The Commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Lieutenant General Tan Benhong, reviewed the 183rd Fire Services passing-out parade for 15 station officers, 16 senior firemen of the Mobilising and Communications Group, 58 firemen and 45 ambulancemen at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy today (September 7).
 
     Speaking at the parade, Mr Tan commended the Fire Services Department (FSD) as an important force in the disciplined services in Hong Kong, which has fulfilled its mission of "serving with courage, passion and commitment" and standing at the forefront of firefighting, disaster relief and emergency ambulance services. The FSD is known for its excellent team spirit and professional skills, he added.
 
     Mr Tan noted that the FSD has become more committed to expanding exchanges with its Mainland and overseas counterparts and has made continuous progress in broadening its horizons, strengthening its abilities and nurturing personnel since Hong Kong's return to the motherland. With better equipped venues and training facilities, the newly built Fire and Ambulance Services Academy provides adequate support for the comprehensive development of the fire services system in Hong Kong, he added.
 
     He encouraged the graduates to uphold the fine traditions of the FSD and contribute to safeguarding Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, as well as securing people's lives and property.
 
     The parade was followed by a demonstration of firefighting and rescue techniques by the graduates. The 134 graduates will be posted to the Fire Services Communications Centre as well as various fire stations and ambulance depots.

        

     The Chief Executive, pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap 571), has appointed Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung as Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for a term of three years from October 20, 2018 to October 19, 2021.

     Mr Lui is a certified public accountant. He has decades of strong and extensive professional experience in the financial services sector. He has a good understanding of both the Hong Kong and the Mainland markets. Mr Lui also has broad experience in serving and chairing advisory boards and committees in different areas including education, strategic development, tax, levy management and student finance.

     Announcing the appointment today (September 7), the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "Mr Lui is a highly respected member of the financial services sector with rich experience in the financial market in Hong Kong and elsewhere. We are confident that under his leadership, the SFC will continue to maintain and promote the fair, transparent and orderly operation and development of our securities and futures markets.

     "I would like to thank Mr Carlson Tong for his unfailing dedication and valuable contribution to the SFC over the past six years. Under his exemplary chairmanship, the SFC has made notable progress in both market development and market regulation. On the market development side, the SFC has implemented the groundbreaking Stock Connect with Shanghai and Shenzhen. Separately, the new regime allowing the listing of pre-revenue biotechnology companies and high growth companies with weighted voting rights has commenced operation in April 2018. On the market regulation side, the SFC has adopted a 'One SFC' and front-loaded regulatory approach to tackle market misconduct more swiftly and effectively. Mr Tong has commanded respect in the local and overseas markets. He has been instrumental in putting Hong Kong at the forefront of international securities regulation," Mr Chan added.

     In addition to the Chairman, the SFC has seven non-executive directors. They are Mr Albert Au Siu-cheung, Mr Edward Cheng Wai-sun, Mr Lester Garson Huang, Mr James C. Lin, Ms Mary Ma Xuezheng, Dr William Wong Ming-fung and Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau.

     In response to the recent incident of a suspected leakage of wastewater from West New Territories (WENT) Landfill, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 7) provided the following details on the latest progress of the follow-up work.
      
     EPD staff stationed at WENT Landfill conducted an inspection in early August and found that there was suspicious wastewater discharge from the landfill. After investigation, it was confirmed that the leakage concerned involved two adjacent sources. The first leakage was attributed to the valve for a rainwater collection facility at the landfill, which was not closed properly. The second leakage came from an abandoned gas pipe from the landfill situated close to the first source. The wastewater from these two sources merged together and then discharged into the Tai Shui Hang River via a tributary.
      
     The EPD attaches great importance to the management and supervision of facilities operated by contractors. The Department had already issued a stern warning to the contractor concerned and instructed it to conduct a thorough investigation and to rectify the problems promptly. The contractor had already deactivated the valve of the rainwater collection facility on August 7 and connected the gas pipe concerned to the leachate management system of the landfill to ensure that the wastewater would not accidentally contaminate nearby waters. The Department also convened two meetings with the contractor's management team on the incident. The contractor agreed to conduct a thorough inspection of similar facilities and pipes to ensure that such incidents will not occur again. The Department is still conducting an investigation into the specific causes and processes of the leakage of wastewater from the landfill and has urged the contractor to co-operate in the investigation and supplement relevant information. If violation of any contract term is found, it will be dealt with according to the contract.
      
     Before the contractor had rectified the aforementioned problem, the Environmental Compliance Division of the EPD conducted a blitz investigation at the landfill on August 7. Wastewater samples were taken and sent to the Government Laboratory for analysis. The results showed that a wastewater sample from the concerned abandoned gas pipe at the landfill was suspected to have breached the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO). The EPD is now conducting further investigation and collecting evidence on the case. If there is sufficient evidence, the EPD will initiate prosecution against the contractor in accordance with the WPCO. The Department is not in a position to disclose further information at this stage as the investigation is still underway.
      
     Since the incident, the EPD has stepped up the monitoring of water quality of the water bodies (including Tai Shui Hang River) surrounding WENT Landfill. The Department will increase the routine sampling frequency (especially during the rainy seasons). It also plans shortly to engage academics to conduct an independent assessment of the water quality of Tai Shui Hang River.
      
     The EPD collected water samples twice from various parts of Tai Shui Hang River in the last week of August. The analysis results showed that there have been no significant signs of pollution to the water quality of Deep Bay or Tai Shui Hang River. The EPD will continue to monitor the water quality of Tai Shui Hang River and Deep Bay.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Committee will hold an open meeting during the week from September 10 to 14 in the LegCo Complex. Details of the meeting 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.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, will depart for the United States and Canada on September 10 to visit Boston, New York, Ottawa and Toronto to understand more about the civil service management and training there.

     Apart from visiting prominent institutes, Mr Law will also exchange views with government officials on the management and training of civil servants.

     Mr Law will conclude his visit on September 14 (Toronto time) and return to Hong Kong in the morning on September 16.