Qianhai Launches Five Pilot Projects Using Hong Kong's NEC and Smart Site Safety System for Enhanced Construction Collaboration.

Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation brings New Engineering Contract and Smart Site Safety System to Qianhai

The Development Bureau (DEVB), the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province (DHURDGP), and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality (Qianhai Authority) announced today (June 12) the launch of five pilot projects in Qianhai, which will adopt Hong Kong's New Engineering Contract (NEC) form or the Smart Site Safety System (4S).

Held at the NEC Forum for Project Leaders, the launching ceremony of the Qianhai NEC and 4S Pilot Projects was officiated by the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau; Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) Mr Tony Ho; Second-level Inspector of the DHURDGP Mr Huang Weide; and the Chief Hong Kong and Macao Liaison Expert of the Qianhai Authority, Mr Gary Wong.

Mr Lau said that this year marks the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and this collaboration is an important part of the plan to deepen the alignment of rules and mechanisms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as well as to accelerate the strategic planning in respect of the development of new quality productive forces. The pilot projects will implement the recommendation set out in last year's Policy Address to deepen Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation in engineering and construction and help promote the advanced contract management systems and innovative technologies of Hong Kong's construction industry to Qianhai, thereby supporting Qianhai's construction industry to go global. It not only facilitates regional synergy, but also enables Hong Kong to better integrate into and serve the overall development of the nation, so as to promote high-quality development for the nation.

Among the five pilot projects, the "11th Road Space Redevelopment Project" and "Guiwan Three Innovation Corridor, Guiwan Three Hub East Corridor and Tinghai Qianwan Four Corridor Project" will adopt Hong Kong's NEC form to optimise the contract management systems. The "Tonggang Street (Mawan Second Road to Mawan Avenue) Road and Utility Corridor Project", "Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Plaza Project (Phase 1) - Trading Plaza Section and Jingxing Jilang Section", and "Mawan First Development Area 01 Plot East Tower Project" will adopt Hong Kong's 4S to strengthen digital safety supervision.

The NEC form promotes a collaborative partnership between the client and the contractor, and establishes a comprehensive project management system that includes early warning mechanisms, compensation mechanisms, and action timetables. It effectively resolves contractual issues and enhances project performance. The DEVB first introduced the NEC form to public works projects in 2009, and it has since been applied to over 850 public works projects with a total contract value exceeding $550 billion. Other public organisations, such as the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the MTR Corporation Limited, have also adopted the NEC form.

The 4S enables remote monitoring of high-risk activities on construction sites in real time (such as lifting operations, working in confined spaces, and mobile machinery operations). It can detect hazards early and issue immediate alerts to prevent serious accidents. Project teams can also analyse safety performance data collected by the 4S to identify the crux of potential safety hazards and formulate appropriate enhancement measures. To encourage the effective use of the 4S, the DEVB, in collaboration with the Construction Industry Council, launched the 4S Labelling Scheme to award a label to construction sites that have been inspected on-site and assessed as having properly applied the 4S. To date, over 800 public and private projects have received labels. Following the adoption of the 4S, the overall accident rate in the construction industry has been reduced by approximately 20 per cent, having a positive impact on construction site safety and providing more comprehensive protection for workers' safety.

Source: AI-found images

Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation brings New Engineering Contract and Smart Site Safety System to Qianhai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation brings New Engineering Contract and Smart Site Safety System to Qianhai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

34 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight", "Silverwing", joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand", "Champion" and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department from June 5 to yesterday (June 11). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, factories and cleaning companies. Twenty-seven suspected illegal workers and seven suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised eight men and 19 women, aged 20 to 59. Among them, two women were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment and a woman was suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity card. Five men and two women, aged 39 to 54, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were 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 warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, 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 is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or an identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment."

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 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, emailanti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form atwww.immd.gov.hk.

34 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases