Tag Archives: China

image_pdfimage_print

EPD respects employees’ rights and strongly refutes misleading allegations

     In response to media reports alleging that an employee was interdicted from duty for declaration signing matters, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 23) issued the following clarification:
 
     The employee submitted three declarations in total, but irrelevant wording was written in the signature box each time. Taking into consideration various factors and the situation, the EPD interdicted the employee concerned under the Public Service (Administration) Order as he had failed to return a duly signed declaration by the stipulated deadline without reasonable explanation. The EPD noted that allowing the employee to continue discharging the duties and power of his position may go against the public’s interest. The Administration is following up cases involving officers refusing to sign declarations in accordance with relevant regulations.
 
     The EPD issued an interdiction letter to the employee concerned at 9am on April 12 and read the content of the letter to him, clearly stating that he would not be allowed to enter the office area after packing and leaving the office with his personal belongings. The department gave him a whole day (from 9am to 5.20pm) to pack his personal belongings. He also noted that the department would arrange for the delivery of his unpacked personal belongings to his home. As he had too many personal belongings left unpacked, it took time for the department to follow-up.
 
     On April 21 morning, the employee appeared outside the office and requested to enter the office to get back his medicine. The staff of the EPD and the police officers on site advised him to provide the details of where his medicine was stored so as to help him retrieve the medicine. However, he refused.
 
     On April 22 morning, the employee tried to enter the office again, claiming that he needed to retrieve his residence key left in the office. The building security guard and the EPD staff offered to retrieve the key for him according to his instruction, but he refused.
 
     The EPD deeply regrets that someone deliberately confuses and misleads the public, making people think that the EPD has ignored the rights of the employee concerned. read more

Land for office premises of Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR

     The Government announced today (April 23) that a government site comprising two portions on Hoi Fan Road in Tai Kok Tsui will be granted to the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OSNS) for its permanent office premises and ancillary facilities.
 
     The Site measures about 11 500 square metres in total and falls within areas zoned “Government, Institution or Community” on the South West Kowloon Outline Zoning Plan. The setting up of the OSNS’ office premises and ancillary facilities is a use always permitted under that zoning. A location plan of the Site is in the Annex.
 
     The OSNS was established in July 2020 in accordance with Article 48 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law). Article 61 of the National Security Law also stipulates that the relevant departments of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall provide necessary facilitation and support to the OSNS in performing its mandate in accordance with the National Security Law. The OSNS will carry out the construction in accordance with the National Security Law and relevant laws and regulations in Hong Kong. The OSNS will bear the required costs. read more