ONE Responds to ODA provisional data for 2022

WEBWIRE

Efforts to fight extreme poverty are being dangerously undermined as record levels of overseas aid is being spent within its country of origin, according to The ONE Campaign.

The warning comes as OECD DACs release of provisional Official Development Assistance (ODA) data for last year shows that ODA often called overseas aid reached record levels of $204 billion in 2022, but this was mostly down to an increase in the amount that donor countries spent within their own borders.

As a result, the data shows that bilateral ODA going to countries in Africa declined last year by more than 7%. This is despite the need from the continent, with countries facing a combination of challenges from climate threats, hunger shocks, and debt distress.

Sara Harcourt, Senior Director for Development Finance, said: Extreme poverty is on the rise for the first time in decades and yet development funding to Africa is actually falling. Reports of record levels of ODA are effectively a mirage as rocketing levels of aid being spent in its country of origin mean more and more is being diverted from its intended purpose.

In the face of escalating global crises such as climate change, conflict, spiralling debt and economic stagnation and the ongoing fallout from the global COVID 19 pandemic it should be unthinkable that less money is going to developing countries to deal with the challenges on their doorstep. Donor countries should commit to ensuring that their ODA budget goes to low income countries and directly addressing poverty, and its root causes.

A significant proportion of the increase in aid that doesnt reach developing countries is because of the increased cost of supporting refugees in donor countries (In-Donor Refugee Costs), which reached a record level of $29.3 billion, 14.4% of total aid in 2022.

Harcourt continued: Its absolutely right to support people fleeing from conflict and instability, and help support those who seek refuge elsewhere, but this should not be coming from ODA budgets. Forcing trade-offs during a crisis is short sighted and bad policy.

Hong Kong – FEHD responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation report (with photos)

FEHD responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation report (with photos)

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     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) expressed gratitude to the direct investigation report on Government’s regulation of illegal occupation or obstruction of streets by goods and miscellaneous articles made by the Office of The Ombudsman. The FEHD accepted and is actively following up all the six recommendations made by the Ombudsman, and has achieved certain results in combating shop front extensions.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said today (February 16), “Combating illegal occupation or obstruction of streets by goods and miscellaneous articles requires inter-departmental collaboration as it involves various legislative provisions. We are grateful to the Ombudsman’s detailed examination on the work of the relevant departments and for her recognition of the FEHD’s efforts in improving the situation in recent years, and for the recommendations made for improvement.”

     The Government established the District Matters Co-ordination Task Force led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration in July 2022. One of the main focuses is to combat illegal shop front extensions leading to street obstructions. The FEHD and the Police have conducted more than 500 joint enforcement operations across the territory since October last year, which achieved effective results and received support and positive comments from district personalities. Significant improvements have been observed in various districts including some shop front extension black spots mentioned in the Ombudsman’s report, such as Ho Pui Street and Tsuen Lung Street in Tsuen Wan, and Chun Yeung Street in North Point.

     The spokesman said, “Despite the proven results in combating shop front extensions over the past few months, the FEHD and the Police will continue to take stringent enforcement actions, while at the same time actively following up on the Ombudsman’s recommendations to further consolidate and enhance law enforcement effectiveness.”

     Furthermore, the Ombudsman recommended the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the FEHD to consider amending legislations related to combating shop front extensions, including raising penalties and exploring the feasibility of empowering the FEHD staff to remove and seize goods and miscellaneous articles causing obstruction of streets. The EEB has commenced a relevant legislative review and completed public consultation on raising the level of the fixed penalty and the maximum penalty imposed for the respective offence when prosecution was taken by summons. The bureau will also take due consideration of the Ombudsman’s recommendations on other legislative amendments when conducting the legislative review.

     The spokesman added, “To tackle the problem of illegal occupation or obstruction of streets by goods and miscellaneous articles in the long run, co-operation of the vendors and members of the public is also crucial. The FEHD and relevant departments will continue to raise the law-abiding awareness of the vendors and the public through publicity and education.”

Hong Kong – EPD responds to Advisory Council on the Environment’s resolution regarding EIA report on partial development of Fanling Golf Course Site

EPD responds to Advisory Council on the Environment’s resolution regarding EIA report on partial development of Fanling Golf Course Site

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     In response to media enquiries on matters related to the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE)’s decision to request the project proponent (the Civil Engineering and Development Department) to provide further information on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on Technical Study on Partial Development of Fanling Golf Course Site – Feasibility Study after discussion at its meeting today (August 19), an Environmental Protection Department spokesman said the following:

      

     The EIA system in Hong Kong is professional, objective and open. The Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (TM) and EIA Study Briefs lay down objectives, and clear principles, procedures, guidelines, requirements and criteria for various EIA matters. The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) aims to assess the acceptability of the proposal submitted by the project proponent, instead of determining whether the project is needed or the development proposal is appropriate.

