Arrangements for LCSD's Mobile Library services
Mobile Libraries 4, 8 and 11 will suspend services during designated periods in July for maintenance, while a Mobile Library 4 service point in Tung Chung will also be relocated in July, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 26).
Mobile Library 4 will suspend services from July 2 to 8. The affected service points are Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung, Discovery Bay, Pui O, Shui Hau and Tong Fuk. Starting from July 9, the service point at Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung will be relocated to the area adjacent to Chi Yat House from Ying Yat House. The opening hours of the service point will remain unchanged, i.e. from 10am to 1pm, and 2pm to 6pm every Monday and Wednesday (except library closing days and public holidays). For enquiries about Mobile Library 4 services, please call 2984 9417.
Mobile Library 8 will suspend services from July 7 to 19. The affected service points are Laguna City in Lam Tin, On Tai Estate in Kwun Tong, Po Tat Estate in Sau Mau Ping, Tai Hang Tung Estate on Tai Hang Tung Road, Laguna Verde in Hung Hom, Choi Fook Estate in Kowloon Bay and Yau Lai Estate in Yau Tong. For enquiries about Mobile Library 8 services, please call 2926 3055.
Mobile Library 11 will suspend services from July 9 to 22. The affected service points are Sun Chui Estate and Kwong Yuen Estate in Sha Tin; Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Shing East Estate and Lai Yiu Estate in Kwai Chung; Easeful Court and Cheung Ching Estate in Tsing Yi; Tin Wah Estate in Tin Shui Wai; Wan Tau Tong Estate and Tai Yuen Estate in Tai Po; and Po Tin Estate in Tuen Mun. For enquiries about Mobile Library 11 services, please call 2479 1055.
Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.
New control on regulated mercury-added products to take effect on December 31
The control for newly regulated mercury-added products under the newly amended Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) will take effect on December 31, 2025, covering eight newly regulated mercury-added products (see Annex).
The Government completed the amendments to the Mercury Control Ordinance in June this year to implement amendments adopted at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to gradually phase out mercury-added products that are harmful to human health or the environment, so as to reduce the opportunities of the public's exposure to these mercury-added products for safeguarding public health and protecting the environment.
An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said, "Once the amendments to the Ordinance come into effect, the manufacture, import, export and supply of the relevant regulated mercury-added products will be prohibited. Anyone who contravenes the above regulations commits an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year."
Under the new measure, the Government has set a grace period for the supply of newly regulated mercury-added products (not applicable to production, import and export of the related product) until January 2029. After the grace period, if anyone continues to supply the relevant regulated mercury-added products, the authorities will initiate prosecution after collecting sufficient evidence.
To help the trades understand the new control requirements, the EPD has earlier written to stakeholders, including importers, exporters and distributors of the concerned mercury-added products, to detail the implementation specifics of the new controls, and has conducted visits to stakeholders to provide guidance.
Relevant information has been uploaded to the EPD's dedicated website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/international_conventions/mercury/mco.html). For any enquiries regarding the newly amended Mercury Control Ordinance, please contact the EPD at 2838 3111 or via email at enquiry@epd.gov.hk.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Photo source: news.gov.hk
