Warning: dangerous bubble blower on the loose in hong kong
Hong Kong Customs today (May 16) reminded members of the public to stay alert to an unsafe bubble blower. Test results indicated that the small parts of the toy could pose suffocation risks to children. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop letting their children play with the bubble blower. Traders should also remove the toy from their shelves.
Customs officers earlier test-purchased a model of bubble blower from a retailer for safety testing. Test results revealed that the lid of the toy was a removable component and failed the related safety tests. Children would face a danger of suffocation if the lid is swallowed. Customs also found that the toy did not carry the required warning about removable small parts specified in the safety standard. Moreover, the bubble blower did not bear the identification markings and the bilingual warnings or cautions prescribed by the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (TCPSO).
Customs later conducted an operation to search the retailer's premises in connection with the case. No other suspected unsafe bubble blowers were found and a prohibition notice was served at the same time to prohibit the continued sale of the unsafe bubble blower by the retailer.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and playing with toys:
Beware of whether the toys contain any small parts. Small parts may block a child's throat and lead to suffocation if swallowed;
Check the structure of the toys to see, for example, whether they have a fragile structure, hidden sharp points, rough surfaces, sharp edges or gaps that may pinch children's fingers;
Do not let children play with toys alone;
Pay attention to age recommendations shown on labels;
Pay attention to and follow the instructions associated with the toys;
Throw away plastic packages of toys to preventchildren from being suffocated; and
Stop children from playing with the toys immediately if any damage is observed.
Customs is committed to the protection of consumer interests and regularly conducts spot checks and safety tests on toys and children's products to ensure that they are reasonably safe for use by consumers.
Under the TCPSO, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children's products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.
Members of the public may report information relating to suspected unsafe toys or children's products via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs alerts public to unsafe bubble blower Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Former registered contractor convicted for carrying out building works in a dangerous manner
The Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (October 31) ruled that a former registered general building contractor and its sub-contractor had contravened the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO) and imposed each with a fine of $8,000. The Buildings Department (BD) will seek legal advice on whether to appeal against the amount of the fines imposed.
The case involved a fatal incident at a construction site at Tung Yuen Street, Yau Tong in December 2022. A worker was hit by a collapsed steel section when carrying out removal works of a temporary lateral support at the construction site, and died subsequently. An investigation by the BD found that precautionary measures had not been adequately provided by the contractor and its sub-contractor during the dismantling of the temporary lateral support. The BD initiated prosecutions against the contractor and its sub-contractor under section 40(2B)(a) of the BO in December last year.
The subject contractor (i.e. Aggressive Construction Engineering Limited) was removed from the Register of General Building Contractors on November 16 last year.
Pursuant to section 40(2B)(a) of the BO, any person directly concerned with the relevant building works, who carries out or authorises or permits such works to be carried out, in such manner that it causes injury to any person or damage to any property, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $1,000,000 and to imprisonment for three years.