To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the "Enjoy the Fun" Carnival@National Day at Kwun Tong Promenade on October 1 (Tuesday), offering a variety of free recreation and sports activities, including the digits "7" and "5" as elements, enabling the public to enjoy both the festivities and the scenic views across Victoria Harbour during the celebration. 

     The event will be held from 11am to 5pm on that day. Admission is free. People of all ages are welcome to join the programme on the spot. Apart from featuring activities such as stage performances with different themes, booth games and photo corners, the Carnival will also introduce parent-child games and various sports play-in activities, including bowling, cycling, fencing, rowing, rope skipping and shuttlecock, to encourage the public to participate in sports and let them experience the fun of sports.

     For enquiries about the "Enjoy the Fun" Carnival@National Day, please contact the Kwun Tong District Leisure Services Office at 2343 6123 during office hours.

     The 2023 Annual Report on Justices of Peace (JP) Visits was published today (September 27). The report provides an account of the work of JPs in the year 2023.  

     The primary role of a JP is to visit various institutions, such as prisons, detention centres, hospitals and remand/probation homes under the JP visit programme. The objective of the visits is to ensure that the rights of the inmates in the institutions are safeguarded through a system of regular visits by independent visitors. 
 
     In 2023, JPs visited 114 institutions under the JP visit programme. They received and handled 71 complaints and 716 requests/enquiries during JP visits. In addition, JPs also made comments and suggestions on ways to improve the management of facilities and quality of services provided by the institutions.

     The annual report on JP Visits is available on the JPs website (www.info.gov.hk/jp).

     The Government today (September 27) gazetted amendments to the relevant notices under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance (Cap. 570), adding two new electronic payment methods – Faster Payment System (FPS) and JET Payment – for settling fixed penalties.

     Currently, members of the public can settle fixed penalties for public cleanliness and obstruction offences through online banking, PPS, telephone banking, automated teller machines (ATM) that support Electronic Teller Card services, etc.

     To facilitate the payment of penalties, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, empowered under section 17A of the Ordinance, has revised the format of the relevant fixed penalty notices. Starting from September 30, members of the public can use FPS or pay through bank ATMs marked with the "JET Payment" logo to settle the relevant penalties.

     The Financial Secretary, in exercise of the authority under the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 426) (ORSO) delegated to him by the Chief Executive, has reappointed Ms Giovanna Kwong Fung-ping and Ms Miranda So Man-wah as the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Occupational Retirement Schemes Appeal Board (ORSAB) respectively. He has also appointed Mr Roy Leung Sze-kit, and reappointed Ms Hilda Lam and Mr Lewis Law Chung-ming as members of the ORSAB. The appointments are for a term of two years, effective from October 1, 2024, until September 30, 2026, both dates inclusive.

     Welcoming the appointments today (September 27), a spokesperson for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, "The ORSAB is empowered by section 61 of the ORSO to hear appeals against certain decisions of the Registrar of Occupational Retirement Schemes. We believe that with members' professional knowledge and extensive experience, the ORSAB will continue to serve as an effective safeguard to ensure the fairness and reasonableness of the relevant regulatory decisions."

     The spokesperson also thanked the outgoing member, Mr Eric Tong, for his valuable contributions to the ORSAB over the past six years.

     The new membership of the ORSAB is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Ms Giovanna Kwong Fung-ping

Deputy Chairman
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Ms Miranda So Man-wah

Members
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Ms Hilda Lam
Mr Lewis Law Chung-ming
Mr Roy Leung Sze-kit

     â€‹The Government announced today (September 27) the reappointment of Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai and Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau as the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) respectively, and the reappointment of five incumbent members as well as the appointment of seven new members. All appointments will take effect from October 1 this year for a two-year tenure.

     The five reappointed incumbent members are Mr Langton Cheung Yung-pong, Mr Clement Fung Cheuk-nang, Mr Terence Lau Chun-kai, Dr Haston Liu Wai-ming, and Professor Phoenix Mo Kit-han. The seven newly appointed members are Dr Celine Ho Ming-wai, Ms Lee Yi-ying, Professor Vitus Leung Wing-hang, Dr Chris Ng Chun-kong, Professor Or Ka-hang, Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing and Mr Tang Fei.

     COSH is a statutory body established in 1987 to advise the Government on matters related to smoking and health. It is also tasked to advance public education concerning the effects of smoking on the community and individuals as well as to engage in smoking-related research.

     The full membership of the Council with effect from October 1, 2024, is as follows: 

Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai (Chairman)
Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Langton Cheung Yung-pong
Mr Clement Fung Cheuk-nang
Miss Ho Alice Chiu-yan
Dr Celine Ho Ming-wai
Mr Terence Lau Chun-kai
Ms Lee Yi-ying
Dr Will Leung Lok-hang
Professor Vitus Leung Wing-hang
Dr Haston Liu Wai-ming
Professor Phoenix Mo Kit-han
Dr Chris Ng Chun-kong
Professor Or Ka-hang
Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing
Mr Tang Fei
Controller, Regulatory Affairs, Department of Health