The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Security visited San Uk Ling Holding Centre (SULHC) in Man Kam To today (May 26) to better … read more
Three persons were convicted of illegally operating a private columbarium, contravening the Private Columbaria Ordinance, by the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (May 26). They were each fined $8,000, with a criminal record registered.
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today that the Private Columbaria Affairs Office (PCAO) of the FEHD had earlier detected that a columbarium in Malacca Street, Hung Hom, was suspected to have rented out niches without a licence under the Ordinance. An operation was thus mounted at the premises. The operators of the unlicensed columbarium were arrested and prosecuted.
Under the Ordinance, any person who operates, keeps, manages or in any other way has control of a columbarium other than under a licence commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for three years; or on conviction on indictment to a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for seven years.
The spokesman said, “This department will continue to take stringent enforcement action against illegally operated private columbaria. Members of the public should not buy or rent niches from any unlicensed columbaria. If members of the public suspect any activities of illegally operating a columbarium, they should immediately report it to the PCAO by calling hotline 3142 2300.” read more
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (May 26) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr Stanley Ho.
“Dr Ho was a successful entrepreneur. The enterprise founded by him involves multiple business activities, and he played a pivotal role in Hong Kong and Macao. Dr Ho loved the country and started to invest in the Mainland as early as the 1970s to support its reform and opening-up, and participate in its development. He also served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, contributing further to the advancement of the country.
“Dr Ho was a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee, witnessing the city’s return to the Motherland. He took an active part in the development of Hong Kong’s community service, lending staunch support for the fund-raising activities of the Community Chest and donating generously to various local charitable organisations as well as tertiary education institutions. He also donated to support the establishment of leisure and cultural facilities as well as anti-drug education and promotional programmes, making significant contributions to the community. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2010.
“I am saddened by the passing of Dr Ho. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family,” Mrs Lam said. read more
A person-in-charge of works was convicted and fined a total of $16,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (May 26) for contravening the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) as a result of carrying out land filling works and disposing of construction waste illegally at Lut Chau, Yuen Long. Moreover, during investigations from February to June last year, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) successfully detected four cases of illegal disposal of construction waste at the above-mentioned location. The persons-in-charge of works and dump truck drivers involved were convicted and fined a total of $29,500 by the court for contravening the WDO earlier and today.
A spokesman for the EPD said that the department received a report from a member of the public in February last year about illegal land filling works being carried out to build the embankment of a fish pond on a plot of government land in Lut Chau, Yuen Long and its adjacent areas. The EPD then conducted numerous blitz inspections of the areas and successfully detected that construction waste was deposited next to fish ponds from several dump trucks, while land filling works were carried out at fish ponds by dredgers operated by workers.
After an investigation, the EPD confirmed that the area concerned is a Site of Special Scientific Interest as designated in the Mai Po and Fairview Park Outline Zoning Plan. The ecology of the area and the fish ponds therein are protected under the EIAO. In addition, the works were carried out without an environmental permit. After collecting evidence, the EPD prosecuted the persons-in-charge of works and dump truck drivers involved under the EIAO and the WDO. Recently, EPD officers conducted follow-up inspections of Lut Chau as well as its adjacent areas and noticed that there were no land filling works arising from the illegal disposal of construction waste. The EPD believes that the series of actions taken by the department has produced a deterrent effect.
The spokesman stressed that the EPD has been striving to combat illegal land filling works at ecologically sensitive sites in the New Territories through various channels, including reports from members of the public, proactive blitz operations, aerial photographs and photographs taken by drones.
Anyone carrying out works at Sites of Special Scientific Interest is in contravention of the EIAO unless they obtain environmental permits from the EPD beforehand. Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000,000 and six months’ imprisonment on a first conviction. A maximum fine of $5,000,000 and two years’ imprisonment may be imposed on a subsequent conviction. In addition, anyone disposing of waste in public places commits an offence. According to the WDO, offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment on a first conviction. A maximum fine of $500,000 and six months’ imprisonment may be imposed on a subsequent conviction.
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting tomorrow (May 27) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the National Anthem Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
The Second Reading debate on the Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill 2019, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions) Bill 2020, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Ship Leasing Tax Concessions) Bill 2020, the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Bill, the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018, the Occupational Retirement Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2019, the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Supplementary Appropriation (2018-2019) Bill will also resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.
On Member’s Bill, the Second Reading debate on the St. John’s College (Amendment) Bill 2019 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present “The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 73 of February 2020” and address the Council.
On Members’ motions, Ms Yung Hoi-yan and Ms Alice Mak will move separate motions under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Ms Claudia Mo and Mr Dennis Kwok. The motions are set out in Appendices 1 and 2 respectively.
Mr Lam Cheuk-ting and Ms Mo will move two separate motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the incident of assaults occurred in Yuen Long Station of West Rail Line of the MTR Corporation Limited on July 21, 2019. The motions are set out in Appendices 3 and 4 respectively.
Mr Alvin Yeung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Mr Kwong Chun-yu will move three separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law and the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the incident of assaults occurred in Prince Edward Station of the MTR Corporation Limited on August 31, 2019. The motions are set out in Appendices 5-7 respectively.
Ms Tanya Chan, Dr Kwok, Dr Fernando Cheung and Mr Kenneth Leung will move seven separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law and the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the Police’s handling of protesters and persons performing duties in the protests during the “anti-extradition to China” movement. The motions are set out in Appendices 8-14 respectively.
Mr Chung Kwok-pan and Dr Priscilla Leung will move two separate motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, in relation to the causes and consequences of the social conflicts or disturbances arising from the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and related matters. The motions are set out in Appendices 15 and 16 respectively. Mr James To will move an amendment to Dr Leung’s motion.
Mr Charles Mok, Mr Jeremy Tam and Dr Kwok will also move four separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon persons concerned to produce papers and testify. The motions are set out in Appendices 17-20 respectively.
Meanwhile, Mr Kwok will move a motion on no confidence in the Fifth Term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as set out in Appendix 21. Ms Mo will move an amendment to Mr Kwok’s motion.
Mr Ho Kai-ming will move a motion on ensuring children’s right to play for them to grow up happily. The motion is set out in Appendix 22. Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Dr Kwok, Dr Cheung, Dr Chiang Lai-wan and Mr Hui Chi-fung will move separate amendments to Mr Ho’s motion.
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 21 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats. read more