A spokesperson for the Security Bureau said today (February 17) that the Government will publish the Dangerous Goods (Control) Regulation (DG(C)R) and the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012 (Amendment) Regulation 2021 (the Amendment Regulation) in the Gazette on Friday (February 19), with a view to aligning the existing regulatory system with the international standards, and at the same time enhancing the safety of the manufacture, conveyance, storage and use of dangerous goods (DGs), while facilitating the operation of the trade and the daily use of DGs by the public.
 
     The spokesperson said, "Some of the provisions of the extant Dangerous Goods Ordinance and its regulations are no longer in line with international standards, so we need to update and rearrange them. The Government has therefore reviewed the relevant Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation and has been making legislative amendments in phases since 2002.
 
     "In the current phase, the amendments introduced by the Government seek to update the existing regulatory system of DGs so as to align with the international standards; to enhance the safety of the manufacture, conveyance, storage and use of DGs; and to facilitate the operation of the trade and the daily use of DGs by the public.
 
     "The Government will introduce the new DG(C)R to replace the existing Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (DG(G)R) to set out the licensing regime for the manufacture, storage, conveyance and use of DGs, as well as requirements for the packing, marking and labelling (PML) of DGs. Moreover, instead of adopting an approach based on the categories of DGs (as in that under the DG(G)R currently), the structure of the new DG(C)R will be based on the functional aspects of the regulatory system (e.g. the manufacture, storage and use of DGs; the conveyance of DGs; and the PML requirements for DGs), so as to minimise the repetition of provisions that are applicable to different classes of DGs. As a result, the DG(C)R would be simpler and more reader-friendly.
 
     "Moreover, the Government will further amend the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012. The legislation was passed in 2012, setting out the list of DGs to which the Ordinance applies, the classification of these DGs, and the circumstances under which a certain DG is exempt from control. Updates to the 2012 regulation are now required to keep up with technological developments and regular amendments to the international standards. The Amendment Regulation will update the 2012 regulation to align with international standards." 
 
     The Government has conducted public consultations and consulted the relevant trades on the proposed amendments, and conducted briefing sessions for the public and the relevant trades from 2017 to 2020. Consultation papers were also issued for explaining the proposed amendments and inviting comments from the public. The public and the relevant trades are generally supportive of the proposals.
 
     The two regulations will be introduced into the Legislative Council on February 24. The next step is to introduce consequential amendments to other ordinances and subsidiary legislation, so as to avoid inconsistencies among legal provisions when implementing the new regulatory system. For the last step, the Secretary for Security will appoint a commencement date by gazettal for all the provisions to come into operation on the same date.

     â€‹The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (February 17) that most of its public services and facilities will resume as normal from tomorrow (February 18).

     Licensing services and reception counters at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices and the Marine Parks Office at CDW Building, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, will resume provision of all public services to members of the public from tomorrow. The anti-rabies dog inoculation and dog licensing services at the Animal Management Centres under the AFCD, except for the New Territories South Animal Management Centre which has been launched as another quarantine facility for pet animals related to COVID-19 cases, will resume as normal on the same day. For details, please visit the designated website: www.pets.gov.hk.

     Hong Kong Wetland Park (except for some indoor facilities and play areas), all Country Park Visitor/Education Centres (except for Ngong Ping Nature Centre and some indoor facilities of Lions Nature Education Centre in Sai Kung), all Hong Kong Geopark Visitor Centres (except for Lai Chi Wo Geoheritage Centre and Tai Po Geoheritage Centre) and the Endangered Species Resource Centre, will resume normal operation from tomorrow. Meanwhile, the school and public education programmes of the AFCD will remain suspended and all country park barbecue sites and campsites will continue to be closed until further notice.
      
     In consideration of public health, members of the public entering the AFCD's indoor facilities should comply with infection control measures including wearing masks, undergoing temperature checks, and cleaning their hands with hand sanitiser. Starting from March 1, all will be required to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app or register their names, contact numbers and the date and time of their visits before entering all AFCD offices.
      
