Appointments to sixth term of New Energy Transport Fund Steering Committee

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 1) announced the appointments to the New Energy Transport Fund Steering Committee (Steering Committee) for a new two-year term starting today. 

     â€‹The new term of the Steering Committee is chaired by Mr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung, Committee Member of The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, with members comprising representatives elected by the transport sectors, experts and academics in green innovative transport technologies, as well as representatives of relevant government departments.
 
     The EPD thanked the outgoing Chairman, Professor Wong Yuk-shan, and members, Dr Lawrence Chan Wan-ching, Mr Benny Chu Kwok-ki, Professor Dennis Leung Yiu-cheong, Professor Man Hau-chung, Mr So Sai-hung and Mr Tam Wai-to, for their enormous contribution to the Steering Committee. The EPD was also deeply grateful for the invaluable advice from all members of the last term rendered to the Government on the approval of funding support for testing green innovative transport technologies and the review of the scope of the Fund.
 
     The membership of the Steering Committee in the new term is as follows:
 
Chairman
Mr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung
 
Members
Professor Christopher Chao Yu-hang
Dr Lawrence Cheung Chi-chong
Mr Andy Chung Wai-leung
Mr Kent Lam Wing-keung
Professor Lo Hong-kam
Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing
Dr Daniel Yan Ting-kwan
Mr Chan Sam-choi
Mr Ling Chi-keung
Mr Ng Kwan-sing
Mr Matthew Wong Leung-pak
Representative of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
Representative of the EPD
Representative of the Innovation and Technology Commission
Representative of the Transport Department
 
Secretary
Principal Environmental Protection Officer (Corporate Affairs), EPD
 
     The Government has put in place the Fund (previously named the Pilot Green Transport Fund) since March 2011 to subsidise and encourage the testing and more widely the use of green innovative transport technologies for a variety of commercial transport tools, including goods vehicles, taxis, light buses, buses, vessels, motorcycles, non-road vehicles and the aforesaid transport tools of charitable/non-profit making organisations providing services to their clients. There are two categories of application under the Fund – the Applications for Trial (AT) and the Applications for Use, respectively. The former is to subsidise trials of green innovative transport technologies, whilst the latter is for direct procurement of products of technologies that have been proved under AT to be relatively mature and suitable for local adoption. The Steering Committee advises the Government on the operation of the Fund and the approval of funding for applications.
 
     For more information on the Fund, please visit the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/new-energy-transport-fund.html) or call the enquiry hotline on 2824 0022.




Twelve persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo)

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight" from March 29 to yesterday (March 31). A total of eight suspected illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested.
 
     During the "Twilight" operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 25 target locations including a car park, manicure shops, a massage parlour, offices, residential buildings, a retail shop, vegetable stalls and a warehouse. The suspected illegal workers comprised three men and five women, aged 27 to 63. Among them, two women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Meanwhile, a man and three women, aged 34 to 53, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.

     "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 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.
 
     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 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.

Photo  



All gazetted beaches continue to meet Water Quality Objective (with photos)

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) released the 2020 Beach Water Quality Report today (April 1). The report indicates that all gazetted beaches in Hong Kong complied with the bacteriological Water Quality Objective (WQO) for bathing waters in that year, with 24 beaches ranked as "Good" and the remaining 17 ranked as "Fair" in water quality, with none ranked as "Poor" or "Very Poor".

     An EPD spokesman said, "The beaches of Hong Kong have maintained 100 per cent full compliance with the WQO for 11 consecutive years since 2010.

     "The sustained improvement in beach water quality is the result of years of efforts to implement pollution control and environmental improvement measures, including the enforcement of the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, implementation of the Livestock Waste Control Scheme and Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, and extension of sewerage to the beach hinterland according to Sewerage Master Plans.

     "The EPD will maintain close monitoring and reporting the water quality of all bathing beaches to safeguard the health of beach goers and provide scientific data for supporting the formulation of water quality improvement policy," the spokesman added.

     The 2020 Beach Water Quality Report can be found at the EPD's website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach).

