Police today (February 8) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Sau Mau Ping.

Ng Yuk-ping, aged 52, went missing after she was last seen in her residence in Sau Mau Ping Estate yesterday (February 7). Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

She is about 1.6 metres tall, 55 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black trousers and pink shoes.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or 9020 2746, or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     A Vietnamese illegal worker was jailed by Fanling Magistrates' Courts on February 6.

     During an anti-illegal worker operation conducted on February 4, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a residential building in Tuen Mun. A Vietnamese woman, aged 57, was arrested while working as a cleaning worker.

     The illegal worker was charged at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on February 6 with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. Meanwhile, she was also charged with one count of using a forged Hong Kong identity card and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. All sentences are to run concurrently, making a total of 15 months' imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD 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. Under the prevailing laws, 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 on 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.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 8) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 2,300 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 69.96 million poultry eggs from Ukraine last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Ukrainian authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, today (February 8) visited Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and inspected the preparation work for the reopening of some outdoor leisure facilities of the park.

     Accompanied by the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, Mr Tsui was briefed on the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s preparation work for the reopening of some outdoor leisure facilities and special measures including limiting the number of players permitted to stay in the courts/lanes and closing spectator stands, placing disinfectant carpets, providing alcohol-based handrub and stepping up cleaning measures at the venues. The LCSD has also arranged for staff members of relevant venues to undergo polymerase chain reaction nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 once every 14 days in order to safeguard the health of the public and staff.
 
     "Members of the public who exercise in the reopened outdoor leisure facilities should take note of social distancing. The number of people in group gatherings should not be more than that as stipulated by the law and they must wear a mask before and after exercise. Members of the public are also required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code or register their name and contact number and the date and time of the visit before being allowed to enter sports premises to be reopened. I thank LCSD staff for sparing no efforts in preparing outdoor leisure facilities for use by the public at ease as soon as possible," Mr Tsui said.
 
     Mr Tsui reminded members of the public to download and install the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app in advance to avoid delaying their visits. Those who opt for registering their personal information on-site are reminded to arrive earlier to avoid delaying their visits as a longer time is required for such registration.
 
     Outdoor leisure facilities to be reopened by the LCSD tomorrow (February 9) include running tracks in sports grounds (for jogging only), tennis courts, bowling greens, gateball courts, Ngau Chi Wan Park Archery Range, Shek O Obstacle Golf Course, cycling facilities, outdoor badminton courts, outdoor table tennis tables, and the sports climbing walls, archery range, golf driving range and practice greens at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre.
 
     The public can book the fee-charging facilities above via the Internet Booking Service of Leisure Link. The Booking Office of the District Leisure Services Offices resumed operation today. Counter bookings and self-service kiosks at the above leisure venues will resume operation when the venues reopen tomorrow.

     
     The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) invites applications under the Equal Opportunities (Sexual Orientation) Funding Scheme 2021-22 as from today (February 8).
 
     "The Government is committed to fostering the culture and values of inclusiveness, mutual respect and non-discrimination, and promoting equal opportunities for people of different sexual orientations and transgenders. The funding scheme provides funding support to worthwhile community projects which aim at promoting equal opportunities on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, or seek to provide support services for sexual minorities," a spokesman for the CMAB said.
 
     Information on making applications is available at the CMAB website (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/equalsdofs_sex.htm). The deadline for applications is March 31, 2021.
 
     An online briefing session will be held on February 22, 2021, to brief interested parties on the scope and operation of the Funding Scheme.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Unit of the CMAB at 2810 3205.