Tag Archives: China

     Two recycling sites and a responsible person of another recycling site were convicted for illegal collection, storage and handling of hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), which is classified as chemical waste. They were fined a total of $92,500 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on May 15 and today (May 29) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) continues to combat illegal handling of hazardous e-waste at recycling sites. EPD staff conducted blitz inspections between last July and October at three open recycling sites in North District, Shan Ha Tsuen and Kung Um Road in Yuen Long in the New Territories. Some 30 bags of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste, were found, weighing about 9 tonnes and with a total market value of approximately $0.9 million. Upon in-depth investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the operating companies and responsible persons of these recycling sites.

     The EPD spokesman said, “One of the defendants denied his role as a responsible person of the recycling site. After the court hearing, that defendant was convicted as an on-site responsible person who possesses the chemical waste concerned.” The operators and responsible persons of recycling sites should ensure that the collection, storage and handling of chemical wastes at recycling sites comply with the law, otherwise they might be prosecuted, the spokesman added.

     The spokesman said that dismantled or destroyed PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste and are regulated under the existing laws on chemical waste disposal. To protect the environment, the EPD is committed to combating the illegal collection, storage and handling of hazardous e-waste by recycling sites, and strictly controls the illegal import and export activities of hazardous waste.

     The EPD reminded the operators of recycling sites to strictly comply with the relevant controls on chemical waste. They should register with the EPD in accordance with the law if they produce chemical waste. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, as well as collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for disposal. First-time offenders of the above legislations are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD’s website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 is 100 (up 0.3 against yesterday’s index). read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 28) seized about 850 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million and a duty potential of about $1.6 million at Shenzhen Bay Control Point. &nbsp… read more

     Wealth Banquet, a restaurant at Kam Tin Main Road in Yuen Long, discharged sub-standard wastewater into nearby drains and violated the requirements of the wastewater discharge licence. The restaurant was fined $10,000 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (May 29) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).
      
     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) enforcement officers conducted a blitz inspection at Kam Tin Yuen Long last October and found that turbid wastewater was being discharged from the grease trap of the aforementioned restaurant. It was suspected that the wastewater had not been properly treated before being discharging into the communal drain. The EPD officers then collected wastewater samples for analysis and the results showed that the oil and grease, suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand in the wastewater exceeded the wastewater discharge licence limits by two to four times. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the licensee in accordance with the WPCO.
      
     The EPD spokesman said that the location concerned is an unsewered area. Anyone who discharges sub-standard wastewater into a communal drain will pollute nearby waterways and adversely affect the environment and public hygiene. The spokesman reminded the responsible persons of restaurants that they must properly repair and maintain wastewater treatment facilities and strictly adhere to the discharge standards as stipulated in the licence to prevent environmental pollution.
      
     Under the WPCO, anyone who discharges wastewater which exceeds the standards of the discharge licence into a communal drain commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment.  read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch Muse Fest HK 2018 on June 23 and the event will continue until July 8. Over 100 programmes and activities covering culture, history, art, film, astronomy, science, archaeology and conservation to be organised by 23 museums and related offices under the LCSD will be rolled out. In addition, other museums from Japan, Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong will join the festival as museum partners to promote the vibrant museum culture.
      
     The theme of this year’s Muse Fest is “Museum is typing …”. It implies that through Muse Fest, a platform in which museums and visitors can exchange ideas and communicate with each other, visitors can feel the diversified museum culture and have dialogues with museums.
      
     The festival comprises four categories, namely the Muse Fest Special Activity Series, the Museum Inside Out Activity Series, the Exhibition and Film Show Series and the Educational and Extension Activity Series.
      
     The opening event, “Experiencing the Tales of the Old Hong Kong – Cheongsam & Nanyin Party” to be held on June 23 at the Hong Kong Museum of History featuring cheongsams and nanyin music, is being organised to tie in with the first Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. Apart from a cheongsam catwalk show and nanyin performance, a discussion session will also be held to talk about the beauty of cheongsams with renowned image director Tina Liu. Participants are encouraged to wear their own cheongsams when attending the party.
      
     A scaffolding master has been invited to talk about and demonstrate the basic technique of building a bamboo theatre at “Master Class: The Bamboo Theatre Building Technique Demonstration” to be held at the Sam Tung Uk Museum on June 30 to showcase this age-old form of Chinese architecture.
      
     The nostalgic “Colourful Youth Agogo Party” to be held at Oi! on July 7 will feature a local classic musical movie, “Colourful Youth”, which has been restored by the Hong Kong Film Archive. A post-screening talk will be hosted by film director Adam Wong; the Artistic Director of Cinematheque‧Passion in Macao, Mr Albert Chu; and the General Manager of MOViE MOViE, Ms Joycelyn Choi. With delightful song and dance performances and the Oi! Kitchen being transformed into a grocery store from the past, participants will be taken back to good old days in the 1960s.
      
     For the three sessions of “Crossing Border Special Talks”, acclaimed speakers have been invited to speak and exchange ideas on different topics with museum curators. The General Director of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Mr Fram Kitagawa, will share his insights and experience in promoting land art festivals in the first session. Japanese designer Taku Satoh and Hong Kong designer Tommy Li will be engaged in a dialogue on their extraordinary experience in brand building in the second session. Multimedia artist Stephen Au and artist Li Chi-ching will share stories of the phenomenal martial arts movie star Bruce Lee and internationally renowned writer Jin Yong (Dr Louis Cha) in the last session.
           
     Other delightful programmes will include various thematic exhibitions, virtual reality games, stargazing activities, fun days, workshops, film shows and heritage tours.
      
     Enrolment is required for some of the programmes. For details, please visit the website of Muse Fest at www.museums.gov.hk/mf2018.