Employers Urged to Prioritize Employee Safety Amid Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 Arrangements.

LD urges employers and employees to make work arrangements in times of tropical cyclones and rainstorms

As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 (T8) will soon be in force, the Labour Department (LD) today (September 5) reminded employers to make work arrangements for employees during and after tropical cyclone warnings, rainstorm warnings and "extreme conditions", including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable).

An LD spokesman said, "In drawing up and implementing the work arrangements, apart from factors such as operational needs of establishments, employers should give prime consideration to employees' safety and the feasibility of employees travelling to and from their workplaces. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations faced by individual employees, such as their place of residence and the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach with due regard to their actual difficulties and needs. For example, employers may permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work."

If the Government makes an "extreme conditions" announcement, apart from those required by employers to report for duty at workplaces, employees are advised to stay in the place they are currently in or in safe places when "extreme conditions" is in force, instead of heading for work. Employees who have already reported for duty at workplaces could continue to work as usual in a safe manner. If the workplaces are in danger, employers should release staff from work early under feasible conditions and in a safe manner, or make available a safe place as temporary shelter for employees. If the working time ends while "extreme conditions" is still in force, employers can release employees from workplaces in a safe manner or provide a suitable area as temporary shelter for those still at workplaces.

If it is necessary for employees to report for duty at workplaces under adverse weather or "extreme conditions", employers should work out arrangements for their transportation, safety, meals, rest places and more. If public transport services are suspended or limited when T8 or higher, or "extreme conditions" is in force, employers should provide safe transport services for employees travelling to and from workplaces, or grant them an extra travelling allowance.

The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.

The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

Source: AI-generated images

New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme releases online application platform, reports promising increase in application figures

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (September 16) that the applicants of the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (the New CIES) can now submit application forms for Net Asset Assessment and Assessment on Investment Requirements online. The application details can be found on the New CIES website (www.newcies.gov.hk/en/apply-now).

InvestHK will continue to accept paper application forms for Net Asset Assessment or Assessment on Investment Requirements from applicants on or before October 15. InvestHK also reminds that before submitting online application forms for Net Asset Assessment or Assessment on Investment Requirements, the applicant is required to engage a Certified Public Accountant (Practising) as defined in the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Ordinance (Cap. 588 of the Laws of Hong Kong) at his/her own cost to issue fulfilment documents, to assist in demonstrating his/her fulfilment of the relevant requirements under the New CIES. For the guide on preparation of fulfilment documents, an applicant can refer to the relevant document and the circular published by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants as provided on the New CIES website (www.newcies.gov.hk/en/resources/scheme-rules-and-documents).

In addition, InvestHK has continuously seen a strong response since the launch of the New CIES on March 1, and here are the key numbers of the New CIES as of September 13.

Number of enquiries

Over 5 000

Number of applications

Over 500

Applications verified as having fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement

(i.e. applicant has net assets of not less than HK$30 million in the two years preceding his/her application）

448

Applications verified as having fulfilled the Investment Requirements

(i.e. applicant has already made investment of HK$30 million in Hong Kong within the six-month time limit)

47

Expected investment amount to be brought into Hong Kong

Over HK$15 billion

The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "The increasing New CIES application figures reflect the strong confidence from high-net-worth individuals in Hong Kong. The Scheme attracts successful businessmen and innovative entrepreneurs, and enhances the strengths of Hong Kong's asset and wealth management industry. InvestHK will continue the promotion and publicity efforts on the New CIES and also encourages applicants to use the online application platform as early as possible to save time spent on filling out paper application forms, and to enjoy more convenient and efficient application services.

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For more information on the eligibility criteria and relevant details, please visit the New CIES website (www.newcies.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the enquiry hotline at 3904 3001 or email to newcies@investhk.gov.hk.

Source: AI-generated images