Hong Kong – DH conducts joint operation with Police against smoking in no smoking areas
DH conducts joint operation with Police against smoking in no smoking areas
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To echo the Quit in June campaign launched by the Department of Health (DH) to call on smokers to attempt to quit smoking in order to reduce their risk of tobacco-related diseases and death, the DH’s Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) conducted a joint operation in plain clothes with the Police against smoking offence in no smoking areas in different places across the territory for three consecutive days from June 9 to 11.
Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap.371) (the Ordinance), conducting a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas (such as indoor areas of bar or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas commits an offence and is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Venue managers of statutory no smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request the smoking offender to cease the act; and if the offender is not co-operative, he/she may contact the Police for assistance.
During the operation, 83 places of public entertainment were visited by inspectors from the DH and the Police in plain clothes, and 64 fixed penalty notices were issued to persons smoking in no smoking areas.
A DH spokesman stressed that the TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. It will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement actions (including plain-clothes operation) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and to take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal smoking.
“The Government appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. They are encouraged to call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses, providing professional counselling services on smoking cessation,” the spokesman said.
Smokers can visit the smoking cessation thematic website www.livetobaccofree.hk for more information on quitting and the available supporting tools and services. They can also download the “Quit Smoking App” to keep track of their progress in quitting and get tips to deal with cravings so as to stay tobacco-free.
NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it has succeeded in what it believes to be the world’s first trial of redirecting millimeter-band (28 GHz) radio waves coming from inside a building to the foot of the building outdoors by bending the radio waves with a film-shaped transmissive metasurface(1) attached to a window surface. The trial was conducted from October to November 2022 at the DOCOMO R&D Center in Yokosuka, Japan, aiming at realization of advanced fifth-generation (5G Evolution) and sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication systems. Radio waves in the high-frequency band have difficulty reaching places that are not in the line of sight of the transmitting base station installed on the rooftop of buildings, making it difficult to create reception areas at the foot of buildings. One of the solutions is to install antennas on a neighboring structural object, but there are cases where such installation is not possible due to landscape and other issues. This trial was conducted in order to expand the area coverage around the foot of a building. The transmissive metasurface for the 28 GHz band used in the trial is a metasurface designed and processed to bend millimeter wave bands passing through a glass window in a specific direction, in this trial, towards the bottom of a building’s exterior(4). The film-shaped material was attached to the window glass on the interior side, making it easier to install, and its transparency did not spoil the landscape and existing design. In addition, the transmissive metasurface is designed not to affect other frequency bands such as LTE and Sub-6 bands. Millimeter waves from a base station installed indoor passed through transmissive metasurfaces on the window glass and throughput performance in the foot area of the building was measured. We confirmed that the throughput performance in the foot area was greatly improved by bending the millimeter waves with the transmissive metasurfaces. DOCOMO is also researching and developing various technologies to improve indoor and outdoor coverage in the high frequency bands. For example, it may be possible to direct signals from Multi-Sector Antenna Indoor Base Station, as announced by DOCOMO on January 30(5), to the transmissive metasurface attached to a glass window to improve both indoor and outdoor area coverage. Also, in the future, when constructing a massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system that uses much larger number of antennas, it may be possible to achieve an equivalently large-scale configuration with a relatively small number of antennas at a low cost by applying metasurface technology(6). Going forward, DOCOMO will continue to research and develop efficient and flexible construction of reception areas and radio configurations for 5G Evolution and 6G. The transmissive metasurface used in the trial will be exhibited at “docomo Open House ’23,” which will be held online from Thursday, February 2. (1) Metasurfaces are a type of artificial medium (metamaterial) that achieve arbitrary permittivity and permeability by periodically arranging structures that are small in relation to wavelength, and are artificial surfaces in which the periodic arrangement of structures is two-dimensional. About NTT DOCOMO NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s leading mobile operator with over 85 million subscriptions, is one of the world’s foremost contributors to 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network technologies. Beyond core communications services, DOCOMO is challenging new frontiers in collaboration with a growing number of entities (“+d” partners), creating exciting and convenient value-added services that change the way people live and work. Under a medium-term plan toward 2020 and beyond, DOCOMO is pioneering a leading-edge 5G network to facilitate innovative services that will amaze and inspire customers beyond their expectations. Hong Kong Customs conducts special operation against illicit cigarette telephone-ordering activities in public rental housing in Kowloon East (with photos)
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Under the Capacity Enhancement Plan (CEP) framed by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in collaboration with Capacity Building Commission (CBC), for driving relevant capacities across Ministries, State Governments, and extended ecosystem of infrastructure execution in the country. Till date, twelve training programmes (mix of offline and online) have been conducted for 358 senior officials involved in planning, execution, implementation and monitoring of infrastructure projects.
A 5-day training programme from 11th to 15th July was conducted in partnership with Indian School of Business (ISB) at their Mohali Campus on the topic “Project Management and Leadership”. The training programme covered areas of Project identification & selection, contemporary tools & techniques, Contract management, Leadership for performance & change, Strategies for Effective Negotiations and was attended by 34 senior officials from Union Ministries/Departments, CPSEs and State Governments.
Participants for the training conducted at Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali
Another 5-day training programme from 25th to 29th July was conducted in partnership with Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C) at their campus for 5 days on the topic “Capacity Building Programme in Project Management”. The training programme covered areas of Project Ownership models, Risk Management, Scheduling, Monitoring & Control, Value Analysis, Contract Management, Dispute Resolution and was attended by 35 senior officials from Union Ministries/Departments, CPSEs and State Governments.
