The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:
 
     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (April 20) to consider four applications for new issue, renewal, transfer and amendment of liquor licences.
 
     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
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Alvy's in Kennedy Town
The Hangout Corner in Sheung Wan
Ricky's in Stanley
 
Kowloon:
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HOLLYWOOD EAST in Kowloon City
 
     The board will also consider revocation of the liquor licence of DAN GOR HOT POT in Yau Ma Tei.
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. In response to the latest developments of COVID-19, to avoid the gathering of people in an enclosed environment and to safeguard the health of all participants, only limited public seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for all open hearings of the LLB in the interim.

     A property owner was fined $5,930 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts this month for failing to comply with a mandatory window inspection statutory notice issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO).

     The premises is located in a 42-year-old 28-storey residential building at Chi Fu Road. A statutory notice was issued under section 30C(4) of the BO by the Buildings Department (BD), requiring the owner of the premises to appoint a qualified person to carry out an inspection and, if necessary, repairs of the windows in his premises.

     Since the property owner failed to comply with the statutory notice, he was prosecuted by the BD and was convicted and fined on April 1.

     "Failing to comply with a statutory notice without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner," a spokesman for the BD said today (April 18).

     Pursuant to section 40(1BD) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory notice served on him or her commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to imprisonment for three months, as well as a further fine of $2,000 for each day that the offence has continued.

     The cost information for window inspection and common window repair items under the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS) is available at www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/safety-and-inspection/mwis/property-owners-and-owners-corporation/MBISMWIS_CostReference.pdf. The Layman's Guide on MWIS can also be downloaded from the BD's website (www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/pamphlets-and-videos/LGMWIS_e.pdf).

     The Government has been collaborating with local researchers to detect COVID-19 via sewage surveillance. Such crucial technology now serves as an early warning system for coronavirus infections and helps identify areas for compulsory testing operations. 
 
     News.gov.hk spoke with representatives from the Drainage Services Department, the Environmental Protection Department and the University of Hong Kong to learn more on how this remarkable strategy has helped Hong Kong in fighting the epidemic.
 
    The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (April 18) in text and video format.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 18) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.