Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
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The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (September 23) announced that as the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility has been closed at 8.30am until further notice.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Special announcement on fire in Tsing YiIssued at HKT 5:58
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 22) that the arena of Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre in Kwun Tong District, to be designated as a temporary shelter operated by the respective District Office of the Home Affairs Department, will be temporarily closed from 7am tomorrow (September 23) until further notice. Other facilities in Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre may also be temporarily closed at a later time if necessary.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
As Super Typhoon Ragasa is edging closer, Hong Kong is expected to be affected by its strong winds and heavy rain in the coming days. To safeguard the safety of employees and ensure equipment at workplaces is secure, the Labour Department (LD) today (September 22) reminds employers (including contractors and responsible persons for workplaces) to take appropriate precautionary measures immediately.
A spokesperson for the LD said, “According to the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, employers have an obligation to ensure the safety and health of employees at work, including providing and maintaining safe workplaces, safe systems of work and safe plant. If employees are required to work under adverse weather or extreme conditions, employers must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure that the hazards associated with relevant working environments are properly controlled and the risks are reduced to the minimum.”
Those who contravene the relevant provisions under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
The spokesperson continued, “Before the advent of typhoons or adverse weather, employers should pay attention to weather forecasts issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, suspend all non-essential outdoor work, and arrange for employees to take shelter in safe locations or leave work early. If it is necessary to arrange for employees to be on duty, employers must conduct advance assessments of the work risks caused by typhoons or adverse weather, promptly make work arrangements and take corresponding precautionary measures.”
The spokesman also reminded employers that they must promptly take appropriate precautionary measures and secure all outdoor equipment (e.g. scaffolds, working platforms, lifting appliances, suspended working platforms, temporary power supply equipment, etc) to prevent accidents.
After the typhoons or adverse weather have passed, employers, and employees should remain vigilant, inspect the workplaces and take adequate safety measures before fully resuming work. Employees should also co-operate by following safety instructions and by using safety equipment.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 22) that the following facilities of sports centres in Islands District, which will be designated as temporary shelters operated by the respective District Offices of the Home Affairs Department, will be temporarily closed from 8am tomorrow (September 23) until further notice.
Other facilities in sports centres may also be temporarily closed at a later time if necessary.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In view of Super Typhoon Ragasa edging closer to the coast of Guangdong, the Drainage Services Department (DSD), the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and the Home Affairs Department (HAD) held a joint press conference today (September 22) to release the latest flood risk assessment and brief the public on the corresponding response measures.
Due to the significant storm surge effect, coastal water levels in Hong Kong during the passage of Ragasa may be comparable to those recorded during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. According to the latest forecast by the Hong Kong Observatory, the coastal storm surge is expected to be about 2 metres on the morning of September 24, with the maximum coastal water level generally reaching around 3.5 to 4 metres above Chart Datum, and reaching as high as 4 to 5 metres above Chart Datum in Tolo Harbour.
To address potential flooding, the DSD and the CEDD have conducted flood risk assessments for coastal low-lying or windward residential areas with higher risks. Areas with a higher possibility of serious flooding include Tai O, Lei Yue Mun, Sam Mun Tsai New Village, in the vicinity of Ting Kok Road in Tai Po Old Market, in the vicinity of Kwong Fuk Road in Tai Po Market, Kar Wo Lei in Tuen Mun, low-lying areas in central Yuen Long (including Tai Tseng Wai, Wang Chau, Shan Pui Village, Yuen Long Town Centre), low-lying areas in northwest Yuen Long (including Lau Fau Shan, Sheung Pak Nai and Ha Pak Nai, Hang Hau Tsuen, Sha Kiu Tsuen), To Tau Wan Village in Ma On Shan, Nam Wai and Heung Chung in Sai Kung, Tung Chung Bay, and Kat O Fisherman Village, among others. In addition to rising water levels, members of the public should pay particular attention to the risks posed by overtopping waves in coastal areas such as Heng Fa Chuen and Tseung Kwan O South.
The DSD and the CEDD have provided sandbags to the public in the aforementioned areas, with more than double the usual number distributed. For coastal low-lying or windward residential areas with higher risks, the DSD and the CEDD have been working closely with relevant departments to implement appropriate response measures and emergency arrangements according to pre-established action plans. These include deploying temporary water-filled barriers at Po Yick Lane and Pak Shing Street near Kwong Fuk Bridge along the Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po, setting up sandbag walls along the Tseung Kwan O waterfront, and, where feasible, increasing the height of flood protection installations to more effectively prevent seawater from entering buildings or facilities, in order to mitigate potential flooding threats from storm surge and overtopping waves. The DSD has also implemented a number of special operational measures, including increasing the number of emergency response teams to a total of 200 to handle flooding and clear drainage channels in different districts across the territory, and deploying powerful pumping robots on standby in advance at multiple locations with higher risk of flooding.
