30 Aug 2023獨媒#8288
Nearly Half of Eateries in Camel Paint Building Phase 3 Close, Leaving Lunchtime Dead; Workers May Have to Bring Lunch
位於觀塘駱駝漆大廈3期、近日被指涉嫌違返工廈地契經營食肆的「光榮米線」宣布結業。食環署前日（28日）更高調巡邏大廈，並提出9宗檢控。《獨媒》記者今午到大廈視察，發現逾半餐廳落閘，部分樓層氣氛死寂，有餐廳雖然營業但以報紙遮蓋招牌，或寫明只指供外賣。在附近工作的打工仔表示，駱駝漆大廈是用膳集中地，若長遠全部餐廳消失，「我都唔知去邊度食，可能帶飯啦」。
Glory Mai Seen, an eatery in Phase 3 of Camel Paint Building in Kwun Tong that was recently accused of operating in breach of the industrial building’s land lease, has announced its closure. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department also conducted a high-profile patrol of the building the day before yesterday (the 28th) and brought nine prosecutions. The Stand News visited the building this afternoon and found that more than half of the restaurants had closed their shutters. Some floors were eerily quiet. Although some restaurants remained open, they had covered their signs with newspapers or stated that they provided takeaway only. Workers in the area said Camel Paint Building was a dining hub and that, if all the restaurants disappeared in the long term, “I wouldn’t know where to eat—maybe I’d bring lunch.”
30 Aug 2023獨媒#8290
Disaster Relief Fund runs dry, urgently seeks Finance Committee approval for funding injection; Administration says “urgent circumstances” left no time for consultation
內地早前受颱風杜蘇芮影響發生水災，港府從賑災基金批出6,500萬元予9間機構，指是「血濃於水、守望相助」之舉。不過大手批出捐款，亦令賑災基金未動用結餘就入不敷支。行政署向立法會財委會申請撥款，向基金注資7,000萬元。財委會文件還透露，尚有其他機構提出申請向內地賑災，涉及2,300萬元。政府在文件表示，賑災基金結餘不足以應付近億元的已知所需撥款，因此有「急切需要」向基金注資。
After mainland China was hit by floods caused by Typhoon Doksuri, the Hong Kong government approved 65 million from the Disaster Relief Fund for nine organisations, describing the move as an act of “blood being thicker than water and mutual assistance”. However, the large-scale donations left the fund’s unspent balance insufficient. The Administration Wing applied to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for an allocation to inject 70 million into the fund. Finance Committee documents also disclosed that other organisations had applied to provide disaster relief in mainland China, involving 23 million. The government said in the documents that the fund’s balance was insufficient to meet nearly 100 million in known required allocations, and that there was an “urgent need” to inject funds into it.
30 Aug 2023獨媒#8291
DAB’s Ngan Man-yu backs enforcement but says it should not be limited to Camel Paint Building: “Why not deal with the others?”
觀塘駱駝漆大廈3座的「光榮米線」被地政總署指違契，並宣布結業，多間工廈食肆亦被食環檢控無牌營業，引發多區工廈店主擔心。九龍東其中一名立法會議員顏汶羽，今日終於回應事件，在電台節台表示支持政府「的起心肝執法」，更指政府不應只針對駱駝漆大廈，全港其他違規工廈亦應予以打擊。工業界立法會議員吳永嘉亦指「香港係法治社會」，若有違規就要執法，事件涉及「守法精神問題」。
The Glory Mai Seen at Block 3 of Camel Paint Building in Kwun Tong was found by the Lands Department to be in breach of its lease conditions and announced its closure. Restaurants in several industrial buildings were also prosecuted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for operating without licences, prompting concern among industrial-building shop owners in several districts. Ngan Man-yu, one of the Legislative Council members for Kowloon East, finally responded to the incident today, saying on a radio programme that he supported the government “getting serious about enforcement”. He said the government should not target only Camel Paint Building, and that other industrial buildings across Hong Kong with breaches should also be dealt with. Industrial constituency Legislative Council member Jimmy Wing Ka Ng also said that “Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law” and that breaches must be enforced against, adding that the incident concerned “the spirit of compliance with the law”.
30 Aug 2023集誌社#8294
Promoting the Greater Bay Area | Seven Touchscreen “Information Stations” Launched at Cost of Nearly $1 Million
政制及內地事務局日前（28日）宣布，由大灣區發展辦公室「開發」的「大灣區資訊站」，首批七部投入服務，向市民介紹大灣區建設和實用資訊，加深社會對政策和措施了解。《集誌社》視察該「數碼資訊平台」，實為坊間常見的「觸控式屏幕」，其展示內容與網站一樣。辦公室回覆查詢指，是次推廣涉及款項約 97.5 萬元。
The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau announced on the 28th that the first seven “Greater Bay Area Information Stations”, developed by the Greater Bay Area Development Office, had begun operating to introduce the public to the development of the Greater Bay Area and practical information, and to deepen society’s understanding of related policies and measures. The Collective visited the “digital information platform” and found it to be a common touchscreen, displaying the same content as the website. The office said in response to an inquiry that the promotion campaign involved approximately $975,000.
