The Government announced today (March 20) the reappointment of two serving members and the appointment of two new members to the Hospital Authority (HA) with effect from April 1, 2020.

     Two serving members, Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung and Mr Quinton Lam Chun-ki, will be respectively reappointed for two years and one year. Two new members, Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching and Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi, will be appointed on a two-year term. Brief biographies of the two new members are as follows:

     Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching is the Human Resources Director of MTR Corporation Limited. She is the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management and a Council Member of the Hong Kong Management Association. Ms Cheng also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Cross-Industry Training Advisory Committee for the Human Resource Management Sector under the Qualifications Framework, Member of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, and the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service.

     Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. She is the Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Financial Services Advisory Committee and the Asian Financial Forum Steering Committee, as well as member of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Banking Advisory Committee. She also serves as board member of the Community Chest of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the outgoing member, Ms Anita Cheng Wai-ching, for her invaluable contribution for the HA in the past six years.  

     With the new appointments, the HA will comprise a Chairman, 23 non-official members, three public officers and one principal officer from the HA.  The membership list with effect from April 1, 2020 is as follows:

Chairman:
Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling
 
Non-official Members:
Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung
Professor Chan Wai-yee
Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching
Mr Duncan Chiu Tat-kun
Mr David Fong Man-hung
Mr Ambrose Ho Pui-him
Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi
Mr Daniel Lam Chun
Mr Quinton Lam Chun-ki
Mr Franklin Lam Fan-keung
Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing
Ms Lisa Lau Man-man
Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung
Dr Lo Wai-kwok
Professor David Shum Ho-keung
Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang
Professor Agnes Tiwari Fung-yee
Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung
Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze
Mr Billy Wong Wing-hoo
Mr Jason Yeung Chi-wai
Mr Charlie Yip Wing-tong
 
Public Officers:
Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse
Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan
Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), Raistlin Lau
 
HA Principal Officer:
Chief Executive, HA, Dr Tony Ko

     The Government today (March 20) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Somalia) Regulation 2019 (Amendment) Regulation 2020 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
      
     "The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Somalia) Regulation 2019 to implement the decisions on exemptions for arms embargo and financial sanctions, as well as the sanctions measures on improvised explosive device components, as set out in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2498," a Government spokesman said.
      
     The Amendment Regulation mainly amends or extends certain exemption conditions and arrangements in respect of arms embargo and financial sanctions, and implements the sanction measures prohibiting the supply of improvised explosive device components and related technology to Somalia.     

     The Government today (March 20) invites public tender for a private residential site on Anderson Road, Kwun Tong for implementing the second Starter Homes for Hong Kong Residents (SH) pilot project. The tender invitation will close on May 15, 2020. 

     According to the land sale conditions, all residential units to be built by the developer on the site should range from 23 sq m to 46 sq m (around 250 sq ft to 500 sq ft) in saleable area, among which 20 per cent shall be studio units, 25 per cent shall be one-bedroom units and the remaining 55 per cent shall be two-bedroom units. After the developer has obtained occupation permit of the project, the Government will randomly select from all residential units no less than 1 000 SH units, including 200 studio units, 250 one-bedroom units and 550 two-bedroom units.
  
     The developer is required to offer for sale the SH units selected by the Government at 80 per cent of the market prices to persons who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Government.

     A spokesman said, "Having made reference to the experience from the SH pilot project at Ma Tau Wai Road, the eligibility criteria of SH applicants should include the following – applicants have to be Hong Kong residents who have lived in Hong Kong for seven years; who have never owned any residential property in Hong Kong; whose income falls between the income limits for White Form (WF) applicants for the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and 30 per cent above such limits; and whose assets should not exceed the limit of 30 per cent above the HOS asset limits for WF applicants. The Government will determine the detailed eligibility criteria prior to the sale of SH units by the developer by making reference to the prevailing HOS limits."

     The SH units are subject to alienation restrictions. Owners cannot sell or let their SH units in the first five years after purchase. After the first five years, owners have to pay a premium to the Government before they can sell or let their units in the open market. The alienation restrictions are the same as those imposed under the SH pilot project at Ma Tau Wai Road.

     "The Government wishes to test out the arrangements of enlisting developers to build and sell SH units through inviting tender for the site on Anderson Road. The Government will make reference to relevant experience in considering the way forward of SH pilot project" the spokesman added.

     Regarding the support on e-learning for students from grassroots families, a Government spokesman said today (March 20) that the Community Care Fund (CCF) has implemented the assistance programme on "Provision of Subsidy to Needy Primary and Secondary Students for Purchasing Mobile Computer Devices to Facilitate the Practice of e-Learning" from the 2018/19 school year for three years.  Having regard that many students need to use their own mobile computer devices for e-learning at home during the class suspension period, all public sector schools implementing e-learning can submit applications to the Education Bureau for subsidy under the CCF programme for their students meeting the relevant eligibility criteria. 
      
     For enquiries, please contact the IT in Education Section of the Education Bureau at 3698 3670 or 3698 3584.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The People's Bank of China (PBOC) will issue Renminbi Bills through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Bills to be issued by the PBOC. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.