Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm
As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.
A spokesman for the LD said today (September 6) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.
Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:
(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;
(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;
(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;
(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and
(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.
In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.
The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).
Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.
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.
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
