Appointments to Board of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
The Government today (October 18) announced appointments made by the Chief Executive to the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) for a two-year term from October23, 2024, to October22, 2026.
The list of appointees is as follows:
Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Abraham Chan Lok-shung*
Mr Vincent Cheng Wing-shun *
Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping
Mr Andy Hei Kao-chiang
Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng*
Mr Jat Sew-tong
Mr Leo Kung Lin-cheng*
Mr Liu Che-ning
Ms Yolanda Ng Yuen-ting
Dr Pang Yiu-kai*
Mr Paulo Pong Kin-yee
Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk*
Ms Catherine Yen Kai-shun
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism or alternate representative
Secretary for Development or alternate representative
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury or alternate representative
(*new appointee)
A Government spokesman said that the non-official members appointed are experienced in their respective areas of expertise, including arts and culture, tourism, engineering, business and finance, law and community service. They will provide the necessary knowledge and valuable advice in helping the Board to discharge its statutory duties and oversee the development and operation of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD).
"I would like to thank the outgoing members - Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling, Mr Glenn Fok, Ms Rose Lee Wai-mun, Ms Dee Poon Chu-ying and Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung - for their efforts and contributions. I also welcome the new appointees, and look forward to continuing to work closely with the WKCDA Board", said the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung.
The WKCDA Ordinance (Cap. 601) provides that the Board is the governing and executive body of the WKCDA. It is responsible for the planning, development, operation and maintenance of the arts and cultural facilities and related facilities in the WKCD. The Chairman of the Board is Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen. In addition to the aforementioned members, Mr Kenneth Fok Kai-kong is also a member of the Board.
Three illegal workers jailed
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation to combat illegal workers providing cross-boundary purchasing and delivery services in Hong Kong on October 15. Three Mainland visitors, suspected of being illegal workers, were arrested.
Immigration officers found that social media platforms have been utilised by individuals from the Mainland to advertise cross-boundary purchasing and delivery services in Hong Kong. After an in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, ImmD officers identified several suspected illegal delivery workers and initiated an operation. Officers disguised themselves as customers to book cross-boundary purchasing and delivery services from these Mainland delivery workers. The suspects were subsequently arrested while providing cross-boundary delivery services in Hong Kong. The arrested illegal workers comprised two men and one woman, aged 32 to 33.
The illegal workers were charged at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (October 17) with breaching the conditions of their stay. They pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to two months' imprisonment.
"The ImmD will continue to strengthen enforcement actions against illegal employment and seek various means to publicise the serious consequences of employing illegal workers in order to raise public awareness of the issue. The ImmD will conduct target-oriented cyber patrols and take prompt enforcement actions if any person is found organising, arranging or instigating others to commit serious crimes such as employing illegal workers," an ImmD spokesman said.
The spokesman warned, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him/her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, or establish or join in any business, 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 reiterated 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.
Three illegal workers jailed Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