      

     The Director of Environmental Protection will study in detail the relevant EIA report and decide whether to approve it after a comprehensive and prudent consideration of the relevant EIA Study Brief, the TM requirements, comments collected during public inspection and views submitted by the ACE. If necessary, the Director may, in accordance with the EIAO, request the project proponent in writing within 14 days after receiving ACE’s comments to provide further information for her to decide whether to approve the EIA report.

Citizen TV Responds to the War in Ukraine with More Than Sympathy

 The Hackney based charity is offering 16-25 year olds free part-time (mainly weekends, evenings or afternoons) “on the job” training in all aspects of film-making. Planned short documentaries will include the meaning and importance of solidarity historically and today.

Director Ceri Dingle said today:

“Investigating the great tales of solidarity in UK history will provide a rare chance to make a film for public benefit which has never been made before. It is also fantastic to have raised enough to have two young Ukrainian refugees working as paid interns who can bring their own experience to bear. We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to all young Londoners interested in taking part.”

WORLDwrite’s new Citizen TV volunteering package for would be media-makers is being supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation. The package takes place over 7 weeks and includes preparation for and attendance at a welcome Party for Ukrainian refugees complete with outdoor screenings and a feast. The package includes online workshops and face-to-face camera training and shoots at the charity’s centre in Hackney and on location.

Everyone participating in WORLDwrite’s pioneering summer package will learn to use professional cameras, work on a production for distribution and be credited for it.

No one who applies will be turned away but everyone interested needs to submit an online application form and attend an introductory evening on Thursday 30th June to go through what is involved.

More details, session dates and a short application form are available at our website, just search WORLDwrite.

For more information contact:

Ceri Dingle Tel: +44 (0)20 8985 5435;

WORLDwrite

Kate Abley

+44 208 985 5435

For more information and interviews, contact:

Kate Abley

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Hong Kong – FSD responds to Coroner’s verdict

FSD responds to Coroner’s verdict

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     The Coroner’s Court today (May 10) returned the verdict on the cause of death of two Fire Services Department (FSD) personnel during the fire-fighting operation of a No. 4 fire at Amoycan Industrial Centre (AIC) in June 2016. The FSD conveys its deepest condolences again to the family members of the brave deceased who lost their lives in the course of duty. The department will thoroughly study the recommendations in the verdict to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.



     Immediately after the fire at AIC, the FSD established an Interdepartmental Fire Investigation Task Force to conduct an in-depth investigation into various aspects of the fire, including the cause of the fire, circumstances leading to the fatalities and injuries of staff members, and the usage and mode of operation of industrial buildings.

 

     The Task Force subsequently made a number of recommendations to the department, covering various aspects including occupational safety and health (OSH), operational procedures, equipment and tools, and public education on fire safety. The department has implemented a series of improvement measures with a view to enhancing the safety and operational efficiency of frontline personnel. These measures include:



(1) On the operational front, the department has enhanced the operational procedures of breathing apparatus (BA), and established the Breathing Apparatus Support Team to provide logistical support in relation to BA operation at incidents. It has also introduced new BA ancillary equipment, such as the Firefighter Locator System and retractable BA personal lines, to facilitate rescue operations;



(2) On OSH, the FSD has implemented measures including improving the arrangement for rest areas at incidents, devising guidelines for members’ reference on the frontline work and rest schedules under hot or inclement weather, stepping up members’ training in respect of their awareness on heat-related illnesses and relevant preventive measures, and issuing Safety Alert Prevention of Heat Stroke and relevant reminders upon the issuance of the Very Hot Weather Warning signal;



(3) On public education on fire safety, the FSD established the Community Emergency Preparedness Division in 2018 to strengthen its promotion in the community the response capability in respect of emergency preparedness through educational and promotional activities.



     In respect of fire safety in mini-storage premises, the FSD has been working closely with relevant departments to conduct inspections and take enforcement action in mini-storage premises throughout the territory since June 2016 to improve their safety level. As at April 30, the department had inspected 1,222 mini-storage premises and found a total of 3,222 common fire hazards in 959 target mini-storage premises. The department issued Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs) to the operators concerned to require them to abate the fire hazards within specified periods of time. The department has also instigated prosecutions against 221 operators who failed to comply with FHANs.



     On the other hand, the fire incident increased public concern over the fire safety in old industrial buildings, in particular those without the provision of an automatic sprinkler system. To upgrade the fire safety standards of old industrial buildings, the Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Ordinance was implemented on June 19, 2020. The Ordinance mandates that owners and occupiers of pre-1987 industrial buildings upgrade the provision of fire service installations and equipment and fire safety construction, as per the instructions of the Directors of the FSD and the Buildings Department. The fire safety standards of all premises inside the old industrial buildings, including mini-storage premises, are subject to the Ordinance and have to comply with the direction to carry out fire safety improvement works.



     The FSD will continue to strive to enhance staff members’ safety and operational efficiency in incidents, strengthen public awareness on fire safety and improve the fire safety in mini-storage premises and old industrial buildings, in order to fulfil the prime mission of “Serving with courage, passion and commitment”.