Special traffic and transport arrangements in Chai Wan during Ching Ming Festival
The Transport Department (TD) today (March 6) reminded members of the public that in anticipation of a large number of grave-sweepers heading to the cemeteries along Cape Collinson Road in Chai Wan during the Ching Ming Festival period, the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented there to facilitate their visits to the cemeteries.
A. Special Traffic Arrangements
(i) Temporary prohibited zone
The section of Cape Collinson Road to the east of Lin Shing Road (i.e. the left-turning movement from Lin Shing Road to Cape Collinson Road leading to the Chinese Permanent Cemetery) will be temporarily designated as a private car and light goods vehicle prohibited zone from 7am to 3pm daily from March 14 to April 26. All private cars and light goods vehicles, except those with permits, will be prohibited from entering the prohibited zone.
(ii) Road closures
In connection with the implementation of road closures at Cape Collinson Road and its vicinity by the Police, except for the exempted vehicles, Lin Shing Road and Cape Collinson Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 7am to 5pm on the specified dates.
Road closures arrangements
Date
Exempted vehicles
Phase 1 road closures
March 21, 22, 28, 29 and April 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 18 and 19
- Green minibuses (GMBs) routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M
Phase 2 road closures
April 5
(Ching Ming Festival)
B. Public Transport Services
(i) The following special bus services will be operated on the specified dates, and the bus services will be strengthened depending on the passenger demand and traffic conditions.
Routes
Date
Operating period
Citybus (CTB) Route 388 (Circular)
- between Chai Wan Station Bus Terminus and Chai Wan Cemeteries
March 15
10am to 2pm
March 21 and 22
9am to 2pm
March 28, 29, April 3 and 4
9am to 4pm
April 5
(Ching Ming Festival)
8am to 6pm
April 6 and 7
9am to 4pm
April 11 and 12
9am to 2pm
April 18 and 19
10am to 2pm
CTB Route 389 (Circular)
- between Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus and Chai Wan Cemeteries
March 22
9am to 2pm
March 28, 29, April 3 and 4
9am to 4pm
April 5
(Ching Ming Festival)
8am to 6pm
April 6 and 7
9am to 4pm
April 11 and 12
9am to 2pm
(ii) CTB route X9 will operate additional departures from Shek O to Central (Central Ferry Piers) from noon to 2pm on April 5 (Ching Ming Festival).
(iii) CTB routes 8X, 9 and 780 and cross harbour routes 106, 118 and 606, and GMB route 18M will be strengthened subject to passenger demand.
(iv)GMB route 18M service will be temporarily suspended during Phase 2 of road closures.
During the Ching Ming Festival period, adjustments to the extent of road closures, traffic control measures and public transport diversions will be made by the Police depending on the actual traffic conditions in the areas.
Grave-sweepers are advised to plan their journey early and allow more travelling time. If they would like to go to the cemeteries along Cape Collinson Road in Chai Wan outside the above-mentioned road closure periods, they should use public transport services as far as possible. They can take GMB routes 16A, 16M, 16X or 18M at Chai Wan MTR Station to Cape Collinson Road, or take CTB Route 9 at Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus to Shek O Road near Cape Collinson Road. Grave-sweepers heading to the Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium may also make use of the escalators and pedestrian access route connecting San Ha Street at Chai Wan (near Chai Wan MTR Station Exit A) and the said columbarium.
The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Cape Collinson Road, Lin Shing Road and Wan Tsui Road in Chai Wan will be busy. Motorists are advised not to drive to the congested and affected areas and should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion and observe the instructions given by the Police.
Members of the public are advised to be alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television. They may also visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or use the mobile application "HKeMobility" for the latest traffic and public transport information.
Source: AI-created image
10 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Lightshadow", "Twilight", "Fastrack"; a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand"; a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Home Affairs Department; and a joint operation with Hong Kong Customs, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department from February 27 to yesterday (March 5).
During the anti-illegal worker operations, investigators raided multiple target locations including restaurants, massage parlours and a logistics company. Nine suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men and five women, aged 22 to 50. One woman aged 50 was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
10 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