Photo  Photo  



Special traffic arrangements for Ching Ming Festival

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts to facilitate grave sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety during Ching Ming Festival. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Police appealed to members of the public to arrange grave-sweeping activities over a wider period before and after the Ching Ming Festival (April 4) to avoid overcrowding. Members of the public are reminded to observe regulations on group gatherings and mask wearing.

Hong Kong Island
—————-

(1) Chai Wan

A. Road closure

Phase I

     Vehicles will be allowed to use Cape Collison Road east of Lin Shing Road on April 10, 17, 24 and 25. Special traffic arrangements in Phase II may be implemented when necessary.

Phase II

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on April 2, 6, 11 and 18, and May 1:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for green minibus (GMB) route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate and Lin Tsui Estate;
– Northbound Lin Shing Road, except for GMB route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

     Special traffic arrangements in Phase III may be implemented when necessary.

Phase III

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on April 3 to 5:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate and Lin Tsui Estate; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

B. Traffic diversions

     In connection with the above road closures, the following roads will be re-routed:

– Cape Collinson Road between its slip road to Crematorium and Shek O Road will be re-routed one-way westbound; and
– Eastern section of Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. No parking

     No parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– Cape Collinson Road;
– Lin Shing Road;
– Shek O Road between Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution and Tai Tam Road; and
– Wan Tsui Road.

     Taxis, Public light buses (PLBs) and private cars cannot enter Lin Shing Road for Cape Collinson Road, except for vehicles gaining access to Wan Tsui Estate. They will be allowed to drop off passengers at the PLB stand on Fei Tsui Road near the junction with Wan Tsui Road.

     PLBs cannot pick up/set down passengers along Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Lin Shing Road.

(2) Pok Fu Lam

     Consort Rise between Victoria Road and Bisney Road will be re-routed one-way southbound from 7am to 5pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

(3) Aberdeen

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18:

– Peel Rise in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery; and
– The slip road from Shek Pai Wan Road leading to the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery.

Kowloon
——-

(1) Tseung Kwan O

A. Road closure

     The access road at Ko Chiu Road leading to Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery will be closed from 5.30am to 6pm daily on April 2, 3, 5, 6, 10 and 18, except for special route No. 14S of Kowloon Motor Bus Company, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit.

     The above road will be closed from 5.30am to 8pm daily on April 4 and 11.

     Grave-sweepers can go to the cemetery on foot via the access road on Ko Chiu Road or via the footpath with staircases opposite MTR Tiu Keng Leng Station. Those using wheel chairs are advised to enter the cemetery at Ko Chiu Road.

(2) Sai Kung

     Mang Kung Wo Road leading to Kei Pik Shan Cemetery will be closed from 8am to 5pm daily from April 2 to 5, except for vehicles with permit.

(3) Diamond Hill

A. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from 7am to 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10 and 11:

– The access road leading to the Diamond Hill Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The access road between the Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour and the China Light and Power (CLP) Sub-station, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The access road adjacent to the Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour leading to Sze Chen Hall, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– Yuk Hok Lane, except for private cars and taxis; and
– Yuk Wah Street east of Tsz Wan Shan Road, except for private cars and taxis.

B. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 7am to 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10 and 11:

– Vehicles must follow southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill for entering or leaving Fung Shing Street or Fu Shan Estate car park;
– Vehicles must follow northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill for entering or leaving Grand View Garden car park;
– Vehicles from eastbound Po Kong Village Road can turn to westbound Yuk Wah Street via the easternmost traffic lane of Tsz Wan Shan (South) Bus Terminus;
– Traffic along westbound Fung Shing Street cannot turn right to northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill;
– Traffic along northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill cannot turn right to eastbound Fung Shing Street;
– Vehicles from Grand View Garden car park cannot turn right to southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill;
– Traffic along southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill cannot turn right to Grand View Garden car park;
– Vehicles from Fu Shan Estate car park cannot turn right to northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill;
– Traffic along northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill cannot turn right to Fu Shan Estate car park;
– Traffic along southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill cannot turn right to Po Kong Village Road School Village car park;
– Vehicles from Po Kong Village Road School Village car park cannot turn right to southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill;
– Traffic along southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill cannot turn right to the unnamed road opposite to Po Leung Lane;
– Traffic along the unnamed road opposite to Po Leung Lane cannot turn right to southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill;
– Vehicles from Tsz Wan Shan (South) Bus Terminus cannot turn right to eastbound Yuk Wah Street, except franchised buses; and
– Traffic along Yuk Wah Crescent cannot turn right to eastbound Yuk Wah Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 7am to 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10 and 11:

