Labour Department welcomes court's review decision on sentencing
Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (September 11) handed down a review decision, accepting the Government's application for review of an earlier court sentence and increasing the fines imposed on the relevant contractors. The Labour Department (LD) welcomes the decision.
The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on December 14, 2022, at a construction site in Yau Tong. A worker, while dismantling an I-beam, was struck and killed by the suddenly collapsed I-beam.
Aggressive Construction Engineering Limited, High Grade Engineering Limited and a contractor were prosecuted by the LD for the violations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations, and were fined $36,000, $43,000 and $35,000 respectively at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on October 31, 2024.
After the sentencing, the Government filed a review application with the court regarding the fines imposed on the relevant contractors. The review hearing was brought up today before the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts. The fines imposed on Aggressive Construction Engineering Limited, High Grade Engineering Limited and the contractor were increased to $74,000, $79,000 and $74,000 respectively.
A spokesman for the LD said that the ruling reflects the severity of occupational safety and health offences, and will disseminate a clear message to all contractors that they have to protect workers' safety and health at work in accordance with the laws. The Government will continue to pay attention to court rulings and will file review applications for cases where the sentences are relatively light.
Source: AI-found images
Dog Adoption Carnival 2026 to be held this weekend
The "Let's Go! The Pet Owners' Journey" Dog Adoption Carnival 2026, organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), will be held at the Cyberport Arcade between 11am and 6pm this weekend (January 17 and 18). Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join the event with their dogs.
The Adoption Carnival aims to encourage members of the public who intend to keep pets, to adopt abandoned or unclaimed animals, as well as promote responsible pet ownership. The co-organisers of the Carnival include Cheung Chau Animal Care, HK Saving Cat and Dog Association, Lifelong Animal Protection Charity, Paws United Charity, Society for Abandoned Animals, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Team for Animals in Lantau South.
Members of the public can interact with dogs that are up for adoption at the Adoption Carnival. Dog keepers can apply for or renew licenses on site. The Carnival also features veterinary consultation services, a dog playground, a virtual reality gaming experience, game booths, an interactive educational exhibition, pet-themed handicraft workshops, as well as sharing sessions by representatives of animal welfare organisations (AWOs) and guest speakers. Participants are welcome to take part with their dogs. However, dogs entering the venue should be licensed (except for those to be licensed on-site), vaccinated against rabies, and microchipped. All dogs should also be kept under proper control.
The AFCD has been committed to encouraging members of the public who wish to keep pets to adopt abandoned or unclaimed animals through the AFCD's partnering AWOs. Upon receiving animals, the AFCD will transfer animals assessed by veterinarians as being in good health and suitable for adoption to partnering AWOs for adoption by members of the public. The AFCD provides free desexing operations for cats, dogs and rabbits adopted through partnering AWOs.
For details of the event, please visit the thematic website of the "Let's Go! The Pet Owners' Journey" Dog Adoption Carnival 2026 (www.petswithlove.com.hk).
Source: AI-found images
