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Heavy penalty for ignoring improvement notices
The Labour Department today (Saturday) wamed the proprietors to take measures promptly to improve the safety at work once the improvement notices were issued to them, otherwise they would face severe penalties.
The warning was made following three recent court cases in which three companies, namely Hang Fook Lau Seafood Restaurant Limited, Bowker Garment Factory Co. Ltd. and Hip Hing Machinery Factory, were convicted for ignoring improvement notices.
Improvement notices were issued to the three respective proprietors warning them to keep all doorways and exits free from obstruction. However, it was found that no improvements were made when follow-up inspection was conducted.
Hang Fook Lau Seafood Restaurant Limited at Tai Po Road was fined $20,000 for ignoring the improvement notice. An additional fine of $20,000 was imposed on the original offence of obstructing exits and doorways from the workplace which violated Regulation 5(1) of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Fire Precautions in Notifiable Workplaces) Regulations.
Bowker Garment Factory Co. Ltd. at Castle Peak Road was fined $10,000 and $10,000 respectively.
Hip Hing Machinery Factory at Tonkin Street was fined $10,000 and $22,000 respectively.
The maximum penalty for contravening an improvement notice is a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for 12 months.
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