Hong Kong Implements New Legal Requirements for Scaffold Net Testing and Compliance

Remarks by SDEV at media session on arrangements requiring scaffold nets for external walls to be sampled on-site and tested (with video)

Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, at a media session today (December 11) on arrangements requiring scaffold nets for external walls to be sampled on-site and tested:

Reporter: How many government laboratories are doing the testing now? What are their daily testing capacities at the moment? How often will the authorities conduct ad-hoc sampling after the scaffolding measures passed the test? And importantly, is the new system legally binding? What are the consequences for non-compliance? Finally, how exactly will the CIC assist the industry financially? As you just mentioned they need to bear the additional costs at the moment, are they financially viable?

Secretary for Development: Perhaps I will invite Mr Cheng (the Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council, Mr Albert Cheng) to take your third question first.

Regarding your first question about the number of laboratories currently doing the testing and in future. Currently, my understanding is that not many laboratories offer this service because there is no market since we are only introducing this new system requiring the products to be tested after their arrival in Hong Kong. Because previously, normally the suppliers, they will receive the certificate showing the testing results in the area of origin, so no testing is required within Hong Kong. But after our new system is out, we believe this service will be in demand, so we are right now contacting a number of laboratories. Let them know our new requirements and see if they can gear up their facilities and manpower to provide this service.

Your second question is about the legal liabilities. Yes, it is legally binding because what we have described just now, the procedures and the requirements, the specimens required and the way of collecting the specimens, will be specified in a practice note to be promulgated by the Buildings Department for the sector. And according to the Buildings Ordinance, if any contractor does not comply with the requirement regarding the testing and also putting up the scaffolding nets, for example, they put up scaffolding nets without going through this on-site sampling and testing, that will be a violation of the requirement and the immediate result is the ceasing of works. The Buildings Authority will then issue an order to cease works immediately and also there will be other sanctions under the law.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: AI-found images

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 10) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 13.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.7 million. 163 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were also seized from the baggage.

A 34-year-old local male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday (December 10). During customs clearance, suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 13.5 kg in total, and 163 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette were found inside his baggage. The male was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and one count of failing to declare them to Customs officers. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (December 12).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases