Enforcement actions against illegal hillside burial cases
The Home Affairs Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Lands Department (LandsD) today (November 11) launched a joint enforcement operation at the Permitted Burial Ground (PBG) of Po Toi O (SK/03) in Sai Kung against illegal hillside burials. It is anticipated that 44 illegal graves/urn houses/urns will be removed in about three days' time and the human remains therein will be reburied at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery.
The FEHD and the LandsD posted notices on 44 unauthorised graves/urn houses/urns located within the PBG of Po Toi O in Sai Kung on September 23 and 24 this year, requiring the related persons of the graves/urn houses/urns concerned to cease occupation of the government land and to contact relevant government departments on or before October 24 this year, or else the human remains therein would be reburied at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery. As all the 44 graves/urn houses/urns remained unclaimed upon expiry of the deadline, the Government commenced the clearance operation today.
The Government has been implementing a pilot scheme on the management of PBGs in individual PBGs since 2016. Taking into account the actual circumstances of each PBG, the Government has been implementing appropriate improvement measures, including erecting boundary pillars for the PBGs, conducting record surveys of existing graves/urn houses/urns, imposing restrictions on the size of burial sites and demarcating available spaces in PBGs for new applications of burial sites, in order to ensure that the places of burials are within PBGs. The pilot scheme has now been extended to 15 PBGs, covering all nine administrative districts in the New Territories.
Having examined the data obtained from the pilot scheme, the Government has commenced enforcement actions against illegal burials in the PBGs in phases from July 2021 onwards. Besides conducting enforcement actions in the PBG of Po Toi O in Sai Kung, the Government will also commence follow-up actions in other PBGs under the pilot scheme, including posting notices on other unauthorised graves/urn houses/urns before the coming Ching Ming Festival, with a view to removing unclaimed graves/urn houses/urns as soon as possible after the expiration of the notice period.
A Government spokesman reiterated that, according to the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28), it is an offence when any person occupying government land, otherwise than under permission from the Authority, does not cease the occupation as required by a notice prescribed by the Ordinance. Any property or structure on the occupied government land may be demolished and removed by the Government, and the occupier may be prosecuted. Furthermore, according to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), it is an offence to bury human remains without permission in writing of the Authority. Offenders are liable to prosecution, and the human remains inside the graves concerned will be removed.
HKETO, Brussels presents award to Italian company with deep business ties in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) presented a Special Hong Kong Award to an Italian company at the 19th China Awards in Milan, Italy on December 4 (Milan time).
The China Awards, organised by the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF) annually, is one of the most influential business events in Italy. It recognises Italian companies that have grasped the opportunities in the Chinese market and vice versa, Chinese companies that have invested in Italy and engaged in strategic and innovative collaboration with Italian counterparts.
Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels Miss Fiona Li, commended the recipient of the Special Hong Kong Award, Venchi. This Italian confectionery company has expedited its expansion in Asia, leveraging Hong Kong's vibrant culinary landscape, strategic location and unmatched connectivity with Mainland China. "Its success in Hong Kong and in Asia speaks for itself that establishing a presence in Hong Kong is conducive to its market expansion. It is the testimony of the strengths of Hong Kong - our low and simple tax regime, free flow of capital, business-friendly environment, and advanced logistics and supply-chain management", Miss Li said.
The event offered an opportunity to put a quartet comprising of Hong Kong's musicians in the spotlight before 300 executives and senior representatives of top Italian and Chinese companies. The quartet, which was brought to the event by HKETO, Brussels to help give Hong Kong talents international exposure and to showcase Hong Kong as an international cultural exchange hub, had Grace Chan, double bass player; Isaac Lam, pianist; Melody Lau, violinist; and Emily Chan, soprano. Grace Chan was selected to participate in the Rome Chamber Music Festival's Young Artist Programme in June 2024.
Miss Li also highlighted the latest measures in the Policy Address to the Italian audiences on enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, including lowering the tariff on liquor. She elaborated that Hong Kong's distinctive advantages including an independent judiciary, a free trade and investment regime, and an efficient and clean government are kept under the "one country, two systems" principle as she encouraged Italian companies and talents to come to Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is and will remain your prime gateway to China and your most preferred partner in Asia", she added.
The ICCF is the largest Italy-China business association in Italy that facilitates collaboration between Italian and Chinese companies. The ICCF organises the annual China Awards in partnership with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China and with the support of the China Chamber of Commerce in Italy.
HKETO, Brussels presents award to Italian company with deep business ties in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKETO, Brussels presents award to Italian company with deep business ties in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKETO, Brussels presents award to Italian company with deep business ties in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