30 Aug 2023集誌社#8296
Hong Kong Language Learning Association shuts down | Novel alleged to breach National Security Law; Home Affairs Department admits reporting it to police, says two activities may involve criminal offences
捍衛粵語組織「港語學」周二（28日）宣布「執笠」，事緣數年前獲區議會撥款徵文比賽的一篇小說，近日被警指涉違《國安法》要求下架。民政事務總署周三（29日）回覆《集誌社》查詢證實，中西區民政事務處認為，文章「或影響社區和諧」，獲律政司意見指文章「可能構成刑事罪行」，按程序向警方舉報。署方又指，「港語學」有兩項活動或涉及刑事罪行。《集誌社》追問，兩宗被指涉及刑事罪行活動的詳情，民政總署回覆指，案件已交警方處理，沒有補充。
The Cantonese advocacy group “Hong Kong Language Learning Association” announced on Tuesday (28th) that it was shutting down after police recently said a novel from a writing competition funded by a district council several years ago might breach the National Security Law and demanded its removal. The Home Affairs Department told The Collective on Wednesday (29th) that the Central and Western District Office considered the piece might “affect community harmony” and, having received the Department of Justice’s view that it “might constitute a criminal offence”, reported it to the police in accordance with procedures. The department also said that two activities by “Hong Kong Language Learning Association” might involve criminal offences. When The Collective asked for details of the two activities alleged to involve criminal offences, the Home Affairs Department said the cases had been referred to the police and had no further comment.
30 Aug 2023集誌社#8298
Helicopter prison inspections | Justices of the Peace took 229 flights over nearly three years, accounting for 70% of remote inspections; estimated cost nearly HK$5 million
本月初（8月1日）工聯會立法會議員郭偉強，乘搭直升機前往大嶼山塘福懲教院所巡視、「打卡」分享到社交媒體，引起社會討論。現行機制下，太平紳士可乘坐飛行服務隊直升機前往位置偏遠、在離島的懲教院所。行政署回覆《集誌社》指過去三年，太平紳士共 229 次獲安排直升機前往巡視，佔巡查偏遠監獄次數近七成。
按飛行服務隊回覆，過去三年，直升機出勤直接運作費用每小時約 2 萬至 2.6 萬元；若以每次巡視監獄、飛行時數為一小時推算，太平紳士過去三年乘搭直升機、巡視監獄成本約 471.5 萬至 612.3 萬元。
On 1 August, Legislative Council member Kwok Wai-keung of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions took a helicopter to Tong Fuk Correctional Institution on Lantau Island for an inspection and shared photos of the visit on social media, prompting public discussion. Under the current arrangement, Justices of the Peace may take Government Flying Service helicopters to correctional institutions in remote locations and on outlying islands. The Administration Wing told The Collective that over the past three years, Justices of the Peace were arranged to travel by helicopter for inspections on 229 occasions, accounting for nearly 70% of inspections of remote prisons.
According to the Government Flying Service, the direct operating cost of helicopter deployments over the past three years was approximately HK$20,000 to HK$26,000 per hour. If each prison inspection is estimated to involve one hour of flying time, the cost of Justices of the Peace travelling by helicopter to inspect prisons over the past three years was approximately HK$4.715 million to HK$6.123 million.
29 Aug 2023獨媒#8280
HKPORI: Public confidence in Hong Kong’s future plunges 23% to single digits, returning to pre-John Lee level
香港民意研究所今日發放特首及政府民望，以及香港前途信心的最新調查結果。結果顯示，市民對香港前途信心淨值較半年前大跌23%至4%，回到2022年初李家超上任前水平。對香港前途有信心的市民由半年前的61%，大跌至51%；對香港前途沒有信心的市民則由半年前的34%，增加至46%，升幅達13%。市民對政府的信任淨值較今年2月下跌10%。
The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute today released the latest survey findings on the popularity of the Chief Executive and the government, as well as public confidence in Hong Kong’s future. The findings showed that net confidence in Hong Kong’s future fell 23% from six months earlier to 4%, returning to the level in early 2022 before John Lee Ka-chiu took office. The proportion of people confident in Hong Kong’s future fell sharply from 61% six months earlier to 51%, while the proportion lacking confidence rose from 34% to 46%, an increase of 13%. The government’s net trust rating fell 10% from February this year.
