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External sources (not reviewed)

Where the evidence is inconclusive, it is only fair to give the former officer the benefit of the doubt.

For formation of or alteration [...][...]

(c) obstruction to means of escape or means of access for fire fighting and rescue (caused by unauthorized openings to walls to create additional entrances, improper installation of doors that obstruct one another when opened, etc.), causing danger in the event of a fire or accident.

And book value will be adjusted to the best estimated value if there is certain evidence that the book value is not the best estimation.

Nevertheless, based on the experience of BD’s enforcement action, the most common irregularities found in the sub-divided flats in these 116 target buildings include formation of unauthorised door openings that contravene the fire-resisting construction requirements of the means of escape, installation of partition walls that block the fire escape routes, sub-standard drainage works that result in water seepage and excessive installation of partition walls and/or thickening of floor screeding that result in overloading of the floor screeding.

A year ago the Association of Expatriate Civil Servants (AECS) was making credible threats of legal action if we did not change our policy on employing permanent residents.

About all the things which we have said today, if the Government and the police have solid proof, then they must handle the cases and they cannot dismiss such things as attacks between parties.

An example in the larger sense is the use for the first time in Hong Kong on a government contract of a tunnel boring machine which is driving through rock and lining with concrete a 3.8 metre diameter tunnel, regularly completing over 30 metres each working day.

In fact, any person facing a government which is like a stone ― I remember an advertisement of the Red Cross calling on the public to give blood and in this advertisement, a person was drilling into a stone.

As far as overloading issues are concerned, the regulation of works associated with sub-divided flat units should focus on the installation of internal partitions and thickening of floor slabs, as the other two common items (i.e. alterations or additions to the internal drainage system and formationof oralteration to door openings) generally do not have any significant impact on the structural integrity of a building.

As mentioned in that paper, building works usually associated with sub-division of flat units comprise several types of common internal renovation works, namely installation of internal partitions, alterations or additions to the internal drainage and water pipe systems for new bathrooms or pantries, thickening of floor slabs by laying additional floor screeding for embedding new/diverted drains and water pipes as well as formation of or alteration to door openings at the common parts including the enclosure of escape staircases of buildings.

Therefore, I can assure Members that, when we discover such situations and if concrete evidence is available, that is, the evidence we can get is adequate to prove that the staff member concerned had really done something that constitutes absence from duties, we would certainly handle it seriously.

And although the flag is waved extremely frequently and persistently, I have not yet had any clear evidence or indication of any piece of land or any land bank which could be described as being hoarded by anybody.

When I met with Secretary Michael SUEN just now, quite a number of people from civic groups told me that the experts hired from the United Kingdom had told them that if this kind of clock tower was to be demolished, it was imperative that experts be present and it would not do to find just any worker to smash the concrete if this clock tower is to be dismantled and preserved.

The court was reminded of the words of Cave J. in R v. Thompson [1893] 2 QB 12: "It is remarkable that it is of very rare occurrence for evidence of a confession to be given when the proof of the prisoner's guilt is otherwise clear and satisfactory; but when it is not clear and satisfactory, the prisoner is not infrequently alleged to have been seized with the desire born of penitence and remorse to supplement it with a confession; a desire which vanishes as soon as he appears in a court of justice".

President, a more important point is that when a piece of farmland has been turned into the "Great Wall of Containers" with the laying of cement on it, can you convert it back into farmland or a piece of land that you can grow trees and flowers instantly even after you have taken the land back and removed the concrete?

Underneath ‘Lies for Leo’ are some wondrous lies that we love to hear — the sky is blue, the rabbits love eating carrots.

As regards the existing UBWs which constitute less serious contravention of the law and pose lower potential risks, the BD will analyse information collected from the Reporting Scheme, conduct objective risk assessment and then formulate follow-up plans for progressive enforcement after dealing with the first round targets.

It is tantamount to telling the others that legislation has been put in place in Hong Kong, but anything can be done as long as a label is attached, as if a mark is etched on one's forehead indicating that there is no need to abide by the law.

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Mr Deputy President, as I have said in my reply to the last supplementary, if any tenants consider that they have been harassed by their landlords they should report the cases to the police.

7.5 While the HKCG Group does not expect the Whistleblower to have absolute proof of the misconduct, malpractice or irregularity reported, the report made under this policy should show the reasons for the concerns.

The determination of the impairment value requires the acquisition of conclusive evidence by the management, who should also take into account factors such as the purpose of stocking the inventory and the impact of post-balance sheet date events before making judgments and estimates.