The Labour Department (LD) had completed a four-week Special Enforcement Operation on May 21 targeting new works sites in the Kai Tak Development Area and Kowloon Bay to curb unsafe work activities and crack down on illegal employment.

     The LD's spokesman today (May 25) said, "As regards curbing unsafe work activities, the Occupational Safety Officers of the LD inspected a total of 73 new works sites located at the above-mentioned areas, with 438 improvement notices issued and 51 prosecutions initiated during this special enforcement operation. The above-mentioned legal notices and prosecutions mainly involved failure to erect guard rails at floor edges, failure to use safe working platforms, unsafe electrical work and lifting operations, as well as failure to wear suitable safety helmets and eye protectors by workers."

      Pursuant to the general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, employers shall provide safe working environments, safe plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     The spokesman added, "With regard to cracking down on the employment of illegal workers, the Labour Inspectors of the LD, vested with the authority of Part IVB of the Immigration Ordinance, checked a total of 170 workers on employee's proof of identity at the new work sites of the Kai Tak Development Area in this operation. A total of 30 contractors were also checked if employees' compensation insurance was in place under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.

     "Pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Immigration Ordinance, employers are required by law to take all practicable steps to ensure that job seekers are lawfully employable before employing them. Employing illegal workers is a serious offence. Employers are liable to a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years upon conviction. In addition, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, no employer shall employ any employee in any employment unless there is in force a policy of insurance to cover his liabilities under the laws (including the common law) for injuries at work in respect of all his employees. An employer who fails to secure an insurance cover is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years."

     The LD reminds contractors and employers to provide plant and devise systems of work for their work activities that are safe and without risks to health to safeguard the work safety of construction workers. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use the provided personal protective equipment properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. For employees' rights and benefits, the employers shall ensure that job seekers are lawfully employable before employing them, and take out the employees' compensation insurance.

     The LD will from time to time continue to conduct surprise inspections, and will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the occupational safety and health legislation, and employees' rights and benefits legislation.

     The Government announced today (May 25) that, given public health considerations, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will cover Mainland residents who are holders of the Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and will stay in Hong Kong for a period of time. In addition, the Government is preparing for vaccination of non-refoulement claimants and refugees recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hong Kong.
      
     A Government spokesman said that since the launch of the Vaccination Programme, the Government has from time to time received enquiries on and requests for vaccination of non-Hong Kong residents remaining in Hong Kong. There are currently over 40 000 Mainland residents holding the EEP who are allowed to stay in Hong Kong as a visitor. Most of them have exit endorsement for visiting relatives in Hong Kong. Owing to the COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine measures implemented in Hong Kong and the Mainland, they may have to continue their stay in Hong Kong in light of special reasons or difficulties, such as taking care of their unsupported children, or elderly or sick family members. They generally live together with Hong Kong residents who are eligible for vaccination.
      
     "These EEP holders will stay in the community for a period of time. From a public health perspective, providing vaccination to them will not only protect them from infection, but also prevent the spread of the virus in the community and thus enhance Hong Kong's overall anti-epidemic capability," the spokesman said.
      
     From May 28, EEP holders who are allowed to stay in Hong Kong as a visitor and can complete two doses of vaccination within their limit of stay without extension can seek assistance from any post office (except mobile post offices) during office hours to make appointments for completing two doses of vaccination in the 29 Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) within their limit of stay. They have to present their EEPs and landing slips or extension of stay labels issued by the Immigration Department when making the bookings.
      
     On the same public health considerations, the Government is also preparing to provide vaccination to about 13 000 non-refoulement claimants and refugees recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hong Kong. The Government is currently conducting a survey through the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch to assess their intention for receiving vaccination. The Government plans to provide vaccination to them starting from July at four to six designated CVCs, where interpretation service will be available.
      
     As for other travellers who continue to stay in Hong Kong owing to the pandemic, the Government will also announce the vaccination arrangement at a suitable juncture.
      
