Two registered minor works contractors and one authorized signatory disciplined
The Registered Contractors' Disciplinary Board (the Board) has completed two disciplinary inquiries under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) and decided that a registered minor works contractor (RMWC) should be disciplined for having been convicted by a court of offences relating to building works, and the other RMWC and its Authorized Signatory (AS) should be disciplined for having certified and carried out minor works belonging to a class for which it is not registered.
The Board's written decisions and orders issued on September 8 were published in the Gazette today (September 26). Details are available at the following links:
Case 1: https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20252939/egn202529395916.pdf
Case 2: https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20252939/egn202529395915.pdf
The first case involved a fatal incident that occurred at a shop under renovation in San Po Kong on March 15, 2021. A worker undergoing levelling work was suspected to have fallen from a ladder platform when the ladder platform toppled. The worker passed away on the following day. The RMWC was prosecuted by the Labour Department for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. The RMWC was convicted and fined $71,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on October 4, 2021. In view of the conviction of the RMWC, the Buildings Department (BD) notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RMWC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO.
Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RMWC to be fined $150,000 and to pay a total of $39,100, being the costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
The second case involved the installation of supporting frames for solar panels on the roof of an industrial building at Wing Shun Street, Tsuen Wan. The RMWC and its AS submitted a certificate to the BD in April 2021, certifying that the subject minor works had been completed under Class III minor works. An investigation by the BD revealed that the supporting frames were located on "inaccessible roofs", therefore the subject works should have been classified as Class I instead of Class III minor works; but the RMWC was not registered as a Class I minor works contractor. The above showed that the RMWC and its AS had certified and carried out minor works belonging to a class for which it is not registered. In view of the investigation results, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RMWC and its AS under the provision of sections 13(1) and 13(3) of the BO.
Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RMWC be removed from the register of minor works contractors for two months, with effect from the date of the Gazette, and the AS be fined $4,000. Also, the RMWC and its AS were ordered to pay a total of $37,300, being the costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out building works, or is convicted by any court of an offence relating to building works, or has been negligent or has misconducted himself in building works, will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO.
Source: AI-found images
Special traffic arrangements for race meeting in Happy Valley
The Police will implement special traffic arrangements in Happy Valley today (December 23). These arrangements will remain in effect until the race meeting has concluded, spectators have dispersed, and traffic conditions return to normal.
A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race
The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from 50 minutes before the start of the first race for day racing, or from 6pm onwards for night racing:
1. Road closure
Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.
2. Traffic diversions
- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside the HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
- Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
- Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel;
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.
B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting
The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:
1. Road closure
- The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside the HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of the HKJC;
- Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
- Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.
In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of the HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.
2. Traffic diversions
- Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
- Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.
C. Prohibition for learner drivers
Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:
- Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
- Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
- Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
- Canal Road East; and
- The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.
D. Suspension of parking spaces
Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm for day racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm for night racing respectively.
All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of police officers on site.
Source: AI-found images
