Tag Archives: China

     The Hong Kong Space Museum’s new 3D dome show, “Turtle Odyssey 3D”, will be launched tomorrow (January 1). Audiences will join sea turtle Bunji for a remarkable adventure and meet an astonishing range of strange and fascinating creatures, from enormous breaching whales and massive manta rays to vibrant clownfish.
 
     In the 3D dome show, Bunji’s journey starts from the moment her fragile egg cracks open below the warm sand of an Australian beach. Having traversed thousands of kilometres of open oceans, she returns after decades with mysterious precision back to the very beach where she was born to lay eggs and start the next generation. Bunji’s journey reminds audiences of how interconnected all creatures are, thus moving viewers to cherish these beautiful and vulnerable sea turtles even more.
 
     Sea turtles are some of the most majestic and ancient creatures on Earth. For more than 100 million years, they have traversed the seas, surviving multiple mass extinctions and playing critical roles in maintaining healthy marine food webs. Not only do these friendly animals captivate audiences, their journeys of survival are equally amazing.
 
     The 41-minute show will be screened until April 30 at the museum’s Stanley Ho Space Theatre. It will be screened daily at 2.40pm and 6.10pm. An additional show at 11.10am will be available on Sundays and public holidays.
 
     Tickets priced at $24 (front stalls) and $32 (stalls) are available at the Hong Kong Space Museum Box Office and URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). The museum is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays).
 
     For further information, please call 2721 0226 or visit the website at hk.space.museum.

      

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 31) released the findings of its food safety report for the last month. The results of about 12 800 food samples tested were sati… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority’s (HA) Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) has approved passing on the enhanced rates concession for the fourth quarter of 2019/20 to HA’s non-domestic tenants/licensees.
 
      “The Financial Secretary announced on December 4 a new package of measures to support enterprises and employment. One of the measures is to provide an enhanced rates concession to all non-domestic properties, by increasing the exemption ceiling from $1,500 to $5,000 for each non-domestic property chargeable to rates for the fourth quarter of 2019/20,” a spokesman for the HA said today (December 31).
 
     “On March 25, CPC approved the arrangements for passing on the rates concession for the four quarters of 2019/20 to HA’s non-domestic tenants/licensees (excluding carpark users) on a ‘no-loss-no-gain’ principle, subject to a ceiling of $1,500 per quarter for each rateable property. CPC today approved the adoption of the same arrangements to pass on the enhanced rates concession for the fourth quarter of 2019/20 to HA’s non-domestic tenants/licensees (excluding carpark users), subject to a ceiling of $5,000 per rateable property for that quarter,” the spokesman added.
 
     “The arrangements are applicable to HA’s retail and welfare premises, single-operator markets (SOMs) and factories, totalling about 13 300 tenancies/licences, but excluding carparks,” he said.
 
     For HA’s 12 SOMs, viz Ching Long, Hung Fuk, Kwai Chung, Lei Muk Shue, Mun Tung, On Tai, Ping Yan, Shek Mun, Shui Chuen O, Tin Yan, Yan Tin and Ying Tung, the operators will also pass on the rates concession to their licensees in full.
 
     “Based on the latest data provided by the Rating and Valuation Department and subject to a ceiling of $5,000 for each rateable property, the total amount of enhanced rates concession for HA’s non-domestic properties (excluding carparks) for the fourth quarter of 2019/20 is estimated at around $18.7M, which will be passed on to tenants/licensees on a ‘no-loss-no-gain’ principle,” the spokesman said. read more

     Two illegal workers comprising one Vietnamese and one Indian were jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (December 30).

     During operation “Twilight” conducted on November 18, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a laundry company in Tuen Mun. A male Indian illegal worker, aged 31, was arrested while working as an odd job worker. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.

     In addition, during an anti-illegal worker operation conducted on December 27, ImmD investigators raided a restaurant in Tsuen Wan. A male Vietnamese illegal worker, aged 34, was arrested while working as a dishwasher. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was also arrested and an investigation is ongoing.

     The two illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday 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. They pleaded guilty to the charges and were each sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. In addition, the male Vietnamese was charged with one count of using a forged Hong Kong identity card. He 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 threat 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. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 31) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in phases on Hong Kong Island to facilitate the holding of a public procession tomorrow (January 1).

     The special traffic and transport arrangements will mainly include:

Road closures
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1. From about 1.30pm, the roads in the vicinity of the Causeway Bay shopping area (such as Sugar Street and Great George Street) will be closed;

2. From about 2pm, the roads in the vicinity from Victoria Park to Wan Chai (such as Causeway Road westbound, Yee Wo Street westbound and Hennessy Road westbound) will be closed; and

3. From about 3.30pm, the roads in the vicinity from Admiralty to Central (such as Queensway westbound and the section of Des Voeux Road Central between Pedder Street and Queensway) will be closed.

Public transport services
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     A total of 92 bus routes and 14 green minibus routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted, one bus and one green minibus route will be temporarily suspended. In addition, the tram services between Tong Shui Road and Pedder Street will be suspended.

     Due to extensive road closures in the affected areas, the TD anticipates that the traffic along Hong Kong Island North (including Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central and the vicinity of the Island Eastern Corridor) as well as the Aberdeen Tunnel and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel will become significantly congested. Motorists are advised to be patient in case of traffic congestion when driving in the vicinity, follow the Police’s instructions and be alert to the latest traffic news through the media.

     Members of the public are advised to use public transport services, in particular railway and ferry services, and avoid driving to the affected or congested areas, especially in the vicinity of Tin Hau, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty and Central, unless necessary. Early planning of journeys and use of alternative travel routes are advised to avoid unexpected delay. The public transport operators will display notices to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements for route diversions and suspension and relocation of stops. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures as necessary. 

     For details on the special traffic and transport arrangements, members of the public can call 1823 or browse the TD’s mobile application “HKeMobility” or website (www.td.gov.hk). read more