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July 13th, 2012:

Alaska sues to block low-sulfur fuel requirement for ships | Reuters CRAZY FOOLS

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/14/us-usa-energy-alaska-idINBRE86D
02D20120714

Alaska sues to block low-sulfur fuel requirement for ships

By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska | Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:30am IST

(Reuters) – The state of Alaska sued the Obama administration on Friday
to block environmental regulations that would require ships sailing in
southern Alaska waters to use low-sulfur fuel.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, challenges the
new federal regulations, which require the use of low-sulfur fuel for
large marine vessels such as cargo and cruise ships.

The rule is scheduled to be enforced starting on August 1 by the
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard for ships
operating within 200 miles of the shores of southeastern and
south-central Alaska, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit faults the EPA, the Department of Homeland Security and
others for using a marine treaty amendment as the basis for the new
federal regulations without waiting for ratification of that amendment
by the U.S. Senate.

The Alaska Department of Law said in a statement that the
low-sulfur-fuel requirement would be costly, jacking up prices for
products shipped by marine vessel and harming Alaska’s cruise industry.

“Alaska relies heavily on maritime traffic, both for goods shipped to
and from the state, and for the cruise ship passengers who support
thousands of Alaskan jobs,” Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty
said in a statement.

“There are reasonable and equally effective alternatives for the
Secretary and the EPA to consider which would still protect the
environment but dramatically reduce the severe impact these regulations
will have on Alaskan jobs and families.”

Totem Ocean Trailer Express, a major shipper operating in Alaska,
estimates that the move to low-sulfur fuel will increase its costs by 8
percent, Geraghty said.

A spokesman for EPA’s Seattle regional office was not immediately
available to comment on the lawsuit.

The treaty amendment at issue is a 2010 agreement under the
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or
MARPOL. The United States has signed onto MARPOL, and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton has accepted the 2010 amendment.

Domestic enforcement of the amendment is not permitted without
ratification by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate, Assistant Alaska Attorney
General Seth Beausang said. He said the EPA also erred by failing to
conduct an environmental analysis.

“The only thing they relied on was the treaty amendment in issuing the
regulations,” he told Reuters, adding that Alaska was not coordinating
its effort to overturn the regulations with any other state.

The lawsuit names as defendants the EPA and its director, Lisa Jackson,
the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Janet Napolitano, the
Coast Guard and its commandant, Admiral Robert Papp, and Clinton.

well done ICAC

keep it coming ! conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office should get their undivided attention, and that of others recently in high public office ………..

Clear the Air says : Beware the conceited and smiling ……who deem themselves above the law

Description: Kwoks 'paid HK$34 m in bribes'

Description: Former minister released after two days with ICAC

Description: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJTBZOnW6ZUV-h4chh6YLkVdQqfe546l3-aqkfKVTjU8vxthP5

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Description: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS88thC2UeG0i5GKkb5Nzbhwf728qfPYdDckfv4fEthNgM0xDBTug

Who cares anyway ?

We do !

Lex Publicus Omnipotens

Nemo Est Supra Legis

ICAC charges Kwoks, Hui with corruption

Lai Ying-kit
6:19pm, Jul 13, 2012

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SEHK: 0016) co-chairmen Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan, and two others appeared in court on Friday afternoon to face charges over one of the highest-level corruption cases in Hong Kong’s history.

Their appearance in Eastern Court came hours after the Independent Commission Against Corruption formally laid charges against them.

All eight offences involve Hui while Thomas and Raymond Kwok face two and three charges respectively.

Two others involved in the case are SHKP executive director Thomas Chan Kui-yuen and Francis Kwan Hung-sang, a former official at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (SEHK: 0388announcements,news) .

The ICAC said the offences allegedly took place between June 2000 and January 2009 when Hui wasmanaging director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority and then chief secretary, the second highest ranking official in Hong Kong

Prosecutors told the court on Friday afternoon that the advantages received by Hui totalled about HK$34 million.

Hui faced two charges of misconduct in public office. These allege that he wilfully misconducted himself by accepting the rent-free use of two flats and two unsecured loans while failing to disclose or declare these to the government and the MPFA, and “involving himself in matters in his official capacities”, the ICAC said.

Prosecutors told the court the flats were at luxury development Leighton Hill in Causeway Bay. The two loans amounted HK$900,000 and HK$1.5 million respectively and were advanced by a Sun Hung Kai subsidiary.