29 Aug 2023獨媒#8282
Ip Kwok-him: It is not easy for a district officer to receive a farewell from 500 people; should not be criticised
黃大仙民政事務專員黃智華下月到北京深造，獲區內各界筵開43席歡送，惹來外界關注。特首李家超曾指歡送宴本意是好，但引起負面觀感，各方面應汲取教訓。前行政會議成員葉國謙在一個電台節目表示，黃智華應早就知悉歡送會，他與政府官員應就事件負責。不過，葉國謙認為宴會有500人出席顯示黃智華的工作受到地區尊重及肯定，當中不涉及利益輸送，又指「人走茶涼」是社會現實，「對於一個受歡迎嘅官員，係咪喺咁嘅情況下多一啲嘅指責，我反而就覺得未必係咁樣」。
Wong Tai Sin District Officer Philip Chi Wah Wong will go to Beijing next month for further studies and has been given a farewell banquet with 43 tables hosted by various sectors in the district, attracting public attention. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the banquet was well-intentioned but had created a negative impression, and that all sides should learn from the incident. Former Executive Council member Ip Kwok-him said on a radio programme that Philip Chi Wah Wong should have known about the farewell event in advance and that he and government officials should be held responsible for the incident. However, Ip said the attendance of 500 people showed that Philip Chi Wah Wong’s work had earned respect and recognition in the district, and that there was no transfer of improper benefits. He also said that “once a person leaves, the tea grows cold” was a reality of society, adding: “For an official who is well liked, whether there should be more criticism in such circumstances—I don’t think that is necessarily the case.”
29 Aug 2023獨媒#8283
“LegCo Good Voice” Concert Called Off; Eunice Ho to Reduce Public Performances to Avoid Affecting Public Perception of Lawmakers
「立會好聲音」音樂會原訂於下周五（8日）在灣仔伊利沙伯體育館舉行。不過，近日民政專員歡送宴被指誇張，連帶引起外界關注政界人物工作外行為，立法會建制派「班長」廖長江更發「溫馨提示」要議員注意觀感。音樂會主辦方今日下午發新聞稿，宣布煞停音樂會，理由是經商討後「決定現時並不宜舉行」。在宣佈煞停前已率先退出的容海恩向《獨媒》表示，退出是響應特首的說話，認為需要衡量表演與議員的職責，又指將會減少公開表演，避免市民對立法會議員的觀感有偏差，希望「做返我喺議會入面嘅工作」。
The “LegCo Good Voice” concert was originally scheduled to be held next Friday (the 8th) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai. However, a recent farewell banquet for a district officer was described as extravagant, prompting public concern about the conduct of political figures outside work. Lau Cheung-kong, the pro-establishment camp’s leader in the Legislative Council, also issued a “friendly reminder” urging lawmakers to pay attention to public perception. The concert organiser issued a press release this afternoon announcing that the concert had been called off, saying that after discussions it had “decided that it is not appropriate to hold it at present”. Eunice Ho, who had withdrawn before the cancellation was announced, told Independent Media that she had withdrawn in response to the Chief Executive’s remarks and believed it was necessary to weigh performances against lawmakers’ responsibilities. She also said she would reduce public performances to avoid giving the public a distorted impression of Legislative Council members, hoping to “get back to doing my work in the legislature”.
29 Aug 2023獨媒#8285
“Glory Mai Seen” to Close Over Lease Breach; Operator Asks, “Why Me?”
位於觀塘駱駝漆大廈第三座的「光榮米線」被地政總署指違契，要在限期內停止違契用途。負責人Glory今早在電台節目表示，事件令餐廳要結業，將有十多名員工失業。Glory表示駱駝漆大廈有多間零售和餐飲用途的商店，單是持食物製造廠牌照的食肆已有50多間，「真係好多㗎喎，點解係我呢？」他明白「違契就係違契」，不過質疑全港所有工廈商店是否都要被規管。對於政府提倡要「搞活經濟」，Glory笑言「而家我睇到點樣搞死先囉」，只要路經工廈見到零售飲食店舖，或「睇佢唔順眼」就可以投訴，「有辦法搞死佢㗎喎」。
“Glory Mai Seen”, located in Block 3 of Camel Paint Building in Kwun Tong, was told by the Lands Department that it was using the premises in breach of lease conditions and must stop the use by a specified deadline. Glory, the person in charge, said on a radio programme this morning that the incident would force the restaurant to close, leaving more than 10 employees unemployed. Glory said Camel Paint Building had many shops for retail and catering use, and that more than 50 eateries alone held food factory licences: “There really are a lot of them—why me?” Glory said he understood that a breach of lease conditions was still a breach, but questioned whether shops in all industrial buildings across Hong Kong would have to be regulated. On the government’s call to “revitalise the economy”, Glory said with a laugh: “Right now, I can see how to put businesses out of operation first.” He said that if people passed an industrial building and saw a retail or catering shop, or simply “didn’t like the look of it”, they could make a complaint and “there are ways to put it out of business.”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
