Remarks by SLW on second phase of Caring Food Coupon Programme
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, together with Legislative Council (LegCo) Member Mr Tommy Cheung, met the media at the LegCo Complex today (June 27) to introduce the second phase of the Caring Food Coupon Programme. Following are the remarks by Mr Sun:
Reporter: What are the Government's expectation regarding the usage rate of this round of the Caring Food Coupon Programme, which stood at around 70 to 80 per cent for the last round?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Based on the usage rate last time when we provided lunch coupons to the elderly, the actual usage rate is around 76 per cent, but it varies among different restaurant chains. We are going to observe this time as well. We are going to step up promotional efforts, and as elderly users are getting used to obtaining the coupons and using them, we will see how the usage rate will be this time around. For the next round, the coupons will be for afternoon tea. It will be an all-year-round activity.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Owners of three detached houses of Redhill Peninsula fined over $270,000 in total for carrying out unauthorised building works
Owners of three detached houses of Redhill Peninsula pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts last Thursday (January 8) to carrying out unauthorised building works (UBWs) in contravention of section 14(1) of the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) , namely, knowingly undertaking building works without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD). They were fined $275,000 in total by the court.
The BD conducted a large-scale operation in September 2023 to inspect houses along the coastal area of Redhill Peninsula. UBWs were found in a number of detached houses, including the aforementioned three houses. The investigation by the BD found that the owners of the three houses had knowingly carried out the UBWs without the prior approval and consent from the BD, including adding structures to the garden, open yard, living room, bedroom, flat roof and the rooftop, thus contravening section 14(1) of the BO. Hence, the BD instigated prosecution action against the owners under section 40(1AA) of the BO in August and September 2024. They were convicted and fined $130,000, $85,000 and $60,000 respectively last Thursday.
"The BD has already instigated prosecution actions against 30 detached houses on Redhill Peninsula. So far, 24 cases have been convicted by the courts for contravening section 14(1) of the BO. Court hearings for the remaining cases are being rolled out," a BD spokesman said today (January 12).
The spokesman said that property owners should consult building professionals before carrying out building works to ensure compliance with the BO.
Pursuant to section 40(1AA) of the BO, any person who knowingly contravenes section 14(1) (i.e. commencement or carrying out any building works without having first obtained approval and consent from the BD) commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $400,000 and imprisonment for two years, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
The Government will submit a bill to the Legislative Council to amend the BO this year, which will include increasing penalties for offences against serious UBWs to enhance deterrence.