District Offices have initiated relevant response measures. In view of the possible threats that Ragasa may pose to Hong Kong, District Offices will advance the opening of temporary shelters at 8am tomorrow for people in need. District Offices will closely monitor the situation, and if necessary, individual temporary shelters will commence operation earlier today. The Home Affairs Department has also activated a round-the-clock hotline (2572 8427) at noon today for public enquiries on the relevant information and will continue to release information on the operation of temporary shelters through different channels.
In addition, District Offices have co-ordinated with relevant departments and organisations to enhance preparedness, setting up sandbags and water-stop boards, among others. District Council members, members of “the three committees” and Care Teams are mobilised to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas, reminding them to make necessary preparations. Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to stay away from their homes or stay at temporary shelters.
The DSD has been maintaining close liaison with Shenzhen Authority. At present, the water level of Shenzhen Reservoir is below the flood control limit and its operation is stable, with no discharge plan for the time being. Should discharge regulation be implemented during the typhoon, Shenzhen Authority will provide timely notification.
Members of the public should stay vigilant to the risks brought by storm surge and overtopping waves, take defensive measures as early as possible, and avoid the affected locations as far as practicable. The DSD urges the public to call the 24-hour drainage hotline at 2300 1110 to report blocked public drains or flooding for prompt assistance. The DSD will also disseminate flood-related information to the public via social media.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Security Bureau (SB) today (September 22) launched “Easy Boundary”, a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance. The platform aims to help Hong Kong residents and visitors plan their cross-boundary trips by providing the latest information on various land boundary control points (BCPs).
“Easy Boundary” uses green, yellow and red lights to signify the situation of land BCPs in three levels: “Normal”, “Busy” and “Very Busy”, respectively, with rough estimates of the average waiting time. The relevant information will be updated every 15 minutes to keep passengers informed.
Previously, passengers had to obtain the information now available on “Easy Boundary” from different platforms, such as by checking the waiting time at the departure/arrival halls of BCPs and road traffic conditions respectively on the Immigration Department (ImmD) and Transport Department (TD) mobile applications. From now on, passengers can obtain useful information on “Easy Boundary” in one go, including the respective average waiting time for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) cross-boundary shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus).
“Easy Boundary” will also display real-time ad hoc situations at BCPs, including major traffic accidents nearby. If a “Very Busy” signal is displayed in respect of a particular control point or if an emergency occurs, passengers may consider using other ports or allowing sufficient time for immigration clearance.
Moreover, “Easy Boundary” is also integrated with links to obtain other real-time information, including real-time information on immigration clearance from “iPort”, a WeChat mini programme of the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, and that of the HZMB Zhuhai Port, as well as Hong Kong’s real-time traffic conditions, allowing passengers to browse conveniently and quickly.
Information on “Easy Boundary” is provided by the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force and the TD. In the next phase, the platform will introduce real-time images, and will utilise advanced technology (such as artificial intelligence) to assess the real-time situation of immigration clearance at land BCPs, with a view to providing passengers with a smarter, more accurate, and more convenient cross-boundary information platform.
Recently, the number of cross-boundary passenger trips between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has reached record highs repeatedly, which fully reflects the mutual engagement between the people of the two places. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been making advance preparations. Through flexible manpower deployment, all clearance counters and channels at busy BCPs are put into operation. Additional kiosks and channels will also be arranged if necessary to further ease passenger and vehicular flows. Despite confronting peak travel periods repeatedly, the overall immigration clearance remains smooth. The HKSAR Government will continue to implement multipronged measures, including the launch of “Easy Boundary”, to provide a better boundary-crossing experience for both southbound and northbound travellers.
A link to “Easy Boundary” (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) has been uploaded onto the SB’s website. A relevant instructional video for “Easy Boundary” has been uploaded to the SB’s webpage and social media platforms.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Three incoming passengers were sentenced between 40 days’ and eight months’ imprisonment and fined between $800 and $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts and the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (September 22) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old incoming male passenger and a 37-year-old incoming female passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on July 26. About 106 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 20 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $479,000 and a duty potential of about $351,000 in total, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.
The male passenger was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 in contravention of the DCO and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in contravention of the IEO by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today. One month of the sentences will run concurrently, making for a total of eight months’ imprisonment.
The female passenger was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $800 in contravention of the DCO and was sentenced to eight days’ imprisonment in contravention of the IEO by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today. All sentences will run separately, making for a total of six months and eight days’ imprisonment.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 55-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on September 20 and seized 541 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2,000 and a duty potential of about $1,700 found on him. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to 40 days’ imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today in contravention of the DCO.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association:
The deadline for applications for the 2025 Funding Exercise of the Beat Drugs Fund Regular Funding Scheme was originally scheduled for 6pm on September 23 (Tuesday). In view of the latest forecast on inclement weather, the deadline for applications is extended to 6pm on September 26 (Friday).
Enquiries are welcome by telephone at 2867 2769 or 2867 2286; or via email to bdf@sb.gov.hk.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 22) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Dickey County of the State of North Dakota in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the 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 24 650 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1.61 million poultry eggs from the US in the first six months of this year.
“The CFS has contacted the American authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.