Hui allegedly failed to declare these interests to the MPFA when the authority considered a tenant contract renewal for its office at IFC phase one, which was jointly managed by Sun Hung Kai Properties.

Hui and Thomas Kwok face a joint charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, while Hui and Raymond Kwok jointly face a similar conspiracy charge.

The charge alleges that Hui, as the chief secretary, received HK$5 million from Thomas Kwok and another HK$4.12 million from Raymond Kwok as rewards for him to remain favourably disposed to them.

Hui, Thomas Kwok, Chan, and Kwan are also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

The charge alleges that they conspired together for Hui to receive a series of payments totalling HK$8.35million from Thomas Kwok, Chan and Kwan.

Hui and Raymond Kwok face one count of conspiring to extend annually another unsecured loan, amounting HK$3 million, for Hui as a reward for him to remain favourably disposed to Raymond Kwok and/or his interests.

Hui, Chan and Kwan are jointly charged with one count of conspiring to offer Hui a series of payments totalling HK$11.18 million from Chan and Kwan as a reward for Hui to remain favourably disposed to Chan and his interests.

Hui and Raymond Kwok also jointly face one count of producing false information on an invoice for settlement of consultancy fees.

No plea was taken on Friday.

Thomas and Raymond Kwok have been freed on HK$10 million bail each. Hui and Chan were granted HK$500,000 bail and Kwan was released on HK$200,000 bail.

The case has been adjourned to October 12.

Leaving the court, Raymond Kwok said he was innocent.

“I believe I have done nothing wrong. I have confidence that justice is upheld in Hong Kong’s judicial system. I will defend myself from the accusations with my best efforts to clear my name,” he said.

Friday’s developments came about three months after the arrests of Thomas and Raymond Kwok and Hui on March 29.

The Kwoks’ elder brother, ousted former chairman Walter Kwok Ping-sheung has also been arrested in the investigation, but it remained unclear whether he would be charged.

Trading in Sun Hung Kai shares was suspended on Friday morning.

Kwoks ‘paid CS HK$34m in bribes’

13-07-2012
Maggie Ho reports

Former chief secretary, Rafael Hui, and the co-chairmen of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Thomas and Raymond Kwok, have appeared in Eastern Court after being charged in a high-profile corruption case. The ICAC alleges that Mr Hui accepted more than HK$34 million worth of bribes from the Kwok brothers in exchange for favourable treatment.

No plea was taken and the case was adjourned until October 12, to allow prosecutors to prepare papers and seek overseas legal assistance.

The alleged offences include conspiracy to offer advantages and misconduct in public office. The ICAC alleges that Mr Hui received the massive bribes from the Kwok brothers between 2000 and 2009. This is said to have consisted of almost HK$30 million of cash, over HK$5 million in loans and the rent-free use of a luxury flat in Happy Valley.

In return, Mr Hui is accused of favouring the brothers in his capacity, not only as the chief secretary, but also during his term of office as an executive councillor, the chairman of the steering committee of the West Kowloon Cultural district project, as well as the head of the mandatory provident fund schemes authorities.

Mr Hui faces eight corruption charges, while Thomas and Raymond Kwok face two and three charges respectively.

Two other defendants, Sun Hung Kai Properties executive director, Thomas Chan, and a former senior officer at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, Francis Kwan, were also charged with conspiring with the brothers to offer advantages to Mr Hui.

Mr Hui is on HK$500,000 bail, and the Kwoks are on bail of HK$10 million each.

HKAAEIAOfurthersubm

—–Original Message—–

From: eiao_autoreply@epd.gov.hk [mailto:eiao_autoreply@epd.gov.hk]
Sent: 11 July, 2012 09:19
To: James Middleton
Subject: Re: HKAAEIAOfurthersubm

Thank you for your email.

Your email has been delivered to the EIA Ordinance Register Office on 2012.07.11.(This is a computer generated auto-reply)

謝謝你的電郵。

你的電郵已於 2012.07.11 傳送到環境影響評估條例登記冊辦事處。(這是由電腦系統

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EIAO Register Office

環境影響評估條例登記冊辦事處

From: James Middleton [mailto:dynamco@netvigator.com]
Sent: 11 July, 2012 09:18
To:reo@epd.gov.hk‘; ‘sunnylam@epd.gov.hk‘; ‘eiaocomment@epd.gov.hk
Subject: HKAAEIAOfurthersubm

Submission from www.cleartheair.org.hk regarding further EIA document for HK Airport Authority’s 3rd runway extension proposal.

Download PDF : HKAAEIAOfurthersubm