Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Saturday, January 24, 1998
CONTENTS
========
1. Statement by Department of Justice
2. CE visits Stanley Barracks
3. Hong Kong set to rebound
4. HKMC's revolving credit facility welcomed
5. Update on avian flu
6. AIDS situation in 1997
7. Contravention of Employment Ordinance may incur heavy fine
1. Statement by Department of Justice
**********************************
In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the
Department of Justice issued the following statement today
(Saturday):
"This morning, having considered the advice of
Leading Counsel, the Secretary for Justice decided that
she would apply to the Court of First Instance for leave
to initiate proceedings for contempt of court against the
Editor and Publisher of the Oriental Daily newspaper and
against the Chairman of the Oriental Press Group, in
respect of a number of recent articles in the newspaper.
"The application for leave, which will particularise
the alleged contempts, will be filed with the Court early
next week.
"In view of the public importance of the issues
raised, a request will be made, in accordance with the
Rules of the Supreme Court, for the hearing of the leave
application to be in open court."
End
2. CE visits Stanley Barracks
**************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today
(Saturday) visited the Stanley Barracks and took the
opportunity to deliver his New Year's greetings to the
People's Liberation Army Garrison stationed in Hong Kong.
He was received on arrival by the PLA Commander Liu
Zhenwu and the Political Commissar Xiong Ziren.
Mr Tung then toured the quarters and a cultural
activities centre for the soldiers. There are a history
room, and areas for the enjoyment of music, reading and
sports in the centre. On display in the centre are
calligraphy and paintings, as well as light weapons.
The Chief Executive was accompanied on the hour-long
visit by the acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr
Michael Suen; the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang;
the Secretary for Justice, Miss Elsie Leung; the Secretary
for Security, Mr Peter Lai; and the Secretary for Home
Affairs, Mr David Lan.
End
3. Hong Kong set to rebound
************************
The Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and
Trade Office in London, Mr John C Tsang, told participants
in the Hong Kong conference at Cambridge University today
(Saturday) that Hong Kong is now drawing lessons from the
financial turmoil in Asia.
These lessons will lay the ground work for the
territory's future as the premier international financial
centre in Asia, Mr Tsang said.
Mr Tsang, who was delivering the opening keynote
address at the two-day conference, said that while the
financial storm in Asia is not completely over yet, Hong
Kong is already picking up the pieces and further
strengthening our systems.
"The present adjustment process may be inconvenient
and awkward in the short term, but we have every
confidence that it would lead to Hong Kong rebounding
sooner than our Asian neighbours and coming back in a
stronger position," Mr Tsang said.
He said his confidence was based on two factors: Hong
Kong's sound economic fundamentals and the territory's
enduring strength arising from its unique position in
relation to mainland China, the biggest investment market
in the world.
Mr Tsang said the relationship between Hong Kong and
China gives the territory one of its biggest competitive
advantages.
Against a background of steady reform and growth in
China over the current five-year period, the potential for
Hong Kong entrepreneurs, investors and service providers
is enormous.
Said Mr Tsang: "The opportunities are ample, but so
are the challenges. It is a fast-changing world and no
one can afford to stand still."
To maintain Hong Kong's premier position in the world
league, Hong Kong is sharpening its competitive edge.
New targets have been set to increase the supply of
land and housing. Major upgrading and expansion of the
infrastructure are being planned and every opportunity
taken to reduce business costs.
Mr Tsang told his audience of Cambridge students that
in addition, major initiatives are being taken in
education and training to help the younger generation
acquire the necessary skills to meet the long-term needs
of Hong Kong.
In particular, Hong Kong is working to raise the
standard of language skills, in both Chinese and English.
"To equip Hong Kong for the information age, we are
formulating a comprehensive policy on the application of
information technology at schools and in both the private
and the public sectors," he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong is well
positioned to enjoy a new age of unprecedented opportunity
and prosperity.
End
4. HKMC's revolving credit facility welcomed
*****************************************
The Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic S W Wong, today
(Saturday) welcomed the announcement by the Hong Kong
Mortgage Corporation (HKMC) that it had entered into an
agreement with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) for
the provision of a $10 billion revolving credit facility
from the Exchange Fund.
