Hong Kong – Heads of disciplinary forces strongly condemn domestic terrorism behaviour

Jul 3, 2021 | International

Heads of disciplinary forces strongly condemn domestic terrorism behaviour

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     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang; the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Woo Ying-ming; the Director of Fire Services, Mr Joseph Leung; the Director of Immigration, Mr Au Ka-wang; and the Controller of the Government Flying Service, Captain Wu Wai-hung, issued the following statement today (July 3):
      
     The enactment of the National Security Law last year has halted chaos and restored order in Hong Kong, and the society has gradually stabilised. However, criminals by whatever means keep trying to undermine the overall security of Hong Kong.
      
     We strongly condemn the terrorist attack in which a police officer on duty was attacked with a knife on July 1, and later some people even glorified the act of the attacker as heroism on social media. We fully support the Police’s resolute enforcement actions and would like to thank the police officers for their commitment to duties. We also wish the injured police officer a speedy recovery and extend our regards to his family members.
      
     Online comments glorified the suspect’s cold-blooded act of violence, incited hatred and further advocated terrorist activities. This not only directly encourages more people to replicate the suspect’s brutal and unlawful acts, it also condones the emergence of domestic terrorism and puts Hong Kong’s public safety and order at risks. Such influence can be catastrophic.
      
     The disciplinary forces will stay united to keep up our commitment and fully co-operate with the Police’s enforcement actions.  We will continue to do our utmost in combating domestic terrorism, thereby ensuring the safety of Hong Kong citizens, maintaining the public peace and safeguarding the national security.

Hong Kong – Disciplinary action against registered escalator contractor

Apr 9, 2021 | International

Disciplinary action against registered escalator contractor

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     The Lifts and Escalators Ordinance Disciplinary Board (Board) has completed hearings for 22 charges of disciplinary offences brought against Otis Elevator Company (H.K.) Limited (Otis) and decided that all the charges are established and the company should be disciplined.

     Disciplinary charges against Otis include four charges related to convictions in court for improper escalator maintenance at Langham Place in Mong Kok that contravene the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Ordinance), and 18 charges involving professional misconduct or negligence. The Board ordered that Otis be reprimanded for the four charges against the Ordinance, and be fined $960,000 in total as well as pay the expenses incurred in the proceedings of around $590,000. The Board’s decision and orders were gazetted today (April 9). Details are available on the website www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20212514/egn202125142027.pdf.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) welcomes the decision and will continue to strictly enforce the Ordinance to ensure the safety and reliability of lift and escalator services, with a view to safeguarding public safety.

     On March 25, 2017, an ascending escalator at Langham Place stopped suddenly and reversed its operating direction, causing 18 injuries. The EMSD conducted a criminal investigation on the incident and found that Otis, being the registered escalator contractor that undertook maintenance of the escalator concerned, had failed to ensure proper periodic maintenance of the escalator. The EMSD therefore instituted prosecution for Otis’ contravention of the Ordinance. Otis was convicted by the court on March 9, 2018.

     Having considered the convictions of Otis in court, and the multiple injuries resulting from the incident, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services (DEMS), pursuant to Section 109(1) of the Ordinance, referred the disciplinary offences concerned to the Board for disciplinary proceedings. At the same time, the DEMS also referred another 18 disciplinary charges of professional misconduct or negligence against Otis to the Board for consideration, of which 11 charges involved Otis’ failing to submit notices to the DEMS for carrying out major alterations to escalators between 2015 and 2017, and seven charges involved Otis’ failing to enter information and particulars of escalator maintenance works into the log book in 2017.