Participants for the training conducted at Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta
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RM/MV/KMN
Task force conducts on-site investigation at Hong Kong Coliseum to identify causes of serious incident (with photo)
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DOCOMO Conducts World’s First Trial of Transmissive Metasurface on Window to Deliver Indoor Radio Waves to Outdoor Foot of Building
High-frequency radio waves, which are expected to be used in 5G Evolution and 6G, have difficulty coming around behind obstacles and are easily attenuated as propagation distances increase. DOCOMO has also been studying the use of metasurface technology to enhance radio signal reception indoors using outdoor base station(2), and to improve indoor with many obstructions as a user moves(3).
(2) “DOCOMO and AGC Use Metasurface Lens to Enhance Radio Signal Reception Indoors” (January 26, 2021)
www.docomo.ne.jp/english/info/media_center/pr/2021/0126_00.html
(3) “NTT and NTT DOCOMO Trial First Use of User-tracking Metasurface Reflector for Extreme Mobile Coverage in Current 5G and Coming 6G Era” (November 12, 2021)
www.docomo.ne.jp/english/info/media_center/pr/2021/1112_00.html
(4) The transmissive metasurfaces were designed and provided based on the cooperation of AGC Inc.
(5) “Small, Efficient 5G Multisector Antenna Indoor Base Station Achieves World’s First Demonstration using 28GHz” (January 30, 2023)
www.docomo.ne.jp/english/info/media_center/pr/2023/0130_01.html
(6) “5G Evolution and 6G (5.0 version),” NTT DOCOMO (November 2022)
bit.ly/3HDP8E6 (Japanese only)
https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/.
Topic: Press release summaryHong Kong – Hong Kong Customs conducts special operation against illicit cigarette telephone-ordering activities in public rental housing in Kowloon East (with photos)
Hong Kong Customs has mounted a special enforcement operation in the past three weeks to combat illicit cigarette telephone-ordering activities in public rental housing (PRH) estates in Kowloon East District. A total of about 150 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and about seven grams of suspected cannabis buds were seized. The estimated market value of the suspected illicit cigarettes was about $420,000 with a duty potential of about $290,000.
During the operation, Customs officers detected 25 relevant cases in different districts and sub-districts of Kowloon East District, including Wong Tai Sin, Tsz Wan Shan, Kai Tak, Sau Mau Ping, Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong, Lam Tin and Yau Tong, resulting in the above-mentioned seizures of suspected illicit cigarettes. In those cases, Customs officers raided a suspected illicit cigarette storage centre in a PRH unit in Lam Tin and detained two vehicles suspected to be used for illicit cigarette distribution.
In the above-mentioned cases, 28 persons, including 24 men and four women who were aged between 14 and 71, were arrested. They include both illicit cigarette sellers and buyers. All the cases have been duly followed up.
Customs has all along been enhancing enforcement against illicit cigarette activities on all fronts, including cross-boundary smuggling, storage and distribution as well as peddling, through intelligence analysis. If PRH units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette activities, Customs will notify the Housing Department for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings.
Customs reminds young people, especially students, to never become involved in illicit cigarette activities or distribute illicit cigarette flyers, to avoid creating a criminal record and affect their future.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
DEA conducts training programme as a part of Capacity Building initiatives in infrastructure sector, in association with Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali, and Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
(Release ID: 1847522)
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Hong Kong – Task force conducts on-site investigation at Hong Kong Coliseum to identify causes of serious incident (with photo)
A task force led by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to identify the causes of a serious incident occurring at Hong Kong the Coliseum (HKC), suggest and follow up on recommendations, held its first meeting today (August 1) at the HKC. An on-site investigation was also conducted by the task force at the arena to look for the causes of the incident.
The task force is led by Assistant Director of the LCSD Mr Lee Tsz-chun, with members comprising representatives from the Labour Department (LD), the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the LCSD as well as a representative from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers invited by the task force, Mr Louis Szeto. Besides, representatives of the Police Force also attended to give advice on evidence collection. Expert Dr Eric Lim was engaged by the task force to help with the study of the causes of the incident.
Before the meeting, the task force conducted an on-site inspection at the HKC to study carefully the causes of the incident.
Before the completion of the investigation report, the LCSD will review the safety of all performances under its performing venues and will implement short-term measures starting tomorrow (August 2) until further notices, ensuring performers and staff members to perform in a safe condition:
1. Hirers are required to revisit and enhance safety of their stage design and their brought-in mechanical devices and to ensure the safety of all working staff, performers and persons attending the venue;
2. Use of suspended mechanical devices involving swinging, rotation or carrying of persons will be temporarily ceased; and
3. Hirers must conduct daily inspection of the mechanical devices mentioned in item 1 by a competent person whom LCSD agrees to assure safe working.
The LCSD will send letters to hirers who have booked its venues before the end of September to explain the above short-term measures and remind them to observe relevant regulations and safety guidelines on stage safety.
After the first meeting of the task force held today, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, met with representatives of the LCSD, LD, the Police Force and the EMSD to learn about the investigation progress in different aspects, listen to the report by the task force and to co-ordinate the division of labour and co-operation among the relevant departments.
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