     In general, visitors (including Mainland residents and other visitors to Hong Kong) must depart Hong Kong before the expiry of their limit of stay. If there is a special or urgent need to stay longer, visitors may make an extension of stay application within seven days before their limit of stay expires. Applications will be considered on individual merits but those made solely for the purpose of getting vaccination will not be considered.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

*"Pro rata ratio" refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant's tendered amount at the "highest yield accepted" level.
———————————————————
     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning – May 31, 2021 :
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In response to the commentary published by a newspaper today (May 25) mentioning the incident of an eye injury patient in 2019, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson made the following statement:
      
     The HA reiterated that with regard to the incident mentioned in the article, the HA had cooperated with the police investigation and had provided relevant medical records to the police in accordance with the law. The HA was aware that the incident had entered legal proceedings at that time, and both the HA and relevant departments had to respect and abide by the restrictions of the procedures.
      
     The HA treats all patients equally, upholds the principle of respecting personal privacy and complies with relevant legal requirements. The HA or public hospitals will not disclose the specific clinical details of individual patient to the public or the media without the patient's consent.
      
     The HA disagrees with the commentary and reiterates that it is unfounded in alleging the HA for deliberate cover-up and fraudulent in the disclosure of the condition of an individual patient.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (May 25):
 
Reporter: Can you share with us how the Guangdong authority has responded to the recent pandemic control in Hong Kong during, maybe, your latest interaction on the issue, including the low number of local cases and the latest vaccination rate? Do they also acknowledge they are the directions for Hong Kong to achieve quarantine-free travel with the Mainland? The second question is what's your response to a report based on American chamber's survey that Hong Kong's allure to the international business companies is fading because the city's political environment and COVID-19 restrictions? What kind of policies is the Government offering to attract and retain global professionals in the upcoming new environment created by the National Security Law and electoral reform? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: As far as our joint efforts in combatting COVID-19 with Guangdong, I would say that we are working very closely. As you may realise, on May 14, despite the restrictions on travel, I and Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui held a virtual high-level meeting to discuss a range of subjects including the COVID-19 control. We have also put in place special arrangements to facilitate cross-boundary cargo truck drivers since the first day of COVID-19 so as to ensure that the flow of goods and daily necessities to Hong Kong will not be disrupted. I would say that we are working very closely, we have very frequent communications on how we could do better. I would also say that Guangdong, like ourselves, is also very keen to be able to resume some normal travel as soon as possible because there are so many Hong Kong businesses in Guangdong Province and many of them have not been to their factories or their businesses for a very long time, let alone we also have a very large number of Hong Kong students living in Shenzhen who have to come to Hong Kong to school. We will continue to work with Guangdong on various aspects as far as the epidemic control is concerned.
 
    The second question about surveys, or business surveys carried out by individual chambers in Hong Kong, of course we look at the survey results. They may provide some reference for us, but at the end of the day, one has to look at what is actually happening on the ground. What is actually happening on the ground is, according to our latest survey, we have 9 000 Mainland and overseas companies based in Hong Kong, including many of them which are using Hong Kong as regional headquarters and regional offices. We have not seen any significant outflow of capital. The securities markets are doing very well, the banking sector is very stable and generally, life goes on. I have been meeting with business chambers, both based in Hong Kong and also overseas through webinars in the past two months and generally, the initial concern and anxiety about the national security legislation has subsided, and the first and foremost topic raised by my business counterparts was the Greater Bay Area – how could we go into the Greater Bay Area? How could we make use of the support measures for Hong Kong under the 14th Five-Year Plan in order to grow our business? What more favourable policies would there be from the Central Government in order to facilitate the free flow of goods, capital, people, data between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area Mainland cities? These are the general sentiments that we have received from the business community at large. I would not put too much emphasis on a particular survey, especially it may be a survey just about the sentiments of individuals rather than looking into the business investment behaviour of companies based in Hong Kong, or companies which still aspire to come to Hong Kong.
 
     And if you will allow me to say, you'd notice last week we had a very important international arts fair in Hong Kong, Art Basel 2021. It has attracted a lot of attention, again locally and overseas, and I read from a newspaper, by the way it's a Western media newspaper, that the sales at this arts fair were very strong. This is also a very clear indication of the strength of Hong Kong, not only on the international financial side but also on the arts and cultural front, which is why in the 14th Five-Year Plan, the Central Authorities have given us this mandate to develop Hong Kong into a hub for cultural exchanges.
 
     Thank you.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)