Mr Wong said that this is a positive measure which
will have the effect of providing additional liquidity to
banks to issue mortgage loans to help home buyers thus
contributing towards the Government's target of achieving
a home ownership rate of 70 percent.
"The credit facility from the HKMA will provide the
necessary financial backing to the HKMC in 1998 to proceed
with its mortgage purchase plan. This will provide banks
with additional liquidity, making it easier for home
buyers to obtain mortgages", Mr Wong explained.
"Despite the recent correction in residential
property prices, there is a continuing demand for mortgage
finance."
"Taken together with demand for mortgage finance for
private residential flats, the Government's initiatives to
sell public rental flats to tenants, to introduce a new
Home Starter Loan Scheme and to expand the Home Ownership
Scheme and the Sandwich Class Housing Scheme will add
momentum to mortgage growth," he said.
End
5. Update on avian flu
*******************
The Department of Health (DH) announced today
(Saturday) that there was no new case of influenza A
(H5N1) today.
The total number of cases stands at 18 confirmed
cases.
The conditions of these cases remain the same as of
January 16.
End
6. AIDS situation in 1997
**********************
A total of 181 persons were found to be positive for
the HIV antibody test in 1997, bringing the cumulative
total number of reported HIV infections to 957, the
Department of Health announced today (Saturday).
The number of new HIV infections reported last year
is the highest ever received in a single year since the
surveillance system was established in 1984.
Sixty-four AIDS cases were reported in 1997 leading
to a total number of 309 confirmed cases.
In 1997, the ratio of reported male to female
infections is four to one. Over 80 percent acquired the
infection via sexual contact.
Routes of transmission of the 957 HIV infected are:
506 through heterosexual and 284 through homosexual or
bisexual; 16 were injecting drug users; four were mother-
to-child transmission around the time of birth; and 67
acquired the infection through contaminated blood or blood
products.
As for the remaining 80, the information available
was inadequate for classification.
The Department's AIDS Unit operates an AIDS hotline -
2780 2211 - providing information, counselling and
voluntary HIV testing to members of the public who
perceive themselves at risk of infection. It also
maintains an Internet HomePage on AIDS and the website
address is www.info.gov.hk/aids.
End
7. Contravention of Employment Ordinance may incur heavy fine
**********************************************************
The Labour Department reminded employers to comply
with the provisions of the Employment Ordinance,
otherwise, they will face severe punishment.
Senior Labour Officer (Prosecutions), Mrs Tonia
Leung, gave the reminder today (Saturday) following two
recent court cases in which two employers were heavily
fined.
The two cases involved a construction contractor,
Wong Chun-man, who was fined $42,000 for failing to pay
wages and other sums to his employees, and Lam Sing-tou
trading as Tai Hing Pig Farm who was fined $48,000 for
making over-deductions from his employees' wages for the
recovery of advance of wages.
"Under section 23 of the Employment Ordinance, wages
are due at the end of the wage period, and must be cleared
as soon as practicable and in any case, not later than
seven days after the end of the period," Mrs Leung said.
"Section 25 of the ordinance also stipulates that
where a contract of employment is terminated, wages must
be cleared as soon as practicable and in any case, not
later than seven days after the day of termination."
Any employer who fails to comply with these
provisions may be liable to a fine of $200,000 and one
year's imprisonment.
Mrs Leung also added that except under certain
circumstances, making deductions from wages is also
prohibited by section 32 of the Employment Ordinance.
"Even though making deductions from wages for the
recovery of advance of wages is an exception under section
32, the total sum deducted in any one wage period must not
exceed one quarter of the wages payable to the employee in
that wage period," she stressed.
Any employer who fails to comply with the section may
be liable to a fine of $100,000 and one year's
imprisonment.
"To safeguard their interests, employees whose wages
are unlawfully deducted or are not paid within statutory
period should approach the Labour Relations Service for
advice and assistance as soon as possible," Mrs Leung
advised.
End
