Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Sunday, January 18, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. People seek refuge from the cold
2. Update on avian flu
3. Crackdown on alteration of facilities for disabled
4. First register of Recognised Certification Bodies published
5. 16 consent applications approved in fourth quarter of 1997
6. Heritage Commemorative Cover to be issued
7. Water cut in Ap Lei Chau
8. Fresh water cut in Mong Kok
1. People seek refuge from the cold
********************************
The Deputy Director of Home Affairs, Mr Augustine
Cheng, tonight (Sunday) advised people requiring a refuge
from the cold to stay at the temporary cold shelters
operated by the Home Affairs Department (HAD).
Speaking during a visit to people accommodated at one
of the shelters in Henry G Leong Community Centre in Yau
Ma Tei, Mr Cheng said HAD had opened 14 temporary cold
shelters throughout Hong Kong during the current cold
spell.
He said more temporary shelters would be activated in
various districts if necessary.
Mr Cheng said:" All people admitted into these
shelters will be supplied with blankets, mattresses, hot
water and cup noodles."
So far, a total of 36 people has been admitted with 4
of them staying in shelters on Hong Kong Island, 29 in
Kowloon and 3 in the New Territories.
He said HAD's Emergency Co-ordination Centre Hotline
2835 1473 was activated to answer public enquiries
regarding the operation of these shelters. It is ready to
assist anyone in need.
Mr Cheng was accompanied by the Yau Tsim Mong
District Officer, Ms Rebecca Pun.
End
2. Update on avian flu
*******************
The Department of Health (DH) announced today
(Sunday) that there was no new case of influenza A (H5N1)
today.
The total number of cases remains 18 confirmed and
one suspected cases.
The status and condition of other cases remain the
same as January 16.
End
3. Crackdown on alteration of facilities for disabled
**************************************************
The Buildings Department takes a serious view on any
alterations of facilities for disabled persons in
commercial buildings and will order reinstatement works.
This was stated today (Sunday) by the Assistant
Director of Buildings (Control & Enforcement), Mr Leung
Shiu-hong.
Mr Leung said that a letter would be issued early
next week to the owners of a hotel and cinema building at
Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei requiring them to reinstate
facilities which had been removed, altered or misused.
The reinstatement works must be completed before
March 16 in accordance with approved building plans," he
said, adding that a statutory order would also be issued
shortly under the Buildings Ordinance.
"Our inspectors have found that a number of
facilities there for the disabled have been removed,
including ramps and handrails at building entrances, signs
for lifts at the hotel, and signs for lavatories on the
first basement floor and upper ground floor.
"The lavatory for the disabled at the second basement
floor and handrails inside the lift in the cinema have
also been removed.
"Timber boardings have been erected in the lift,
causing obstructions to the disabled," he added.
Mr Leung said that a series of inspections had been
planned and more actions would be taken to crackdown on
similar alterations in other commercial buildings.
He stressed that plans should be submitted by an
Authorised Person for the Building Authority's approval
before any alteration or addition works could start in an
existing building.
It is a criminal offence to carry out unauthorised
building works and to fail to comply with a statutory
order.
The maximum penalty for carrying out unauthorised
building works is two years' imprisonment and a fine of
$100,000.
The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a
statutory order is one year's imprisonment and a fine of
$50,000.
Mr Leung added that it was the owner's responsibility
to maintain the facilities for the disabled in a safe and
sound condition and free from all obstructions.
End
4. First register of Recognised Certification Bodies published
*********************************************************
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
(EMSD) has recently published the first register of
Recognised Certification Bodies (RCBs) to prepare for the
full implementation of the Electrical Products (Safety)
Regulation in May this year.
Under the regulation, all household electrical
products must comply with the prescribed safety
requirements, and proper certificates of safety compliance
shall be issued for every model of household electrical
product to be supplied in Hong Kong.
"The published register consists of 21 RCBs who
possess the capability and resources to test and certify
the safety aspects of specified classes of electrical
products," a spokesman for the department said.
"They are recognised by the Director of Electrical
and Mechanical Services as being qualified to issue
certificates of safety compliance for these products," the
spokesman added.
"We will update the register from time to time as
more applications for RCBs are approved," the spokesman
said.
The register is available for public inspection
during office hours at the Customer Service Office, EMSD
Headquarters, Ground Floor, 98 Caroline Hill Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Enquiries can be made at 2882
8011.