     Likewise, the spokesman reminded country park visitors to maintain personal and environmental hygiene and social distancing. Visitors should properly dispose of used masks and waste and take their litter home.

     â€‹For enquiries, please call the AFCD on 2708 8885. Please refer to the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk) for the opening hours of its public services and facilities.

     The Yau Tsim Mong District Office together with the Office of the Licensing Authority of the Home Affairs Department, Tsim Sha Tsui Police District, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS), conducted an enforcement operation today (February 17) at two buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui, which were included in compulsory testing notices earlier. The operation started at around 7.20am and ended at around 11am today.
 
     Starting from around 7.20am today, residents of Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, 83-97 Nathan Road/36-50 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mirador Mansion, 58 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, were requested to provide the SMS notification received through a mobile phone or related certification containing the results of COVID-19 tests, to show that they had taken such tests as required pursuant to the compulsory testing notices of respective buildings within the specified period issued by the Government earlier on. The Government arranged for staff to verify the testing certifications of the residents at the entrances/exits of the buildings, and conducted checks in the buildings to verify whether residents had undergone testing in compliance with the requirements. 
 
     During the operation conducted at Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, test records of around 290 residents were checked. Among them, around 60 persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. As for the operation conducted at Mirador Mansion, test records of around 420 residents were checked. Among them, more than 60 persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. The Government has issued fixed penalties of $5,000 and/or compulsory testing orders to them, requiring them to undergo testing within a specified period. Non-compliance with a compulsory testing order is an offence, and offenders are liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. 
 
     The Government reiterates that the aim of issuing a compulsory testing notice is to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community as soon as possible to protect overall public health and safety. Persons subject to testing under a compulsory testing notice should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.
 
     The Government wishes to thank the many residents who had complied with the compulsory testing notices for their co-operation to fight against the virus together. The Government will continue to enforce the law strictly. All persons subject to compulsory testing should comply with the compulsory testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Non-compliance with the order is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     The Yau Tsim Mong District Office is grateful for the support and co-operation of the Police, the CHP and the AMS to enable the enforcement action to be carried out smoothly. The Government understands that the enforcement process may cause some inconvenience to the residents, but hopes that the residents can understand.

     In light of the Government's announcement to fully resume normal public services, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) announced today (February 17) its service arrangements from tomorrow (February 18). The details are set out below.

     The Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) in 18 districts and the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit will fully resume normal services. The HAECs will open between 9am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays) to provide services for the public (between 8.45am and 6.45pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays) for the HAEC in Cheung Chau and between 9am and 6pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (except public holidays) for the HAEC in Mui Wo).

     Counter and hotline (2835 1535) services of the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit of the HAD will be provided from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm between Monday and Friday (except public holidays).

     The services provided by the Office of the Licensing Authority will also return to normal. The opening hours will be from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays). All licensing applications in connection with hotels, guesthouses and other premises as well as entertainment are encouraged to be submitted by post or e-submission. Application forms and submission details can be found on the webpage of the Office of the Licensing Authority: www.hadla.gov.hk.

     The facilities of community halls and community centres (except for those being or to be used as community testing/vaccination centres, etc) will be reopened to organisations with approved bookings from February 22 (Monday). However, there will be limits on the number of participants, etc, for activities to be held in order to ensure that appropriate social distancing can be maintained among them.

     The HAD's hotlines for persons under home quarantine will operate between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday. For phone numbers of the hotlines, please visit the webpage of the HAD: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/docs/district_hotline_en.pdf. For other enquiries, please call the HAD's enquiry hotline at 2835 2500 between 9am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays).   

     In view of the latest local epidemic situation, the Labour Department announced today (February 17) that the following occupational health public talks scheduled to be held at the respective venues have been cancelled to reduce the flow of people and social contact. Enrolled participants will be informed of the cancellations.
 
February 23: Infection Control in the Workplace (Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library)
February 26: Prevention of Upper Limb Disorders (Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum)