Secure your safety: register now for the renosafe scheme!
The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), together with Regional Anti-Triad Units and District Anti-Triad Squads launched a new round of registration for the RenoSafe Scheme today (May 30). Subsidised buildings or housing estates which have been granted the subsidies under the third round of Operation Building Bright 2.0 Scheme (OBB 2.0) and Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme (FSW Scheme) will be progressively registered to the scheme.
Between April 1 and September 30, 2023, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) accepted applications for the third round of OBB 2.0 and FSW Scheme. Upon conclusion of the application period, over 1,600 applications were respectively received for the two subsidy schemes. URA will start issuing Approval-in-Principle letters to approved buildings or estates in batches today.
Launched in 2013, the RenoSafe Scheme adopts a multi-pronged approach to prevent and combat criminal infiltration in building maintenance projects and related tendering procedures through inter-departmental collaboration. Apart from the HKPF, participating government departments and public organisations include the Buildings Department, the Competition Commission, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Property Management Services Authority, and the URA.
Registration for the RenoSafe Scheme is a mandatory requirement for buildings or housing estates participating in subsidies under various government-funded building maintenance schemes such as OBB 2.0 and FSW Scheme. The OBB 2.0 and FSW Scheme aim to assist more flat owners in conducting prescribed inspections and repairs under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and fulfilling the Fire Safety Directions issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance. Upon registration, buildings or housing estates are required to fulfill a series of obligations, such as displaying relevant publicity materials; actively co-operating with relevant government departments and organisations, including notifying the Police in advance of the details of meetings and elections of the buildings or housing estates concerned, providing relevant records; and taking the initiative to provide information on suspected unlawful acts.
The participating government departments and public organisations are committed to providing a range of support services to RenoSafe Scheme members, including professional advice on building maintenance works and related aspects, a 24-hour police hotline for public enquiries or referrals on building maintenance works-related matters; providing direct contact channels with relevant government departments, as well as round-the-clock operational support provided by the Police.
The Police will proactively contact buildings or housing estates that have been approved under the third round of OBB 2.0 and FSW Scheme in batches for registration. At the same time, the Police also appeal to buildings or housing estates that have not applied for any government-funded building maintenance schemes or have not been granted any relevant government subsidies to enroll in the RenoSafe Scheme. This will enable participating government departments and public organisations to maintain liaison with the owners, monitor building maintenance-related crimes, and take timely enforcement actions to facilitate the smooth implementation of building maintenance works to prevent and combat building maintenance-related crimes.
Members of the public may visit the Police website at www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/04_crime_matters/cpa/cpa_renosafe.html for more details on the RenoSafe Scheme. Interested parties or those who have information on related crimes, please contact the 24-hour police hotline at 2527 7887.
A new round of registration for RenoSafe Scheme launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
A new round of registration for RenoSafe Scheme launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKSAR Government strongly condemned and opposed the slanders and smears on Hong Kong by the so-called resolution introduced by US politicians
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (February 27) strongly condemned individual members of the United States (US) Senate Commitee on Foreign Relations, through introducing a so-called resolution against Hong Kong, for making baseless allegations against Hong Kong and smearing the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO). The HKSAR Government strongly condemned and opposed such despicable political maneuvering and reckless clamoring, and urged the US to stop undermining Hong Kong's international reputation, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs.
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "The US politicians have repeated their tactics and breached the international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations, and wantonly interfering with Hong Kong matters by passing the so-called resolution, which is a despicable political manipulation. The US politicians have time and again made skewed remarks about Hong Kong's situation and advocated to impose the so-called 'sanctions' on Hong Kong pursuant to its domestic law, attempting to interfere with Hong Kong's law-based governance and undermine the city's rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability. The HKSAR Government strongly condemned its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all.”
The spokesman said, "National security is the foundation for prosperity and stability in society, as well as the well-being of the people. Only with security could there be development. While the 'black-clad violence' and the Hong Kong version of 'colour revolution' back in 2019 have severely damaged the social stability of Hong Kong. With the promulgation and implementation of the HKNSL, its effect in stopping violence and curbing disorder as well as quickly restoring social stability in the Hong Kong community was immediate. With the concerted efforts of the HKSAR Government, the Legislative Council and all sectors of the community, the HKSAR fulfilled its constitutional duty by enacting the SNSO last year to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, enabling Hong Kong's transition from chaos to order and its advancement from stability to prosperity."
"In fact, the implementation of the HKNSL in the past four years or so has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community at large to swiftly resume to normal and the business environment to be restored and improved continuously. In the Economic Freedom of the World 2024 Annual Report, Hong Kong ranks as the world's freest economies among 165 economies. In the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024, Hong Kong's ranking improved by two places to fifth globally. Last year, Hong Kong ranked among the top three international financial centres and the top four initial public offering markets in the world. It is evident that international funds and investments are confident in Hong Kong's development.”
The spokesman pointed out, "In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security, the US politicians have displayed hypocrisy and exposed their double standards by pointing fingers at the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security."
The spokesman emphasised, "The legal framework for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is fully in compliance with the international standard for the protection of human rights. The HKNSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applicable to the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law. By wantonly neglecting the relevant provisions and lashing out, the US politicians have fully exposing its malicious intentions."
"The offences endangering national security stipulated by HKNSL and SNSO target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. Any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from legal consequences for their illegal acts is no different from advocating a special privilege to break the law, and this totally runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law."
The spokesman also reiterated, "All cases are handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law. All defendants will receive fair trial strictly in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong (including the HKNSL) and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. As the legal proceedings involving Lai Chee-ying are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case."
"The HKSAR Government will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the HKNSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law. At the same time, it protects the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of 'one country, two systems’."