Tag Archives: China

     A boy who went missing in Kwun Tong has been located.      Muhammad Haider Salman, aged 15, left his residence in Yau Lai Estate on April 24 night. His family made a report to Police on the same… read more

     A restaurant director pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the illegal employment of a foreign domestic helper and was sentenced at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (April 25) to two months’ imprisonment.
 
     The Immigration Department (ImmD) received earlier a complaint on a restaurant where a foreign domestic helper worked as a cleaning worker. Investigation ensued and the restaurant director and a foreign domestic helper were arrested during enforcement action. Investigators also unveiled that the arrested restaurant director was the contractual employer of the arrested foreign domestic helper.
 
     After investigation, the arrested restaurant director was charged with one count of consent, connivance or neglect in the employment of a person who was not lawfully employable. The restaurant was also summonsed for employing a person not lawfully employable. The arrested foreign domestic helper was charged with one count of breach of condition of stay by taking up unapproved employment. At Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday, the restaurant director pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and the representative of the restaurant was fined $6,000. The arrested foreign domestic helper also pleaded guilty to the charge against her and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
 
     “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties,” an ImmD spokesman said.

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately. read more

     A spokesman for the Marine Department (MD) reminded the public today (April 26) that, for their own safety, they should use services provided by local pleasure vessels that are allowed by the MD to be let for hire or carry passengers for reward.
 
     The MD has since this January uploaded to its departmental website a list of vessels endorsed to be let for hire or reward (www.mardep.gov.hk/e_files/en/pub_services/LIST_CLASS_IV_LET_FOR_HIRE.pdf) and will keep updating it for reference by the public. The MD has also generated a QR code shown on the pamphlet “Notes for Local Pleasure Vessels (Class IV Vessels)” and posters for display in popular marine tourism spots. Members of the public can simply scan the QR code and verify if a local pleasure vessel is allowed by the MD to be let for hire or carry passengers for reward.
 
     Under the law, a local pleasure vessel must not be let for hire or reward unless it has the Director of Marine’s endorsement and is holding a valid certificate of inspection or certificate of survey, a third party risks insurance policy, an operating licence, and a written charter agreement or written hire-purchase agreement.
 
     To safeguard navigation safety, apart from conducting daily patrols and law enforcement within Hong Kong waters, the MD also works closely with the Marine Police to conduct joint operations in different parts of Hong Kong waters from time to time to combat illegal activities including illegal carriage of passengers, speeding, overloading, and violation of licensing conditions and the relevant marine legislation. From April 2021 to yesterday (April 25), the MD conducted a total of 214 enforcement operations on its own and 117 joint operations with the Marine Police, covering black spots such as Sai Kung, Tai Po, Tai O, Wong Shek Pier and Aberdeen. Some of the operations involved deployment of personnel to pose as passengers to collect evidence.
 
     If a vessel is found being let for hire or carrying passengers for reward without a relevant licence or the Director of Marine’s endorsement, the owner, agent and/or operator will be prosecuted. From April 2021 to yesterday, the MD instituted a total of 22 prosecutions related to the use of vessels for illegal passenger-carrying services.

      

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (April 26):
 
Reporter: Did you see the recent commentaries from People’s Daily and other state media on sticking to “zero COVID” and warning against further easing the border control measures or social distancing? Will you consider further lowering the flight ban, flight hold or easing the social distancing restrictions given there is no rebound of infections following the Easter holiday? And second, you have repeatedly said that Hong Kong’s press freedom is not under threat, but yesterday the FCC (Foreign Correspondents’ Club) becomes the latest body to have withdrawn from a human rights press award and a former university scholar known for outspokenness in the press has also left the city. Given the uncertainties, how can it be said that Hong Kong’s press freedom is still thriving? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: First of all, I have repeatedly said, during the last two years of fighting the epidemic, that the situation has to be continuously reviewed, and the right decisions have to be made trying to strike a balance between the public health considerations, the socio-economic development needs and the people’s tolerance and acceptance level. So with that in mind, the Government has to continuously adjust its policy measures, and that’s exactly what we have done. It is gratifying to know that after more than three months since the fifth wave of COVID-19 hit us, and hit us hard in Hong Kong, we are on the path to returning or resuming normal activities.
 
     As far as social distancing measures are concerned, we will continue to press ahead with the three stages of relaxation that I announced on March 21, unless there is a sudden surge in COVID-19 infection cases. But that looks quite unlikely based on our observations and the experts’ advice because of the high level of hybrid immunity that Hong Kong has achieved. We have effectively and successfully rolled out the first stage and I noticed that many Hong Kong people, many restaurant operators, are very happy with this first-stage relaxation. The second stage is intended to take place about a month from the first phase, maybe the second half of May. This is the plan at the moment.
 
     As far as border controls are concerned, these are still very important measures in order to reduce the importation of infected cases into Hong Kong, especially when many places are already removing the restrictions and social distancing measures, etc. We still have this policy to prevent and reduce a large number of imported cases into Hong Kong. But again, using my analogy of striving to strike the balance between the three factors, we have made certain adjustments and announced them last Friday to take effect, mostly on May 1. For the time being, we don’t have any plans to further relax the border controls, the flight ban or the flight suspension measures that we have put in place.
 
     Press freedom is one of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law. In the last 25 years since reunification, all these human rights and freedoms have been safeguarded and upheld in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. But from time to time, there will be some concerns and worries arising from isolated incidents. I would say that the two examples you have given are those isolated incidents, which might have given people that impression, especially people who tended to misunderstand the constitutional safeguards for press freedom, that is one has to observe the law in exercising freedom. I have no particular comment on those two incidents that you have quoted, because the first incident is an award event, which was organised by a private organisation. If that same organisation decided not to hold that event, a government official cannot comment on it. The answer has to be given by that particular organisation. The second incident is about people leaving Hong Kong whether for good or for a short while. This is in exercise of individual freedom to enter and to exit Hong Kong. Again, it is a right enshrined in the Basic Law.
 
     Thank you.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     â€‹â€‹The Government yesterday (April 25) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 4pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Tuen Mun (i.e. Block 13, Yuet Wu Villa, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained. 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, were not required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise.
 
     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 19 to April 25, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before April 27, 2022.
 
     The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.50am today (April 26) and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10.50am today.
 
     The Government provided food packs for persons subject to compulsory testing so as to facilitate the meal arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing. Rapid antigen test kits, as well as anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines supplied by the Central People’s Government, were also provided to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.
 
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.50am today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10.50am. Test records of 193 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Twenty-two persons were found not having undergone compulsory testing and compulsory testing orders were issued to them. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminds the 17 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. 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 of level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more