Tag Archives: China

     Hip Hing Engineering Company Limited and Tai Wah Aluminium Engineering Company Limited were fined $60,000 and $140,000 respectively at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (November 30) for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
      
     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on February 23, 2021, at a building construction site at Queen’s Hill, Fanling. A worker was suspected to have fallen from height onto the first floor canopy of a building under construction while installing glass panes of aluminium windows in an upper floor unit of the building. The worker died in the accident. read more

     Before the commencement of the second day of the 59th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), a side event entitled “Dispute Settlement – Online Dispute Resolution” was held in the afternoon today (November 30).

     In delivering her opening remarks at the side event, the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, said that the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre has been established with a view to promoting the growth and effective functioning of, among others, online dispute resolution (ODR). She stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been fostering the development of ODR on various fronts, citing its opting into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Collaborative Framework on ODR and the launch of the Inclusive Global Legal Innovation Platform on ODR as examples.

     Ms Cheng further introduced to the participants the Workshop on ODR for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trade organised with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat during Hong Kong Legal Week 2021 earlier this month in which international experts met to discuss the importance of ODR for cross-border trade.

     A presentation was then given by the Chief Executive Officer of the eBRAM International ODR Centre, Ms Emmanuelle Ta, who highlighted the ODR platform and lawtech services provided by eBRAM that aim to meet the expanding demand for dispute resolution services across borders. It was followed by a video interview with the Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, Professor Mohamed Abdel Wahab, who shared with the audience his invaluable insights and experiences on ODR.

     At the roundtable discussion, guest speakers from the legal and dispute resolution sectors had an in-depth discussion on issues related to the recourse and opportunities arising from ODR.

     In his closing remarks at the side event, the Secretary-General of AALCO, Professor Kennedy Gastorn, noted the potential for the use of ODR for AALCO member states, particularly with reference to the experience of eBRAM and its procedural rules developed in accordance with the relevant framework of APEC. He also expressed his confidence that the newly established AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre could further advance the growth of ODR in the region and beyond.
 
     Meetings of the AALCO member states’ delegations have been held after the side event and will continue tomorrow (December 1), with important international law topics in the Asian and African regions including “Upholding International Law for a Community of Shared Future: the Role of Asian and African Countries” and “International Law in Cyberspace” to be discussed by high-ranking diplomats and legal experts representing the member states as well as observer delegations representing governments and international organisations from across the globe. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:         The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for October 2021.     &nb… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 30) called on the public not to consume two batches of loose boletes as the products are suspected to contain a mixture of species including inedible species.

     A CFS spokesman said, “The CFS is following up on a food poisoning case suspected to have been caused by consuming mushrooms, which was referred earlier by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, and has enhanced surveillance on boletes on sale in the market. The CFS collected samples from retail outlets of boletes at Luen Wo Hui Market, Fanling, for testing during its investigation. According to the assessment by a mycologist on the samples, the boletes from two retail outlets at Luen Wo Hui Market contained inedible species of mushrooms.”

     The spokesman continued, “A preliminary investigation showed that the operator of one of the retail outlets had purchased and brought the affected product to Hong Kong and sold it as loose items. In addition, the CFS has also followed up with the importer of the affected product sold at another retail outlet. A preliminary investigation showed that the affected product was for sale only at the retail outlet as loose items. The CFS has instructed the retail outlets to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected products. For enquiries on the concerned products, members of the public may call the outlets’ hotline at 2676 6448 and 2677 4772 respectively during office hours.”

     The CFS urged members of the public who have purchased and still possess the affected products to stop consuming them, and to seek medical advice immediately if symptoms develop after consuming the products.

     Mushroom poisoning is generally acute and manifested by a variety of symptoms, depending on the species and amount consumed. The incubation period is usually short. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are the commonest symptoms. Sometimes distinguishing features such as extreme thirst, profuse sweating, hallucination, coma and other neurological symptoms may occur.

     Consumers are advised to heed the following points when buying and eating mushrooms:

•Do not buy mushroom products which may contain a mix of unknown species;
•Do not buy mushrooms which look unhygienic (with growing substrates left with the product) or show signs of spoilage (with coloured spots/abnormal smell/slime, etc);
•Wash and cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption; and
•Seek medical treatment immediately if mushroom poisoning is suspected.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take necessary action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing. read more

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (November 30).      The value of total retail sales in October 2021, provisionally estimated at $30.7 billion, incre… read more