Category: MIL-OSI

Approved Pak Shek Kok (East) Outline Zoning Plan amended     * The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.

Issued at HKT 16:00

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Provisional register and omissions list for Rural Representative Election released today          
     The specified forms for lodging a notice of objection or a notice of claim can be obtained from the Officers’ office. They can also be downloaded from the RRE website.Issued at HKT 9:30

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Appointments to Mandatory Provident Fund Industry Schemes Committee announced————
Mr Lam Chun-sing———–
Mr Franki Chan Shut-ho
Mr Samme Cheng Pak-man
Ms Cherrie Chong Wing-lum
Mr Jacky Ho Yan-ching
Mr Huang Yongquan
Mr Lam Fung-yuen
Mr Bob Lee Tak-luen
Mr Adrian Li Man-kiu
Mr Daniel Shum Hau-tak
Mr Howard Tong Ho-wai——————————–
Mr Cheng Yan-chee, Managing Director
Issued at HKT 11:00

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Court of First Instance delivers verdict of conviction in incitement to subversion case of “Hong Kong Alliance”      
     The verdict handed down by the court is forceful and compelling, as well as well-reasoned and sound, detailing the analysis of the legal principles and evidence of the case, as well as the considerations for conviction. The court emphasised that the defendants were put on trial not because of their political views or beliefs. The court would only consider the laws and evidence relevant to the case to decide whether the prosecution is able to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. “Other unlawful means” referred to in the offence of “subversion” under Article 22 of the HKNSL includes an act in breach of the provisions of the Constitution with a view to overthrowing or undermining the fundamental system of the PRC. When ordinary reasonable persons received the messages of the Alliance and other defendants, they must have understood that the aim of their agendas was to end the leadership by the CPC, and that other people were being encouraged to put the agendas into action.
      
     The court pointed out that the defendants had all along been hostile towards the CPC and the Central Government under its leadership, and adhered to the course of resisting the Central Government and refusing to make any compromise. After the implementation of the HKNSL, the defendants refused to pull back from the brink and were bent on embracing the resistance line of the Alliance to the very end. Even though the defendants knew that what they had said and done might have already gone beyond the scope of lawful freedom of expression, they paid no regard to it. The defendants intended to cause others to lose confidence in the CPC by stirring up hostility and causing division, so as to achieve the objective of undermining the fundamental system of the PRC.
      
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, “The Alliance had long been deliberately planting seeds of hatred against the CPC and the Central Government in the Hong Kong society, attempting to incite disaffection, hatred and other sentiments among members of the public against the CPC and the Central Government through various means, and inciting people to subvert state power. The acts of the defendants over a long period of time endangered national security; their conspiracy was abundantly clear, which must be brought to justice.
      
     “Incitement to subversion is an extremely serious offence. The HKSAR Government has the responsibility to safeguard national security, and will resolutely prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities endangering national security. This case once again demonstrates that no matter how offenders disguise their real agendas with sophistry and rhetoric, as long as they commit an offence endangering national security, the HKSAR Government will ensure that laws are observed and strictly enforced to bring the offenders to account.”      
     The HKSAR is an inalienable part of the PRC. The state provides the fundamental guarantee for the prosperity and development of Hong Kong, and the highest principle of “one country, two systems” is to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The HKSAR Government will resolutely safeguard the fundamental system of the state established by the Constitution and the security of state power, and will, in strict accordance with the principle of the rule of law, prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities endangering national security with full force and in accordance with the law.
Issued at HKT 14:42

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Red tides sighted          
     On August 18, staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted two red tides at Repulse Bay Beach and Deep Water Bay Beach, Hong Kong Island, respectively. Both red tides have dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
      
     A spokesman for the working group said, “Both red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species can produce foam that may affect fish.”
          
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
          
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.
Issued at HKT 14:55

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38 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements 
     The offences of these 38 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (including requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance).

     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded  tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance.  
     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html 
     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.htmlIssued at HKT 16:00