End
5. 16 consent applications approved in fourth quarter of 1997
**********************************************************
The Lands Department issued 16 consents for the pre-
sale of residential and non-residential units in
uncompleted developments from October 1 to December 31,
1997.
A spokesman for the Lands Department said today
(Sunday) that 10 consents were for the sale of 7,914
residential units on Hong Kong Island, and in Kowloon, Sha
Tin, Tai Po, Sai Kung, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. The
majority are due for completion by the end of February
1999.
The other six consents were granted for the pre-sale
of commercial units on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and
Tuen Mun.
"The Government has so far issued 13 consents to sell
which are subject to the additional anti-speculation
measures announced by the Secretary for Housing on March
26, 1997. They involve 8,180 units," the spokesman said.
These measures include the extension of pre-sale
period to 15 months and the offer for sale of all units in
the development within six months of consent. The
developer is also required to offer not less than 20 per
cent of the total units on each occasion of public sale.
As at December 31, 1997, 18 applications for pre-sale
consent involving 25,063 residential units and 12
applications in respect of non-residential developments
were pending approval.
Among them, three are Private Sector Participation
Scheme (PSPS) projects involving 10,900 units. Two are
Sandwich Class Housing Scheme projects involving 2,168
units.
The remaining 13 developments, totalling 11,995
units, are private projects subject to anti-speculation
measures introduced on June 8, 1994 and the additional
anti-speculation measures announced on March 26, 1997.
These developments are located in various parts of
the territory. The majority are estimated to be completed
between mid-1998 and mid-1999.
Since the introduction of the measures for the pre-
sale of residential units in June 1994, the department has
given consent to 47,936 residential units.
During the same period, seven PSPS projects
(totalling 11,950 units), seven Sandwich Class Housing
developments (5,954 units) and five Flat-for-Sale Scheme
projects (4,462 units) - all of which are not subject to
these measures - were given pre-sale consents.
A 24-hour hotline service has been set up since
November 1 last year. Members of the public may obtain
information on consents relating to residential units in
uncompleted developments issued for the previous six
months and cases pending approval at 2147 5475.
End
6. Heritage Commemorative Cover to be issued
*****************************************
A commemorative cover which features the major
historic monuments in the territory will be issued on
Tuesday (January 20) to mark the closing of the "Year of
Heritage" project.
This souvenir cover is the final of a series of four
to commemorate the project which was successfully
concluded with the International Conference on Heritage
and Education in December last year.
The fourth issue, bearing the HK$1.3 stamp of the
series in commemoration of the establishment of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's
Republic of China, is cancelled by the postmark of
December 17, 1997. The slogan and the logo of the Year of
Heritage are also highlighted on the cover. Production
quantity is limited to 10,000 pieces.
It will be put on sale at HK$25 each at the Heritage
Resource Centre of the Antiquities and Monuments Office at
136 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, between 9.30 am
and 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday.
The first, the second and the third commemorative
covers were issued last year to mark the Opening Ceremony
of the Year of Heritage, the Heritage Day in Lung Yuek Tau
and a major exhibition - "Hong Kong's Heritage - A History
of 6,000 Years" respectively.
For enquiries, please call the Antiquities and
Monuments Office at 2721 2326.
End
7. Water cut in Ap Lei Chau
************************
Owing to the temporary suspension of electricity
supply to Ap Lei Chau Pumping Station, flushing water
supply to all premises in Ap Lei Chau will be suspended
between 9:30 am and 6:30 pm on January 21(Wednesday).
The suspension will affect all premises at Ap Lei
Chau Bridge Road, Ap Lei Chau Main Street, Ap Lei Chau
Drive, Ap Lei Chau Praya Road, Lee Chi Road, Lee Nam Road,
Lee Man Road, Lee Wing Street, Lee Hing Street, Lee King
Street, Lee Lok Street, Hung Shing Street, Ping Lan
Street, Shan Ming Street, Shui Sau Street, San Shi Street,
Ho King Street, Wai Fung Street, Ap Lei Chau Estate, Yue
On Court, Lei Tung Estate and the South Horizons.
End
8. Fresh water cut in Mong Kok
***************************
Fresh water supply to some premises in Mong Kok will
be suspended at 10 pm on January 21 (Wednesday) to 7 am
the following day for alteration work on watermains.
The suspension will affect all premises in the area
bounded by Ivy Street, Elm Street, Anchor Street, Tit Shu
Street, Cherry Street and the Tai Kok Tsui sea front,
including Sharon Lutheran School and Ming Kei College.
End
