The Government today (December 9) announced the appointment of 12 members to the Labour Advisory Board (LAB) for a term of two years starting on January 1, 2023.

     The appointed members include five employee representatives elected by registered employee unions, namely:

* Ms Tam Kam-lin 
* Mr Lo Tai-chi
* Mr Lam Wai-kong
* Ms Julie Lai Mei-chu
* Ms Lai Na

     and five employer representatives nominated by major employer associations, namely:

* Mr Ho Sai-chu (representing the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce)
* Dr Kim Mak Kin-wah (representing the Employers' Federation of Hong Kong)
* Mr Irons Sze (representing the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong)
* Mr Emil Yu Chen-on (representing the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce)
* Mr Ricky Chan Wai-chung (representing the Federation of Hong Kong Industries)
     
     In addition, Dr Bankee Kwan Pak-hoo and Mr Wong Yin-hao have been appointed ad personam as an employer member and an employee member of the LAB respectively.

     With the exception of Mr Lam Wai-kong, Ms Julie Lai Mei-chu, Ms Lai Na, Mr Ricky Chan Wai-chung and Mr Wong Yin-hao, all appointed members are incumbent members. 

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, and the Commissioner for Labour and Chairman of the LAB, Ms May Chan, welcomed the above appointments.

     "The LAB has a long history and is well-respected. Over the years, through communication, negotiation and discussion, the LAB has been committed to reaching consensus on labour issues, helping the Government give due regard to and balance the views of employees and employers when formulating labour policies and legislative proposals. I hope that members of the new term will continue to contribute to the advancement of labour issues through tripartite dialogue," said Mr Sun.

     "The LAB is a highly representative tripartite collaboration platform for representatives of employees and those of employers to candidly discuss and exchange views on labour issues of mutual concern, such as legislation and Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. I earnestly look forward to concerted efforts with all members of the LAB in the new term to improve employees' rights and benefits and to foster harmonious labour relations," said Ms Chan. 

     Ms Chan also paid warm tribute to the five outgoing members, namely employee representatives Mr Charles Chan Yiu-kwong, Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Leung Chau-ting and Ms Shea Wai-man as well as employer representative Mr Jimmy Kwok Chun-wah, for their significant contributions to the LAB during their term of office.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (December 9) announced that starting from December 30, the application of the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to cover employees' compensation cases of the District Court and summons cases of the Magistrates' Courts to allow court users to handle filing and payments electronically.

     The iCMS, being developed in phases across various levels of courts, was first implemented for personal injuries action and tax claim proceedings in the District Court this May, and further covered civil action proceedings in the District Court in July.

     The iCMS is an integral part of the Judiciary's Information Technology Strategy Plan. Covering various levels of courts, it aims to facilitate the handling of court-related documents and payments through an electronic mode.

     The major electronic services under the iCMS include sending case-specific court documents to the courts and receiving such documents from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services.

     Eligible users need to register for a user account for full use of the iCMS. They include parties of an ongoing or new e-proceeding and their legal representatives (if any), the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies. The registration is free of charge.

     Unregistered members of the public may also use certain types of iCMS services, mainly related to searching of electronic documents that are open to public inspection.

     To encourage migration to electronic filing and payment through the iCMS, a 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for five years on fee items of the District Court and the Summons Courts of the Magistrates' Courts, which are primarily or directly related to electronic handling of court documents.

     As for technical requirements, the iCMS can be accessed using personal computers or mobile devices with Internet connection, commonly used operating systems and browsers. Relevant technical requirements are available at www.judiciary.hk/doc/en/e_courts/AI_TechReq_iCMS_e.pdf.  

     Generally speaking, the iCMS operates round the clock except during system maintenance. The system maintenance schedules of the iCMS, as specified by the Judiciary, are published on the dedicated webpage of the Judiciary's website (www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html).

     Any e-filing and e-payment received under the iCMS after the registry and the accounts office are normally closed to the public (i.e. after 5.30pm on a working day) will be deemed to be received upon the starting time of the normal opening hours of the registry and the accounts office on the following working day.

     For enquiries, please call the general enquiry hotline at 2477 1002 or the technical helpline at 2886 6474, email enquiry@judiciary.hk or visit the Help Centre at 5/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

     A spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau said today (December 9) that the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, is undergoing home quarantine in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, as a family member in his household has tested positive for COVID-19. Mr Sun will work from home during the quarantine period.

     Mr Sun has been taking COVID-19 nucleic acid tests regularly. He obtained negative results after conducting a nucleic acid test yesterday (December 8) and a rapid antigen test today. He has worn masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (December 5) expressed sorrow over the passing of Mr Chan Tak-fai, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Keeper of the Flame, and extended his deepest condolences to Mr Chan's family.
 
     Mr Yeung said, "As a well-respected leading figure of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Commander and Keeper of the Flame, Mr Chan had been dedicated to participating in the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, enabling the younger generation to understand the precious intangible cultural heritage and the traditional Chinese culture to be passed on to the youth and be revitalised. We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Chan and will fondly remember him." 
 
     The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has been held for more than 100 years. It was inscribed onto the third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is deeply concerned about the train incident on the MTR Tseung Kwan O Line this morning (December 5) and immediately visited the scene to commence an investigation. 

     The EMSD has requested the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to identify the cause of the incident as soon as possible. The MTRCL shall submit a preliminary investigation report within three days of the incident (i.e. no later than December 8). It will complete the investigation and submit a detailed investigation report within two months (i.e. no later than February 4 next year). In the report, the MTRCL is required to provide an account of the incident and its causes, its immediate incident handling, as well as the improvement measures and implementation plan so as to ensure the safety of the railway operation and prevent recurrence of similar incidents.