Six nominations were received by the Returning Officer for the Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election at the close of the two-week nomination period at 5pm today (October 15).
 
     Two nomination forms were submitted to the Returning Officer today.
 
     Particulars of the nominees are available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/legco2018kwby/eng/nominat.html).
 
     A full list of the validly nominated candidates will be published in the Gazette after the Returning Officer has validated and confirmed the eligibility for candidature of the nominees.
 
     If the number of validly nominated candidates is more than one at the by-election, a poll will be held on November 25, 2018 (Sunday).
 
     The Electoral Affairs Commission will hold a briefing for candidates and their agents at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, at 7pm on October 22 (Monday).
 
     The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, will chair the briefing session and brief candidates and their agents on the guidelines on election-related activities, electoral arrangements for the by-election and the important points to note in running their election campaigns. A representative from the Independent Commission Against Corruption will explain the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance. A representative from Hongkong Post will also explain the arrangement and requirements of the free postage service for election mail. Representatives from the Registration and Electoral Office and the Department of Justice will also be present.
 
     Before the briefing, the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer will determine the order of appearance of names of candidates on the ballot papers and the allocation of designated spots for the display of election advertisements by drawing of lots.

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, visited Islands District this afternoon (October 15).

     Mr Lau first met with members of the Islands District Council to brief them on the major work of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau. They also exchanged views on banking services at district level and other district issues of concern.

     He then proceeded to the Hong Kong International Airport Tower, where he was briefed on the construction progress of the Three-runway System and SKYCITY. The Three-runway System project, including the provision of the third runway and associated taxiways, the Third Runway Passenger Building and related infrastructural facilities, was launched with an aim to improve service quality and meet the growing demand for air traffic in future.

     In addition, the SKYCITY project is underway and is set to provide a brand new airport experience for travellers with a combination of hotels, retail, dining and entertainment facilities, and offices. 

     Mr Lau also met with a group of youths who had participated in the Islands District Youth Development Network programme at the Tung Chung Community Hall before concluding his visit. He said he was pleased to see the youngsters showing great interest in issues relating to Fintech development and other social and public affairs, and expressed his appreciation for their concern about the future development of Hong Kong.

      

     Police today (October 15) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in North Point.

     Li Jui-mei, aged 81, went missing after she was last seen at Hoi Wan Street, North Point yesterday (October 14) afternoon. Her family made a report to Police today.

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with yellow complexion and long greyish white hair. She was last seen wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, khaki trousers, light-coloured shoes and carrying a black shoulder bag and a crutch.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034 or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, visited Southern District this afternoon (October 15) to exchange views with local District Council members on environmental issues. He also visited the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired, and called at Cyberport to learn about the latest developments of green startups.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Southern District Council (SDC), Mr Chu Ching-hong, and the District Officer (Southern), Mrs Dorothy Ma, Mr Wong began his visit by meeting members of the SDC to listen to their views on the Government's environmental policies and learn more about their concerns on district environmental issues.

     Mr Wong then departed for the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired and toured its campus. He also chatted with students and alumni there to learn more about their studies and green activities at the school, and tried out some of the environmental products produced by them. He encouraged the students to practise energy saving and waste reduction in their daily lives to help foster a low-carbon future.

     Before concluding his itinerary, Mr Wong visited Cyberport to observe the operation of green startups and the application of technologies to waste management, energy saving and electric vehicle charging equipment. He said that moving towards low-carbon living is a dominant trend, and the integration of green industry and innovation technology will play a decisive role in promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong. He said he looked forward to seeing more innovative enterprises in the market to jointly combat climate change and make Hong Kong even more environmentally friendly and livable.

     KCW & Associates Pty Limited and its director and responsible officer were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay an employee wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). All the three defendants pleaded guilty at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (October 15) and were fined a total of $130,000 (the company and the director were fined $50,000 each and the responsible officer was fined $30,000).

     The company failed to pay to an employee wages totalling $80,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment as required by the EO. Also, the company failed to pay the employee the awarded sum of about $90,000 within 14 days after the specified payment date of the LT award. The director and responsible officer were convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and other responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees wages within the time limit in accordance with the EO and awarded sums according to the terms of the awards issued by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board" a spokesman for the LD said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.