Tag Archives: China

     The Government today (April 13) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” (declaration) effective from 4pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Wong Tai Sin (i.e. Block 10, Tsui Chuk Garden, Wong Tai Sin, see Annex.) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at around 1pm tomorrow (April 14). The operation may be extended depending on test results.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’. Having reviewed a basket of factors, including the viral load in sewage, the information of relevant positive cases, and other circumstantial factors, and conducted a risk assessment, the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area.”
 
     The Government has set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 9pm today. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. All persons in the “restricted area” who have tested positive in the past three months, including positive cases identified either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests that have been self-declared to the DH, will not be required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise.
 
     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 1pm tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”
 
     If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.
 
     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any persons other than those specified above who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from March 31 to April 13, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before April 15, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
 
     The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau has set up a hotline (Tel: 9129 1706) which started operation at 4pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.
 
     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs seized about 11 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $9.6 million at Hong Kong International Airport on April 9.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day inspected an air cargo consignment, declared as carrying electronic engines, arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam. The batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside two electronic engines.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (April 12) arrested two men, aged 20 and 50, suspected to be connected with the case in Kwai Chung.

     The arrested 20-year-old man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 14). The 50-year-old man has been released after investigation.

     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 12) arrested a company representative of a retailer and a director of an importer suspected of supplying electronic cigarettes with a false trade description, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Acting on information, Customs earlier test-purchased at a retailer a type of electronic cigarette which was suspected of carrying a false trade description. It was claimed that the product contained Coenzyme Q10. Customs officers later sent samples to the Government Laboratory for examination. Test results revealed that Coenzyme Q10 was not detected in the product, which was different from what was declared.

     Customs officers then mounted an enforcement operation yesterday and arrested a 38-year-old male company representative of the retailer concerned and a 35-year-old male director of the importer in connection with the case.

     An investigation is ongoing and the two arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any person who applies a false trade description to goods or supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Minimum Wage Commission:
 
     The Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) will submit to the Chief Executive (CE) in Council its recommendation report on the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate by the end of October 2022 at the latest.
 
     In accordance with the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO) (Cap. 608), the CE has required the MWC to submit its recommendation report on the SMW rate on or before October 31, 2022. Pursuant to the MWO, in performing its functions, the MWC must have regard to the need to maintain an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, and the need to sustain Hong Kong’s economic growth and competitiveness.
 
     The MWC adopts an evidence-based approach in reviewing the SMW rate. Apart from making reference to and analysing relevant statistical data and information, the MWC also considers the views from the community. The MWC will commence a six-week public consultation next Wednesday (April 20) to invite views from various sectors of the community on the review of the SMW rate. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      â€‹The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that … read more