded wood in the open space near T·PARK, and taking into consideration the fact that the quantity of tree waste which can be recycled through the above channels is limited, logs or shredded wood which cannot be utilised for the time being will be delivered to the WENT Landfill for disposal.
 
      In the long run, the EPD will introduce more diverse proposals for treating yard waste. In addition to the aforementioned feasible treatment plans, which are subject to the outcome of trials, the EPD will work with other departments to explore further means to facilitate the recycling and reuse of yard waste.
 
      In addition, a large amount of waste was generated by the super typhoon, causing a serious overload at refuse transfer stations (RTSs). In order to cope with the possible scenarios caused by the passage of typhoons in the future, the EPD will review the experience gained in handling the aftermath of typhoon Mangkhut and identify areas for improvement, with a view to formulating contingency plans to cope with any similar situations after the passage of typhoons in the future. The EPD will also proactively communicate with all stakeholders to co-ordinate the management of waste, so as to maintain the smooth operation of such work. Looking ahead, the Government will need to build new refuse transfer facilities and increase the capacity of existing RTSs.
 
     During the passage of super typhoon Mangkhut, extensive damage was caused in Hong Kong and large number of trees were damaged or fell, resulting in huge quantities of tree waste produced. To help speed up the clearance of tree waste by various sectors of the community, the EPD set up a temporary wood waste collection area in the Kai Tak Development Area on September 21 so that the public could deliver tree waste to the collection area for temporary stockpiling. Apart from providing the public with a convenient location to speed up the clearance of fallen trees and broken branches, the temporary measure also helped to divert the delivery of tree waste to the collection area instead of the RTSs, thus effectively reducing the burden on RTSs and shortening the queuing time of refuse collection vehicles at the RTSs. As of today, around 8 000 truckloads of tree waste had been delivered to the collection area. Since September 28, relevant departments have been transferring the wood waste from the collection area to the WENT landfill by barges. As of today, over 15 000 tonnes of wood waste have already been cleared from the site and it is estimated that the clearance work at the collection area can be completed around the end of November.

     A Hong Kong resident employer and two Indian illegal workers were jailed at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (November 7).
 
     During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" on June 20, one male Bangladeshi illegal worker was arrested in Mong Kok. The Hong Kong resident employer of the illegal worker was also arrested.
 
     The illegal worker was jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts earlier. The Hong Kong resident employer was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday for being an employer of a person who was not lawfully employable as he did not take all practicable steps to ascertain whether the applicant was lawfully employable prior to employment. After trial, he was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment.
 
     In addition, during a joint operation conducted by the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed "Sahara" on April 23, enforcement officers raided a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. Two male Indian illegal workers, aged 23 and 29, were arrested. When intercepted, they were working as odd-job workers. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants. An employer suspected of employing the illegal workers was also arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
   
     The two illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. After trial, they were sentenced to 22 months and two weeks' imprisonment separately.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
 
     The ImmD spokesman stressed that any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. A foreign domestic helper should only take up employment as such and reside at the contractual address as stipulated in the contract, as approved by the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to criminal prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening on vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.