Author Archives: hksar gov

     The following press release is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
      
     To maintain social distancing, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (April 17) that the following public service arrangements will be implemented on all working days starting from April 20 (Monday) until further notice:
      

• All Estate Management Offices (EMOs) of public housing estates will be open from 10am to 4pm on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide limited general management services for public housing estates and handle cases with prior appointments. For enquiries outside the opening hours, residents may call the contact telephone numbers provided by the respective EMOs, and staff will render assistance as much as practicable. EMOs’ shroff offices will be closed. Residents can pay rent at more than 1 000 locations such as convenience stores and supermarkets. They may also make payments via the Payment by Phone Service. For details, please browse the following website: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/public-housing/rent-related-matters/rent-payment-methods/index.html;

 

• The following subsidised housing offices will provide limited services from 10am to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:
       – The White Form Secondary Market Scheme Unit in the Lok Fu Customer Service Centre;
       – The Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market Scheme Unit in Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin; and
       – The Home Assistance Loan Unit in Lung Cheung Office Block, Wong Tai Sin;
        
• The HOS Sales Unit in the Lok Fu Customer Service Centre and the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme Sales Unit in Kwun Tong will continue to be open only for applicants with prior appointments;
        
• The Public Rental Housing (PRH) application office in the Lok Fu Customer Service Centre will be open from 8am to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to provide limited services in relation to matters involving PRH applications;
        
• The Clearance Housing Office and the Redevelopment Sub-section offices (Pak Tin and Mei Tung) will be open from 10am to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to provide limited services in relation to matters involving clearance housing or redevelopment; and
   
• The Shroff Office on the Ground Floor of the HA Headquarters will be open from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm on Mondays to Fridays to provide limited services. All payment collection services (including premium payments by Subsidised Sale Flats Scheme owners to enable them to complete transactions of their flats) with the exception of rental payment collection will be in operation.

     In addition, due to the above work arrangements, the HA may not be able to reply to public enquiries, requests or complaints in a timely manner.

     For enquiries, please call the HA hotline on 2712 2712. read more

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau announced today (April 17) that it has approved the following five applications under the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme:   Sinopharm Tech Medical Supplies … read more

     The Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 and the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2020 were gazetted today (April 17).
 
      The relevant amendment regulations seek to relax the vehicle length and maximum gross weight restriction of light buses to 7.5 metres and 8.5 tonnes, and amend some technical requirements in respect of the destination indicator and the fare card of public light buses.
 
     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, “It is the Government’s policy objective to promote green and barrier-free transport. While taking forward the above initiatives, we notice that the vehicle lengths and weights of electric light bus models and models with barrier-free facilities in the market often exceed the current legal requirements of 7 metres and 5.5 tonnes.
  
     “After reviewing, we consider the vehicle length and maximum gross weight restriction of light buses should be relaxed to allow more choices for the trade while accommodating the development needs of the industry. At the same time, we would like to take the opportunity to examine the regulations concerning other equipment on public light buses, and propose to make certain amendments, including updating the requirements on the destination indicator and the fare card, in order to reflect the flexible mode of operation of the public light bus trade and the latest technological developments, thus ensuring that the current law will be able to accommodate the actual needs of society and the trade.”
 
     The relevant amendment regulations will be submitted to the Legislative Council on April 22 for negative vetting procedures. If the amendment regulations are passed by the Legislative Council, the new requirements will be effective from July 5 this year. The Transport Department will also specify by notice in the Gazette the updated design and construction requirements of the destination indicator and the fare card of public light buses. Prior to the amendment regulations taking effect, the Transport Department will enhance the publicity work to ensure the smooth implementation of the new requirements and due compliance by the trade. read more

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (April 17) announced the appointment of Professor Chui Yat-hung as a member to the Advisory Committee on Gifted Education (ACGE). His appointment will take effect today and end on March 31, 2021.

     The ACGE was set up in April 2017 to advise the Secretary for Education on the use and management of the Gifted Education Fund, long-term development of gifted education in Hong Kong and measures and initiatives for promoting gifted education.

     With Professor Chui Yat-hung’s dedication to assisting students in realising their further studies and career aspirations, and his rich experience in public service, the EDB welcomes Professor Chui to provide more invaluable advice to the Government on the development of gifted education.

     The full list of membership of the ACGE from April 17, 2020, to March 31, 2021, is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Dr Pang Yiu-kai
 
Non-official members
————————
Professor Cheng Shuk-han    
Dr John Tan Kang   
Sister Anita Kwok Ming-ying
Ms Sonia Cheng Chi-man     
Dr Allen Fung Yuk-lun  
Ms Carrie Leung Ka-lai  
Ms Cecilia Lee Sau-wai  
Ms Ada Li Yuen-yung    
Mr Cheng Ho-wai    
Professor Chui Yat-hung
 
Ex-officio members
———————-
Permanent Secretary for Education
Deputy Secretary for Education (5)
Chairman, Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education
Chairperson, Committee on Gifted Education of the Curriculum Development Council read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 15) conducted an enforcement operation in Tsuen Wan and detected the first case ever of using imported gin from overseas to disguise as locally-distilled gin for sale. During the operation, a total of 3 046 bottles of gin suspected to be involved with the case, a batch of labels and a set of still were seized with an estimated market value of about $1.5 million in total.

     Customs officers earlier noticed the sale of gin claimed as locally-distilled on a social media platform by a company claimed as a liquor manufacturing factory. A batch of 1 557 bottles of gin without any labels was also found imported from New Zealand by the company on April 12. The batch of gin was seized by the Customs for investigation during clearance.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs yesterday conducted a search at the company’s factory unit in Tsuen Wan where a further seizure, including 1 325 bottles of gin without labels, seven bottles bearing a label with printed words of “Distilled and Bottled”, a batch of unused labels with the same printed words and a set of still suspected to be used for distilling or processing spirits, was made.

     Investigation revealed that the company attempted to use imported gin from overseas to disguise as locally-distilled gin for sale. During the operation, a 40-year-old male director and a 29-year-old woman suspected to be in connection with the case were arrested.

     Customs also recalled 157 bottles of the gin concerned from the distributor.

     The total estimated market value of the gin seized in the case is about $1.29 million. They have been passed to the Government Laboratory for testing. Investigation is ongoing.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), the maximum penalty upon conviction for illegal possession of still is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO or DCO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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