Business receipts in value terms of many major service industries showed decreases of different magnitudes in the fourth quarter of 2020 when compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, according to the provisional figures of business… read more
​The Transport Department (TD) today (March 9) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Chai Wan for those visiting cemeteries during the Ching Ming Festival. In view of COVID-19, the TD 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.
The special traffic and transport arrangements will include:
A. Traffic control/road closures
March 14 (Sunday) and 27 (Saturday) and April 10 (Saturday), 17 (Saturday), 24 (Saturday) and 25 (Sunday)
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During the implementation of Level I traffic control by the Police, vehicles will continue to be allowed to use the section of Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road (i.e. the left-turning movement from Lin Shing Road to Cape Collinson Road leading to the vicinity of the Chinese Permanent Cemetery). Should traffic conditions worsen, the Police may consider escalating the road closures to Level II.
March 21 (Sunday) and 28 (Sunday) and April 2 (Friday, public holiday), 6 (Tuesday, public holiday), 11 (Sunday) and 18 (Sunday) and May 1 (Saturday, public holiday)
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In connection with the implementation of Level II road closures by the Police, Lin Shing Road and Cape Collinson Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 7am to 6pm (except for franchised buses; green minibus (GMB) routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M; hearses; funeral vehicles; and vehicles with permits).
April 3 (Saturday, public holiday), 4 (Ching Ming Festival) and 5 (Monday, public holiday)
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In connection with the implementation of Level III road closures by the Police, Lin Shing Road and Cape Collinson Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 7am to 6pm (except for franchised buses; GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X; hearses; funeral vehicles; and vehicles with permits).
B. Public transport services
Special bus services will be operated on the following dates and bus services will be strengthened depending on the passenger demand and traffic conditions to avoid crowding and reduce queuing time.
| Route | Date | Operating time |
| New World First Bus (NWFB) Route 388 (Circular) – between Chai Wan Station Bus Terminus and Chai Wan Cemeteries |
March 14 and 21, April 17 and 18 and May 1 | 9am to 2pm |
| March 27 and 28 and April 10 and 11 | 9am to 4pm | |
| April 2 and 6 | 8am to 5pm | |
| April 3, 4 (Ching Ming Festival) and 5 | 7am to 6pm | |
| NWFB Route 389 (Circular) – between Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus and Chai Wan Cemeteries |
March 28 and April 11 | 9am to 4pm |
| April 2 and 6 | 8am to 5pm | |
| April 3, 4 (Ching Ming Festival) and 5 | 7am to 6pm | |
| April 18 | 9am to 2pm | |
| NWFB Route 9C – from Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus to Chai Wan Cemeteries |
April 2, 3, 4 (Ching Ming Festival), 5 and 6 | 9am and 1pm |
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on “Efforts of the Home Affairs Department in facilitating building management” (Chapter 4) of the Director of Audit’s Report No.75 tomorrow (March 10) at 2.30pm in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex.
Four witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by the PAC members.
The programme for the public hearing is as follows:
Date: March 10 (Wednesday)
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Conference Room 1
Subject: Efforts of the Home Affairs Department in facilitating building management (Chapter 4 of the Director of Audit’s Report No.75)
Witnesses:
Secretary for Home Affairs
Mr Caspar Tsui
Director of Home Affairs
Miss Janice Tse
Deputy Director of Home Affairs (2)
Miss Vega Wong
Assistant Director (5),
Home Affairs Department
Mr Alfred Lee
The PAC is chaired by Mr Abraham Shek, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Paul Tse. Other members include Mr Steven Ho, Mr Shiu Ka-fai, Ms Yung Hoi-yan, Mr Lau Kwok-fan and Mr Tony Tse. read more
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 is 101.9 (up 0.3 against yesterday’s index). read more
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Twilight” yesterday (March 8). A total of 10 suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers, three overstayers and a suspected aider and abettor were arrested.
During the “Twilight” operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 14 target locations including a company, a logistics company, a premises under renovation, a public cargo working area, residential buildings and restaurants. The suspected illegal workers comprised a man and nine women, aged 29 to 49. Among them, four women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, a woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Meanwhile, two women, aged 50 and 55, were suspected of employing the illegal workers. Furthermore, three male overstayers, aged 28 to 31, and a man, aged 35, suspected of aiding and abetting a person who overstayed in Hong Kong were also arrested.
“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. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
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.