– Metered parking spaces on the unnamed road between the Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour and CLP Sub-station;
– Five metered parking spaces in Yuk Wah Street car park;
– Motorcycle parking spaces at Yuk Wah Street near Yuk Hok Lane; and
– Po Kong Village Road School Village car park will be designated as taxi and private car drop-off point.

D. Passengers pick-up and drop-off points

     From 7am to 6am daily from April 2 to 6, passengers pick-up and drop-off points will be set at the following locations:

– The pick-up and drop-off points for taxis will be at westbound Fung Shing Street near Fu Yan House of Fu Shan Estate and westbound Yuk Wah Street near Yuk Hok Lane; and
– The pick-up and drop-off point for private cars will be at westbound Yuk Wah Street near Yuk Hok Lane.

(4) Cheung Sha Wan

A. Road closure

– Wing Ming Street and Wing Ming Lane will be closed from 7am to 7pm daily from April 2 to 6, except for vehicles with permit; and
– Entrance road to the catholic cemetery on Wing Tak Road will be closed from 7am to 5pm daily from April 2 to 6, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit.

B. No stopping or parking

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from April 2 to 6:

– Parking will be prohibited on Yu Chau West Street between Castle Peak Road and King Lam Street from 7am to 7pm daily;
– Vehicles are prohibited to drop off or pick up passengers along Yu Chau West Street near Wing Ming Street; and
– Stopping or parking will be prohibited on Ching Cheung Road from 7am to 7pm daily.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

     All parking spaces on Yu Chau West Street; Tai Nan West Street; and King Lam Street and Wing Hong Street between Yu Chau West Street and Tai Nan West Street will be suspended from 7am to 7pm daily from April 2 to 6.  

     Members of the public wishing to gain access to the catholic cemetery are advised to use the subway across Ching Cheung Road from the end of Wing Ming Lane. No parking facilities in the cemetery will be open to public use.

New Territories
—————

(1) Wo Hop Shek

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18:

A. Road closure (daily from 6am to 5pm)

– Kiu Tau Road, except for hearses;
– Ming Yin Road, except for franchised buses;
– Wo Ka Lau Road; and
– All access roads within Wo Hop Shek Cemetery.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along northbound Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon cannot turn right to southbound Pak Wo Road; and
– Traffic along southbound Pak Wo Road near MTR Fanling Station cannot turn right to the car park on Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon.

C. Suspension of parking spaces (daily from 7am to 5pm)

– The car park on Wo Hing Road near Ming Yin Road roundabout, except for taxis;
– The car park on Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon, except for the disabled parking spaces and public buses of the residents’ service route NR112. Depending on prevailing situation, vehicles carrying elderly and disabled passengers may be allowed to use the car park for interchange with shuttle buses heading for Wo Hop Shek Cemetery; and
– Parking spaces on Wah Ming Lane.

(2) Sandy Ridge

     The Frontier Closed Area from Lo Wu Station to Lo Wu Station Road will be open to grave-sweepers between 6am and 6pm daily until April 18.

     The following roads will be closed between 6am and 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18:

– Lo Wu Station Road from its junction with Man Kam To Road to a point of about 280 metres west of the same junction, near the cemetery management office, except for vehicles of Lo Wu Village residents and vehicles that are allowed to park at the car park of MTR Lo Wu Station; and
– Sha Ling Road, except for vehicles of Sha Ling residents.

(3) Tuen Mun

Castle Peak
———–

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented daily from 7am to 7pm on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18:

A. Intermittent road closure

– Tsing San Path; and
– The access roads leading to Ching Chung Koon and Ching Chung Sin Yuen.

