Red tides sighted
Seven red tides were sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (December 19).
On December 15, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted six red tides at Butterfly Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Golden Beach, Castle Peak Beach and Kadoorie Beach in Tuen Mun, respectively. On December 17, another red tide was spotted at Deep Water Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island.
The red tides at Butterfly Beach, Castle Peak Beach and Deep Water Bay Beach still persist, while the other four red tides have dissipated. No associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
A spokesman for the working group said, "All seven red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species can produce foam that may affect fish."
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.
Source: AI-found images
Court makes review decision on sentencing for violating occupational safety and health legislation
Regarding the sentencing in a fatal industrial accident, the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 19) handed down a review decision, accepting the prosecution's application for review of an earlier court sentence and increasing the fines imposed on the employer.
The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on March 14, 2024, at a warehouse in Sandy Ridge, New Territories. While a worker was operating a fork-lift truck for unloading of wooden battens from the trailer of a truck, a bundle of wooden battens fell from the trailer and struck another worker. The concerned worker sustained an injury and passed away on the same day.
Kinform Timber Company Limited, being the employer of the fork-lift truck operator, was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, and was fined $120,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts on January 21, 2025.
After the sentencing, the prosecution filed a review application with the court regarding the sentence imposed on the relevant employer. The review hearing was brought up today before the Fanling Magistrates' Courts. The fine imposed on Kinform Timber Company Limited was increased to $160,000.
A spokesman for the LD said that the ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers that they have to protect workers' safety and health at work in accordance with the laws. The prosecution will continue to pay attention to court rulings and will file review or appeal applications for cases where the sentences are manifestly inadequate and/or wrong in principle.
