Sixty convictions were recorded in April 2023 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.

     Sixteen of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, eight were under the Noise Control Ordinance, 22 were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, two were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, 10 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and two were under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.

     A company was involved in three cases of failing to comply with an air pollution abatement notice. A $32,000 fine, which was the heaviest fine in April, was imposed on the company for each of its offences.

     The Lands Department announced today (May 25) that demand notes for Government rent in excess of $100 per annum for the half year ending June 24 in respect of properties subject to the Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 40) and certain other properties have been issued.

     Payers can settle Government rent through various electronic means including autopay, bank automated teller machines, e-Cheque/e-Cashier's Order, the Faster Payment System, payment by phone service (PPS), and bill payment services provided by banks and PPS on the Internet. Payment may also be made in person and in cash at designated convenience stores. For details, please visit the Treasury's website at www.try.gov.hk.

     Payment may be made by sending a crossed cheque to PO Box No. 28000, Gloucester Road Post Office, Hong Kong, or in person to any post office. Please ensure sufficient mailing time and postage to make the delivery in order. Underpaid mail will be rejected. For locations of post offices and their opening hours, please call Hongkong Post's enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit its website at www.hongkongpost.hk.

     Government rent payers who have not received their demand notes should enquire at the Government Rent and Premium Unit of the Lands Department at 1/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, or call 2231 3033.

     Purchasers of properties are strongly advised to instruct their solicitors to ensure that Government rent has been paid to date at the time of purchase. Enquiries on outstanding accounts can be made at 2231 3033 or email to landsd@landsd.gov.hk. An enquiry fee is payable for each property if a written confirmation of accounts position is needed.

     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after attending a meeting at the Legislative Council this morning (May 25):
 
Reporter: Secretary, what is your thinking of the possible review of the current register for future recruitments? And also how likely the Government will consider allowing donors to opt out from the second tier of the donation scheme?
 
Secretary for Health: About the registry, we have a lot to improve. The registry was originally developed without any legal power. Basically, the registration is entirely voluntary. The information will not actually have any legal implication, in the sense that those who have registered may not necessarily eventually donate their organs. On the other hand, for many people who have not registered, finally the family decided to donate their organs. But unfortunately, we now have a small number of people with ill intention to attack the system and try to create the sentiment that they are exaggerating the number of people who want to withdraw from this, who don't support this cross-boundary collaboration in organ transplant. We condemn any of this action of putting up fake information in the media to try to misguide our citizens to withdraw from the registry. We also condemn the action of trying to exaggerate the number of withdrawal in order to destroy our organ donation sentiment and the atmosphere for promoting organ donation.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) today (May 25) once again reminded subscribers to the domestic pay television programme (pay TV) service of Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV) to pay attention to contractual matters arising from the cessation of the service on June 1, and to contact HKCTV as soon as possible if they have any questions.
 
     "For individual subscribers who have subscribed to the pay TV service only, HKCTV will arrange for the termination of their service contracts on June 1. Unless the subscriber has opted for other arrangements, any rebates, monthly fee waivers and deposits that have not yet been redeemed will be amortised and refunded (if applicable)," a spokesman for OFCA said.
 
     "If individual subscribers have subscribed to combo services (i.e. a combination of pay TV, broadband, telephony and/or mobile services), i-CABLE will, after the cessation of the pay TV service, continue to provide the remaining services under the combo service plans in accordance with the contract terms until the expiry of their respective contracts."
 
     The spokesman emphasised that the cessation of HKCTV's pay TV service will not affect the reception of free TV service. Among the small number of buildings using the microwave multipoint distribution system of HKCTV to receive free TV signals of Fantastic TV in the past, a vast majority of them are now able to receive Fantastic TV's free TV signals via radio spectrum after adjustment to the TV receiving systems as arranged by HKCTV/Fantastic TV over the past few months.
 
     "Existing subscribers of HKCTV may disconnect the HKCTV decoders, and connect their TV or TV receivers directly to the existing TV sockets by themselves to continue receiving free TV signals," the spokesman added.
 
     In addition, apart from the four collection points set up by HKCTV, subscribers may return the decoders and related equipment to the recycling stations (over 160 collection points) under the "GREEN@COMMUNITY" network operated by the Environmental Protection Department with a view to reducing electronic waste. Guidelines for subscribers concerning the above matters can be found on HKCTV's thematic webpage (csweb.cabletv.com.hk).
 
     Subscribers are advised to contact HKCTV immediately via its hotline at 1832 821 or email to cs@i-cable.com if they have any questions or enquiries concerning contract and billing matters.
 
     For enquiries about free TV reception, members of the public may call the above HKCTV hotline or contact OFCA at 2961 6333.

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (May 25) gazetted a notice to invite tenders for the contract for Ground Investigation Works for Yuen Long South Development Stages 2B and 3 Works (Contract No. YL/2022/03). The closing time for the tender is noon on July 7.

     The ground investigation works mainly include drillholes, trial pits, groundwater monitoring, utility survey and associated in-situ and laboratory tests.

     The works are scheduled to commence in mid-2023 and will take about 24 months to complete.

     The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors may obtain the forms of tender and further particulars from the company at 12/F, Grand Central Plaza, Tower 2, 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, New Territories.

     Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD's website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call AECOM Asia Company Limited at 3922 9000 during office hours.