An organiser filed a notification to hold a public meeting on Hong Kong Island tomorrow (June 4). Considering public safety, public order, people’s rights and freedom, and the serious health risks brought by the ongoing pandemic to the society, Police have reasonable grounds to believe that the holding of the event will pose considerable threats to the public health and lives and issued a notice of prohibition to the organiser. On May 29, the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions upheld Police's decision after hearing.
      
     It must be reiterated that participating in an unauthorised assembly risks committing offences under the Public Order Ordinance, and on conviction, shall be liable to a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. Besides, participating in public gatherings may also breach the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) regarding prohibited group gatherings.
      
     In addition, the Court’s recent rulings on two cases of unauthorised assembly (public meeting and procession on August 18 and August 31, 2019) show that participating in an unauthorised assembly, whether involving violence or not, breaks the law. People involved in the case were eventually sentenced to different imprisonment terms. The Court also sentenced the defendants to prison for four to 10 months in a case of "knowingly participating in an unauthorised assembly" on June 4, 2020.
      
     Police appeal to members of the public to refrain from participating in, advertising or publicising any unauthorised assemblies and prohibited gatherings. It should be stressed that any group gatherings taking place during the ongoing pandemic can also increase the risk of spreading the virus. Police will deploy adequate manpower in relevant locations on the day and take resolute action to enforce the law, including making arrests.

     An organiser filed a notification to hold a public meeting on Hong Kong Island tomorrow (June 4). Considering public safety, public order, people’s rights and freedom, and the serious health risks brought by the ongoing pandemic to the society, Police have reasonable grounds to believe that the holding of the event will pose considerable threats to the public health and lives and issued a notice of prohibition to the organiser. On May 29, the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions upheld Police's decision after hearing.
      
     It must be reiterated that participating in an unauthorised assembly risks committing offences under the Public Order Ordinance, and on conviction, shall be liable to a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. Besides, participating in public gatherings may also breach the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) regarding prohibited group gatherings.
      
     In addition, the Court’s recent rulings on two cases of unauthorised assembly (public meeting and procession on August 18 and August 31, 2019) show that participating in an unauthorised assembly, whether involving violence or not, breaks the law. People involved in the case were eventually sentenced to different imprisonment terms. The Court also sentenced the defendants to prison for four to 10 months in a case of "knowingly participating in an unauthorised assembly" on June 4, 2020.
      
     Police appeal to members of the public to refrain from participating in, advertising or publicising any unauthorised assemblies and prohibited gatherings. It should be stressed that any group gatherings taking place during the ongoing pandemic can also increase the risk of spreading the virus. Police will deploy adequate manpower in relevant locations on the day and take resolute action to enforce the law, including making arrests.

     Police today (June 3) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Lantau North.

     Ma Wai-fai, aged 42, went missing after he left his residence on Tat Tung Road on May 31 afternoon. His family made a report to Police yesterday (June 2) night.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 75 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers and black sports shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 9757 4653 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
     

  

     â€‹The Labour Department (LD) today (June 3) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the requirements of the Code of Practice (CoP) for EAs at all times.
      
     The LD has revoked the EA licence of Best Ka Hei Employment Agency located in Kowloon City. The EA failed to meet the requirements as set out in the CoP, including failing to draw up service agreements with employers; failing to include all required items in the service agreements drawn up with employers and foreign domestic helpers (FDHs); failing to provide receipts after receiving payments from FDHs; failing to include all required items in the payment receipts issued to employers; failing to arrange for employers to sign an acknowledgement on receipt of publications and sample forms, and for them to be fully briefed by EAs about their rights and obligations; and failing to keep records relating to the dealings of employers and FDHs, including acknowledgement regarding their receipt of the signed standard employment contract.
      
     Under section 53(1)(c)(iva) of the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the licence of an EA if he is satisfied that the licensee concerned has not complied with the CoP.
      
     An LD spokesman said, "The CoP sets out the salient legal requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the standards which the Commissioner expects from EAs. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, which came into effect on February 9, 2018, stipulates that the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a licence, or may revoke a licence, if he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee of an EA, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO, such as overcharging job seekers or operating an EA without a licence, or has not complied with the CoP issued under section 62A(1) of the EO."
      
     The LD has revoked the licences of a total of seven EAs since 2020, including the above case.
      
     For enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about alleged malpractices, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD at 2115 3667, or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (June 3) addressed more than 200 members of the local and international business community at a webinar hosted by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) under its 160th anniversary distinguished speakers series. She highlighted the tremendous opportunities presented by the "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" (the 14th Five-Year Plan) approved by the National People's Congress earlier this year, and encouraged businesses to contribute to and benefit from the national blueprint and action agenda.
 
     Mrs Lam took members through the content in the 14th Five-Year Plan that concerned Hong Kong, although she suggested that one should actually refer to the entire Plan to appreciate the many opportunities available in the country's development strategies in the coming years. She highlighted that the Hong Kong and Macao chapter contained, first and foremost, the fundamental principles that would contribute to the long-term prosperity and stability of the two special administrative regions. She said that it was imperative for Hong Kong to fully and faithfully implement the "One Country, Two Systems" principle; uphold the constitutional order as enshrined in the Constitution and the Basic Law; uphold the Central Authorities' overall jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); implement the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests of the nation and the social stability of the HKSAR; and resolutely prevent and curb interference by external forces in the affairs of Hong Kong. She remarked that seen against the unprecedented challenges faced by Hong Kong since the latter half of 2019 till the enactment and implementation of the National Security Law, the reiteration of these important principles underpinning the relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR were timely and pertinent.
 
     Mrs Lam went on to point out the positioning of Hong Kong as set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan, which reflected the full support and recognition of the Central Authorities for Hong Kong, and the plans and the progress of work in the relevant areas. In particular, Hong Kong was recognised for its status as an international financial, transportation and trade centre, and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, Hong Kong was encouraged, for the first time, to develop as an international aviation hub, an international innovation and technology hub, a regional intellectual property trading centre, and a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
 
     "To enable Hong Kong people to seize the opportunities brought about by the development of the nation, the Leading Group on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Development has endorsed various measures to facilitate Hong Kong people to study, live and work in the Mainland cities of the GBA. I am sure such supportive measures will continue now that a reference has been made to it in the 14th Five-Year Plan. However, the HKSAR must at the same time cultivate a stronger sense of national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong," said Mrs Lam.
 
     She also pointed out that in recognition of Hong Kong's status as an international city, the 14th Five-Year Plan supported Hong Kong to foster co-operation and exchanges with countries and regions around the world. She encouraged international companies and chambers of commerce to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages to access the Mainland market and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
 
     Mrs Lam addressed wide-ranging questions from the participants covering such topics as the plan for lifting travel restrictions, quarantine arrangements, visa-free access to the Mainland by residents of non-Chinese ethnicity, Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation and sports development.
 
     Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the HKGCC and various enterprises for their overwhelming support for the Government's "Early Vaccination for All" campaign launched this week by rolling out measures to facilitate employees to get vaccinated as well as offering numerous reward schemes.
 
     "Vaccination is the best hope for Hong Kong to overcome the epidemic; we need to do much better than the present vaccination rates in order to reach the immunity level for our society to return to normality. This is the time to act," Mrs Lam said.