The Government intends to carry out improvement works at Ma Wan Chung Pier within an area of approximately 5 840 square metres of foreshore and seabed situated in the west of Ma Wan Chung on Lantau Island. The extent of the area affected is described in a notice gazetted today (June 11).

     The proposed works, scheduled tentatively to commence in mid-2022 for completion in mid-2025, will enhance the safety of pier users while boarding and alighting.

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* The Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);

* The Islands Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (Tung Chung) of the Islands District Office (1/F, Tung Chung Post Office Building, 6 Mei Tung Street, Tung Chung, Lantau Island); and

* The Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before August 11. The notice of such an objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 22 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $6.5 million at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal on June 8.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day inspected a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected counterfeit goods in the container, including mobile phones and accessories, clothing and ornaments.

     Initial investigations revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would have been re-exported to African countries.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to strengthen co-operation with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and take stringent enforcement action against cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied 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 counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Government published in the Gazette today (June 11) the Chemical Weapons (Convention) Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2021 and the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Order 2021 to amend the control lists of chemical weapons and strategic commodities.

      "As a responsible trading partner and an international trading hub, Hong Kong has been following closely the controls adopted by leading international regimes and convention of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The purpose of this technical amendment exercise is to reflect through the two Orders the changes to the control lists adopted by a number of international regimes and convention with respect to the technologies or items under control as well as the control thresholds", a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said.

     The control lists of chemical weapons and strategic commodities in Hong Kong mirror the control lists adopted by the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and the Chemical Weapons Convention (Note 1). The control lists are provided in the relevant schedules to the Chemical Weapons (Convention) Ordinance (Cap. 578) and the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Cap. 60G).

     The Orders will be tabled at the Legislative Council on June 16. The Government plans to bring the Orders into effect on August 25.

     The Trade and Industry Department will inform traders of the details of the amendments via a trade circular and through its website (www.stc.tid.gov.hk/eindex.html). Enquiries can be made to the Strategic Trade Controls Branch of the department by telephone at 2398 5587 or by email at stc@tid.gov.hk.
 
Note 1: The full name of the Chemical Weapons Convention is "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction".

     The Government declared by notices in the Gazette today (June 11) the existence of one vacant elected seat each in the Wong Tai Sin District Council Chuk Yuen North Constituency and the Sha Tin District Council City One Constituency.

     Following the resignation of elected members Mr Cheng Tsz Kin of the Wong Tai Sin District Council and Ms Wong Man Huen of the Sha Tin District Council, their offices have become vacant since June 1, 2021, and June 4, 2021, respectively, pursuant to section 26(b) of the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547).

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled "Occupational safety and health (OSH) for confined space workers" on June 18 (Friday). To enhance workers' OSH awareness in confined spaces, the talk will explain the related OSH hazards as well as their preventive measures.
      
     The talk will be given by the LD's occupational hygienist, occupational safety officer and occupational health nurse at 2.30pm in the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.
      
     The LD will hold another talk, entitled "Occupational health for security guards", on June 21 (Monday). The talk will introduce the causes and preventive measures of lower limb and back disorders commonly found among security guards. Tips on healthy living will also be provided, with demonstration and practice of workplace exercise.
      
     The talk will be given by the LD's occupational health nurse at 3pm in Lecture Room 1, Sha Tin Town Hall, 1 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin.
      
     Both talks will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free but must be pre-registered. On-site registration is not available. Infection control measures taking into account the latest epidemic developments will be adopted at both venues. For enquiries or registration, please call 2852 4040.