Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 6) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Parczewski District, the Radzyński District and the Bialski District of Lubelskie Region in Poland, and notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 and H5N5 avian influenza in Orleans County of the State of Vermont and Saint Clair County of the State of Illinois in the United States (US) respectively, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Nord Department and Côtes-d’Armor Department in France, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas 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 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland; about 40 060 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 2.62 million poultry eggs from the US; and about 830 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 50 000 poultry eggs from France in the first nine months of last year.

     “The CFS has contacted the Polish, American and French authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH 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.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session this afternoon (January 6) on the management of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po:
 
Reporter: Can you recap in English the Government’s expectations towards the new management company? What does it signify in the Lands Tribunal’s decision? And what’s next after the company replacement? And what about the rehousing plan for the residents and any Government’s plan on how and when to rehouse them permanently?
 
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: The Government welcomes the decision of the Lands Tribunal to dissolve the management committee of the Wang Fuk Court, The Incorporated Owners Of Wang Fuk Court, and appoint Hop On Management as the administrator. We all can see and understand that the management committee of Wang Fuk Court is plainly unable to carry out its duties under the DMC (Deed of Mutual Covenant) and the BMO (Building Management Ordinance) to competently manage Wang Fuk Court in an unprecedented circumstance now faced by the owners. So, the Government applied to the Lands Tribunal last month and the Lands Tribunal granted the approval to appoint a professional administrator to help the Wang Fuk Court residents to properly and competently manage the Wang Fuk Court.
 
     The Nina Wang Charity Trustees has also agreed to make a donation of 10 million dollars to support the operation expenses or costs that the administrator may incur when they appoint other professionals to look into the various accounts or contracts of the Wang Fuk Court. So, we hope that with the assistance from the professionals and the professional PMC (property management company), that is Hop On Management Company, residents of the Wang Fuk Court, their welfare and benefits can be properly and legally safeguarded.
      
     As for the rehousing plan, as you all know, the Deputy Financial Secretary is leading a special task force to look into this, we expect that he will listen to views from the residents and to announce any options or proposals for the residents to consider.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today welcomed the Lands Tribunal’s decision of formally approving the dissolution of the incumbent management committee (MC) of the Wang Fuk Court owners’ corporation (OC) and appointing Hop On Management Company (Hop On) under the Chinachem Group as the estate’s administrator.

The judge agreed with the Government’s submission that there are limitations in the capabilities of the current MC, whereas Hop On possesses sufficient experience and resources to provide appropriate assistance.

The Government believes that having a professional team take over the management of the OC can more effectively handle the complex issues currently faced by the OC and better safeguard the rights and interests of all owners and residents.

The administrator will only temporarily assume the functions of the original MC, acting on behalf of the OC to handle management matters of the estate. The OC as a statutory body established under the law will continue to exist.

The appointment will not affect the ultimate decision-making power of Wang Fuk Court’s owners on important management matters. All major decisions must strictly follow the provisions of the Building Management Ordinance, to be decided by owners through resolutions passed at owners’ meetings, ensuring that owners’ rights are fully respected.

Upon completion of the appointment procedures, Hop On will commence work immediately. Firstly, Hop On will conduct a handover with the former management company, clarifying the legal liabilities and entitlements of the OC and the owners under contracts already entered into by the OC, and examining the accounts of the OC.

Meanwhile, Hop On will also start preparing to hold briefing sessions to explain to owners and residents its role and duties as the administrator, and to collect their views and requests, ensuring residents have sufficient understanding of and participation in the management arrangements. Staff from the Home Affairs Department (HAD) will also attend.

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said: “To ensure the orderly progress of various tasks, the HAD has established a dedicated follow-up team, which will work closely with Hop On and provide necessary support. In accordance with the court order, Hop On is required to submit monthly reports to the Government.”

Miss Mak reiterated that the administrator will not charge any fees for this appointment. Nina Wang Charity Management has also pledged to donate a total of $10 million to cover the administrator’s day-to-day operational expenses.