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The Government will enforce the fixed penalty system impartially and stringently after the two-week grace period has ended on June 9, 2002, a spokesman for the Clean Hong Kong Office of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (June 8).

The fixed penalty system for public cleanliness offences has come into effect from May 27, 2002. To enable the community to get accustomed to the new system, there was a grace period of two weeks during which verbal warnings instead of fixed penalty notices were issued to offenders.

"As at yesterday (June 7), a total of 1372 verbal warnings have been issued by the seven enforcement departments to offenders.

"After the two-week grace period has concluded, we will enforce the fixed penalty system vigorously. Starting from Monday (June 10), anyone who commits any of the offences covered by the system shall be liable to a fixed penalty of $600," the spokesman said, adding that the common public cleanliness offences covered by the system include littering, unauthorised display of bills or posters, spitting and dog fouling in public places.

"I urge everyone to abide by the new anti-littering law," he added.

Elaborating on the procedures of issuing a fixed penalty notice, the spokesman said the enforcement officer would show his/her Departmental Warrant Card for identification. The offender would then be requested to provide his/her personal particulars for inspection and record.

"I wish to stress that no enforcement officer is allowed to accept any payment when issuing fixed penalty notices. Therefore, offenders should not pay the fixed penalty to enforcement officers on the spot," the spokesman said.

The penalty of $600 should be paid through prescribed payment methods including Bank Automated Teller Machine, Payment by Phone Service, Internet, Phone-banking Service and by post. Payment can also be made in person or through an agent at any Post Office. These payment methods are clearly printed at the back of the fixed penalty notices.

The seven departments authorised to take enforcement actions are FEHD; Leisure and Cultural Services Department; Housing Department; Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; Environmental Protection Department; Marine Department and the Hong Kong Police Force.

To ensure that the public is well informed of the system, a series of publicity programmes have been launched including TV and radio Announcements in Public Interest, posters, banners, multi-lingual pamphlets and display panels at public transportation. The 18 District Clean Hong Kong Committees have also held a series of publicity events at their respective districts to help promote the system.

In addition, a series of joint-department mock demonstrations have been held at various littering blackspots during weekends to explain to the general public details of the fixed penalty system and to warn littering offenders of the impending issuing of fixed penalty tickets after the grace period.

End/ Saturday, June 8, 2002

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