Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Development Bureau said today that it has issued notifications to the contractors and a subcontractor involved in a July 27 fatal industrial incident at a public works construction site in Southern District, suspending them from tendering for public works contracts with immediate effect.

The contractors involved were on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works, while the sub-contractor concerned was on the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials & Specialist Contractors for Public Works.

As the body responsible for procuring services for public works, the bureau stressed that it attaches great importance to site safety at all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the lists.

It explained that the contractors and subcontractor have been instructed to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system, submit an improvement action plan based on the audit, and then implement measures with a view to demonstrating that their safety management system is effective. A lifting of the suspension will be considered once these steps are taken.

The suspension from tendering is not limited to future tender exercises, but is also applicable to tender exercises which have been initiated but not concluded.

The Labour Department is investigating the industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law.

Subject to the findings of the department’s investigations, the bureau may carry out further regulating actions against the contractors and subcontractor which may include extending the suspension period or even removal from the lists.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission (ITC) announced today that it would streamline and consolidate funding schemes under the Innovation & Technology Fund (ITF) with a view to promoting new industrialisation and supporting the development of new quality productive forces in a more focused manner.

To more effectively support enterprises in seizing opportunities brought by new industrialisation to upgrade and transform through relevant funding schemes, the ITC will consolidate three funding schemes under the ITF which promote new industrialisation – the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme, the New Industrialisation & Technology Training Programme, and the Manufacturing+ to be launched this year – into the New Industrialisation Support Scheme.

Under the new scheme, the objectives and modus operandi of the three schemes will remain unchanged.

Given that the objectives and beneficiaries of both the Research & Development Cash Rebate Scheme and the Innovation & Technology Support Programme (ITSP) largely overlap, these two schemes will be consolidated.

Local public research institutes may continue to collaborate with enterprises for applied research and development  (R&D) projects through the ITSP after the consolidation measures take effect.

Additionally, given that existing R&D-related funding schemes under the ITF – ITSP, Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme & Enterprise Support Scheme – have already been subsidising patent registration fees for R&D projects by universities, research institutions and enterprises, the ITC considers that the Patent Application Grant (PAG) has achieved its goal of fostering a patent development culture in Hong Kong. PAG will be integrated into existing funding schemes.

The consolidation of resources, adjustments to funding ceilings and ratios for the aforementioned funding schemes will take effect from August 1.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme will be extended to Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (GPHCM) in Guangzhou starting July 31.

The Elderly Health Care Vouchers are applicable for outpatient healthcare services provided by 10 departments at the GPHCM. The service fees are denominated in renminbi.

The GPHCM is the fourth service point in Guangzhou and the second Chinese medicine hospital under the pilot scheme, providing eligible seniors with additional choices in healthcare services, the Government said.

With this additional service point, the number of service points in the Greater Bay Area where the vouchers can be used will increase to 16, benefitting more than 1.78 million eligible Hong Kong elderly people.

Apart from the GPHCM, the other three service points in Guangzhou are The First Affiliated Hospital and its Nansha Division at Sun Yat-sen University, and Guangdong Clifford Hospital.

Users should register with eHealth before using the vouchers at GBA service points, the Government added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police are investigating a murder and suicide case happened in Tsuen Wan today (July 27) in which a man, a woman and two boys died.

At 4.45am, Police received a report that a man was found lying unconscious on Kwan Mun Hau Street, suspected of having fallen from height.

Police officers sped to the scene and located the 37-year-old man sustaining multiple injuries. He was rushed to Yan Chai Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 5.03am. Officers later located a 36-year-old woman, a six-year-old boy and a three-year-old boy lying unconscious inside a hotel room on Tsuen Wah Street. The three, believed to be the man’s wife and sons, had sustained multiple injuries and were certified dead at scene.

Initial investigations revealed that the man had allegedly attacked the other three deceased with a knife inside the hotel room.

A 24 centimeters long kitchen knife in suspected connection with the case was seized inside the room.
Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

Active investigation by the District Crime Squad Team 2 of Tsuen Wan District is underway.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (July 26) strongly disappoved of and opposed untrue and biased remarks by the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (UK) Mr David Lammy and the Home Secretary of the UK Ms Yvette Cooper on HKSAR’s lawful act to pursue wanted persons endangering national security absconding from Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, “Endangering national security is a very serious offence. No country will watch with folded arms on acts and activities that endanger national security. The ‘Hong Kong Parliament’ aims to subvert state power; its objectives include promoting ‘self-determination’, promulgating the so-called ‘Hong Kong Constitution’, and overthrowing or undermining the basic system of the People’s Republic of China established by the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China or overthrowing the body of the central power of People’s Republic of China or the body of power of the HKSAR with unlawful means, thereby suspected of having committed the offence of ‘Subversion’ contrary to Article 22 of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL). Thus, Police applied to the court for arrest warrants in accordance with the law and put the persons on wanted list.”

“Extraterritorial effect for the offences under the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance fully aligns with the principles of international law, international practice and common practice adopted in various countries and regions. It is both necessary and legitimate, and is also in line with those of other countries and regions around the world. As the law enforcement department of the HKSAR safeguarding national security, the Hong Kong Police are duty bound to pursue the liability of those who have allegedly endangered national security overseas. Those absconders hiding in the UK and other Western countries are wanted because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security. More so, they continue to collude with external forces to cover for their evil deeds. It is necessary for the Police to take all lawful measures to strongly combat the acts of abscondment, and such actions are fully justified, necessary and legitimate.

In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state’s inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 14 pieces of laws in the UK safeguarding national security, the UK has displayed hypocrisy and exposed its double standards by pointing fingers at the HKSAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security, while entirely disregarding the constitutional duty and practical needs of the HKSAR to legislate, and the positive effects brought by the enactment of the relevant national security legislation on economic development and protection of human rights.

The spokesman said, “Any individuals who endanger national security should not believe that being outside Hong Kong will allow them to evade criminal responsibility and remain beyond the reach of justice. The HKSAR Government will exhaust all means to pursue and combat criminals absconding from Hong Kong and endangering national security, ensuring that violations of the law will be pursued regardless of the distance. The HKSAR Government urged those wanted persons to return to Hong Kong and surrender so as to rectify their mistakes.”

“Regarding the surrender of fugitive offenders, in accordance with the instruction of the Central People’s Government (CPG), the HKSAR Government has suspended the agreement between the HKSAR Government and the Government of the UK concerning surrender of fugitive offenders in July 2020. The relevant position remains unchanged. All along, with the authorisation and assistance of the CPG, the HKSAR Government has conducted law enforcement co-operation and mutual legal assistance with other jurisdictions in accordance with the law based on the principle of mutual assistance and reciprocity. The HKSAR Government will, as always, handle relevant matters appropriately.”

The spokesman emphasised, “The HKSAR Government will continue to resolutely discharge the duty of safeguarding national security, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’. The HKSAR Government strongly demands the UK Government to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China’s internal affairs.”