Night-time road maintenance works on Smithfield in Kennedy Town failed to comply with the requirements of the construction noise permit (CNP). The main contractor of Hong Kong Island road maintenance works for the Highways Department, Chiu Hing Construction & Transportation Company Limited, was fined $30,000 by Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 22) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a complaint from a member of the public in March about the noise nuisance generated by night-time road maintenance works at the above location. Upon investigation, EPD staff found that the main contractor of the construction site concerned failed to comply with the requirements of the construction noise permit (CNP) when carrying out night-time road maintenance works, including the use of an unauthorised breaker and without using noise enclosures to reduce noise. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD prosecuted the main contractor in accordance with the NCO. In addition, the department has followed up with the Highways Department on strengthening the monitoring of relevant contractors to reduce noise generated by maintenance works.
      
     The NCO aims to protect the public from disturbance of rest. An EPD spokesman stressed that illegal construction works will disturb the rest of the surrounding neighbourhood. Members of the construction sector should properly manage their works. They should not carry out works using unauthorised powered mechanical equipment during restricted hours (between 7pm and 7am on the following day, or at any time on a general holiday) and they must also abide by the requirements of the CNP, as otherwise it is 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.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, October 22, 2018 is 105.4 (down 0.1 against last Saturday's index).
     
     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, October 20, 2018 is 105.5 (down 0.1 against last Friday's index).

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 22) reminded the public that to facilitate tram track renewal work at Catchick Street, parts of the slow lane of Catchick Street eastbound near Davis Street will be temporarily closed from about 10am from this Friday (October 26) to 10am on November 7 (Wednesday).
 
     During the above works period, all vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length will be temporarily prohibited from turning left from Catchick Street eastbound onto Davis Street northbound. Vehicles exceeding 7m in length on Catchick Street eastbound heading for New Praya Kennedy Town will be diverted via Davis Street southbound, Belcher's Street and Cadogan Street.
 
     To facilitate the above works, Citybus routes No. 1, 5B, 5X, 10, 43M, N8X and A10 as well as New World First Bus route No. 18X and Cross-Harbour Tunnel routes No. 101, 101X, 104, 904 and 971 will be diverted via Cadogan Street, New Praya Kennedy Town and Smithfield before resuming their original routings from their first departures on October 26 until 10am on November 7. In connection with the above bus diversions, temporary bus stop arrangements will be implemented for the affected bus routes.
 
     Appropriate traffic signs and road markings will be erected on-site to guide motorists. The public transport operators will display notices to advise passengers of the above temporary arrangements.
 
     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of the above road sections will be relatively busy. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions and suspension/relocation of stops. Members of the public are advised to plan their journey in advance and allow sufficient travelling time to cater for unexpected delay, and stay alert to the latest traffic news or the department's website (www.td.gov.hk).

     Hongkong Post announced today (October 22) the release of a set of special stamps on the theme of "Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge", together with associated philatelic products, on October 30 (Tuesday).
      
     The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) links the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the east and both Guangdong Province (Zhuhai) and the Macao Special Administrative Region in the west. The HZMB project mainly consists of two parts: the Main Bridge situated in Mainland waters, and the link roads and boundary crossing facilities in the three places under the responsibility of the respective governments. With the commissioning of the HZMB, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is now served by an enhanced transport network. Hongkong Post is presenting a special set of four stamps and a stamp sheetlet to mark this important milestone.
 
     The design of this four-stamp set highlights the Chinese and English names of the HZMB: the letter "H" (for Hong Kong) and the Chinese character for "Kong" on the $2 stamp, the letter "Z" (for Zhuhai) and the Chinese character for "Zhu" on the $3.70 stamp, the letter "M" (for Macao) and the first character of the Chinese name of Macao on the $4.90 stamp, and the letter "B" (for "Bridge") and the Chinese character for "bridge" on the $5 stamp. These English letters and Chinese characters are interwoven with a grid-like pattern in the background to form an intricate network. The grid and drawings thus symbolise the closely and seamlessly knitted highway network that promotes the integration of the cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The stamp sheetlet also adopts a grid-like pattern in the background to represent a highway network and signifies as well that the HZMB will engender new social impetus and bring about vibrant development.
 
     To mark the milestone, China Post, Hongkong Post and the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau will jointly issue a souvenir pack on the same day. The joint souvenir pack comprises a souvenir sheet containing a complete set of stamps issued by the three postal administrations.
 
     Official First Day Covers at $1.30 each will be put on sale at all post offices from tomorrow (October 23). The stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from tomorrow to October 29. Customers who wish to collect the serviced self-provided covers on the issue day should submit their applications at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office or Tsuen Wan Post Office from tomorrow to October 26. Otherwise, the serviced self-provided covers would only be available for collection on or after November 6.
 
     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk and via the Hongkong Post mobile app.   

        

     Three illegal workers comprising two Indonesians and a Pakistani were jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts on October 19.
     
     During operation "Twilight" on July 3, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a restaurant in Yuen Long. Two female Indonesian illegal workers, aged 34 and 43, 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 arrested and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
 
     In addition, ImmD investigators received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate an illegal employment case in September. Enforcement officers arrested a male Pakistani worker, aged 32, conveying goods in Kowloon Bay. Upon identity checking, he was found to be a holder of a recognisance form issued by ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment, and further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
   
     The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on October 19 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, the two Indonesian illegal workers were sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment while the Pakistani illegal worker pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.
      
     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 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 of 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.