B. Traffic diversions

– Tsing Chung Koon Road between Tsing Lun Road and San Fuk Road will be re-routed one-way northbound; and
– San Fuk Road between Leung Shun Street and Tsing Chun Koon Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. No parking

     No parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– San Fuk Road;
– Tsing Chung Koon Road between Tsing Chung Path and San Fuk Road;
– Tsing Lun Road between Tsun Wen Road and the northern vehicle entrance of Tuen Mun Hospital; and
– Southbound Tsun Wen Road between Tsing Lun Road and San Fuk Road.

D. Passengers pick-up and drop-off points

     Three temporary pick up and drop off points will be set up at northbound Tsing Chung Koon Road opposite to Castle Peak Hospital, northbound Tsing Chung Koon Road opposite to Tuen Mun Hospital, and westbound Tsing Lun Road outside Tuen Mun Hospital.

Tsang Tsui
———-

     Nim Wan Road between Yung Long Road and the access road to Tsang Tsui Columbarium will be closed from 7am to 7pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25, and May 1 and 2, except for franchised buses, taxis, vehicles heading for West New Territories Landfill and T·PARK, and vehicles with permit.

(4) Kwai Tsing

     Wing Yin Street and Wing Hau Street will be closed from 7am to 5pm daily on April 2, 6, 10, 17, 18 and 24, except for hearses and franchised buses. 

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 7am to 5pm daily on April 3 to 5, and 11, and when necessary:

– Southbound Wing Tak Street between the entrance of City Point and Wing Shun Street, Wing Yin Street, and Wing Shun Street between Wing Tak Street and Kwai Hei Street will be closed, except for hearses, franchised buses, GMBs and taxis;
– Wing Chong Street, Wing Hau Street and Wing Lap Street will be closed; and
– Wing Kei Road between Kwai Hei Street and Wing Kin Road will be re-routed one-way southbound. Vehicles cannot travel via Kwai Hei Street for Wing Kin Road.

(5) Sha Tin

A. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18:

– Lower Shing Mun Road between Yau On Street and Fu Shan Crematorium, Yau On Street and Yau Ting Street, except for hearses, funeral vehicles, GMB route 64K, and vehicles of residents of Pak Tin Areas 2 to 5 and Lakeview Garden; and
– Pai Tau Street west of its junction with Sheung Wo Che Road.

     To Fung Shan Road north of its junction with Pak Lok Path will be closed between 9am and 5pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18, except for vehicles serving residents and people working in To Fung Shan.

B. Suspension of parking spaces

     All metered parking spaces on Yau On Street and Lower Shing Mun Road will be suspended from 7am to 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

(6) Tsuen Wan

     Lo Wai Road between Lo Wai Pai Lau and Yuen Yuen Institute will be closed from 8am to 6pm daily on April 2 to 6, 10 and 11, except for franchised buses, taxis, GMB route 81 and vehicles with permit.

     During the above road closure period, all metered parking spaces on Lo Wai Road near Yi Pei Chun Road, Lo Wai old bus terminus and outside Yuen Yuen Institute will be suspended.

(7) Lantau Island

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 6am to 6pm daily from April 3 to 5:

– The closed Tung Chung Road between Shek Mun Kap Road and South Lantau Road will be temporarily opened; and
– All others roads on south Lantau will remain closed, except for vehicles with permit.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the above areas will be ticketed or towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.




Statistics on Code on Access to Information for third quarter of 2020

     The Government received a total of 2 925 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the third quarter of 2020, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (April 1).
 
     The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of September 2020 amounted to 86 127. Of these, 4 882 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 4 366 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at September 30, 2020, 399 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.

     Among the 76 480 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 73 995 requests (96.8 per cent) were met, either in full (71 948 requests) or in part (2 047 requests), and 2 485 requests (3.2 per cent) were refused.

     Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request that the matter be reviewed. He or she may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.

     In the third quarter of 2020, the Ombudsman received 28 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 29 complaints, among which three were substantiated, five were partially substantiated, five were unsubstantiated, eight were settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman, and eight were not pursued by the Ombudsman or were outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction. As at September 30, 2020, the Ombudsman's investigations on 48 complaints were ongoing.

     "The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government," the spokesman said.