Tag Archives: China

     Two persons were sentenced by the magistrates’ courts today (May 4) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) and the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E). 

     The first case involved a man aged 61, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he was found to have taken off his wristband and left the place of quarantine on June 21, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was stopped by an immigration officer at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. He was charged with two counts of contravening Sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) and was sentenced by the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts today to immediate imprisonment for a total 21 days for the two charges.

     The second case involved a man aged 77, who was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that he must conduct quarantine at a hotel for 14 days. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine several times between September 22 and 28, 2020, and he was also found to have taken off his electronic wristband, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer. He was charged with eight counts of contravening sections 8(1), 8(4) and 8(5) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) and was sentenced by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 30 days for each of the eight charges, which are to run concurrently.

     Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentences send a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 132 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations. read more

     An exhibition entitled “The Legend of Kwan Tak-hing – On Stage, On Screen and Off” will be open to the public from tomorrow (May 5) at the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM). The exhibition will feature about 50 items of Kwan Tak-hing including costumes, documents and photos, allowing visitors to revisit his legacy.
 
     In a career spanning over 70 years in the performing arts, Kwan Tak-hing was a highly esteemed figure in the sector. He performed on the stage under the stage name Sun Leng Jau, leading Cantonese opera troupes such as the Sun Tai Luk Opera Troupe and the Kwan Tak Hing Opera Troupe and touring Southeast Asia and the United States. Kwan was particularly good at portraying General Kwan, and was hailed as “General Kwan Incarnate”. He made over 140 films, including “The Mystical Whip-wielding Hero” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and his Wong Fei-hung series is very well known.
 
     After the passing of Kwan, his son Mr David Quan donated to the HKHM materials left behind by his father, including costumes, props and scripts. The donation was an invaluable addition to the Museum’s collection.
 
     During the exhibition period, the screening of four movie excerpts starring Kwan will be held at the screening room of the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall.
 
     The exhibition, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the HKHM, will run from tomorrow until late February next year at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin).
 
     According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), visitors are required to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” QR code or register their name, contact number and date and time of entry before being allowed to enter museums for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. Appeals are made to members of the public to download the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile app in advance and scan the QR code with the app before entering. Members of the public who opt for registering their personal information at the scene are reminded to arrive earlier to avoid delaying their visits as longer time is required for such registration.
 
     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, visitors to the museum will need to use hand sanitiser and will be subject to temperature checks before admission. They also need to wear their own masks. Children under 12 will only be allowed to enter the museum and exhibition facilities when accompanied by an adult. For details of the exhibition and the admission arrangements, please visit the website at hk.heritage.museum/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid267.html or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.

            

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 9am today (May 4), four COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 451 patients with confirmed or … read more

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today released a guideline on the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme (GSF Grant Scheme) as announced in The 2021-22 Budget.
      
     The GSF Grant Scheme will provide subsidy for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers to cover their expenses on bond issuance and external review services. It will commence on May 10 and last for three years.
      
     The guideline on the GSF Grant Scheme is set out in this link.
      
     Commenting on the GSF Grant Scheme, the Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “The global green bond market has grown from practically non-existent ten years ago to US$270 billion in 2020. In Hong Kong, we have taken early and proactive steps to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regional green and sustainable finance hub, including the issuance of two rounds of Government green bonds since 2019 and the establishment of the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group to coordinate cross-agency market development efforts. The launch of a new Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme to support green and sustainable bond issuance and lending will further enrich the green and sustainable finance ecosystem in Hong Kong.” read more

     A Bangladeshi illegal worker holding a recognisance form was jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (May 3).

     During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed “Champion” on April 28, a male Bangladeshi illegal worker, aged 32, was arrested while working as a porter in Kwun Tong District. Upon identity checking, he produced a recognisance form issued by the ImmD for inspection, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was also arrested and an investigation is ongoing.

     The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. Meanwhile, he was also charged with one count of being in possession of a false instrument and one count of making a false representation to an ImmD staff member. He was sentenced to four months’ and eight months’ imprisonment respectively. All sentences are to run concurrently. Moreover, he was charged with one count of taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force in 2017. During the court hearing, he absconded after he was released on court bail. Now the case was collectively considered. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, with parts of the sentences to run consecutively, making a total of 20 months’ imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a false instrument, or make false representation to an ImmD staff member. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of $150,000 and up to 14 years’ imprisonment.

     “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him 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. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an 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 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, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more