The Transport Department (TD) said today (August 2) that to promote the good services and image of the taxi industry, the TD and the Committee on Taxi Service Quality (CTSQ) have extended the scope of the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme to taxi service management teams in order to commend taxi drivers and service management teams for their service excellence. The scheme is now open for public nominations until September 30.
      
     To nominate outstanding taxi drivers and service management teams, members of the public can access the designated website (www.ctsq.org.hk/nomination/index.php) for nomination of taxi drivers and service management teams with quality service. They can also send the completed nomination form to the TD by post, facsimile or email or they can submit the form online through GovHK. The form can be downloaded from the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/taxi/index.html).
      
     After the nomination period, members of the public can learn about the good conduct and performance of the nominated taxi drivers and vote for their favourite taxi driver on the designated website. On the other hand, the taxi service management teams with quality service will be evaluated and selected by an assessment panel comprising mainly members of the CTSQ. The Prize Presentation Ceremony of Taxi Service Commendation Scheme will be held in the first quarter of 2020.
      
     For enquiries, please call 2829 5326.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, August 2, 2019 is 105.9 (up 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The Department of Justice today (August 2) reminded potential applicants for the post of Government Counsel (GC) that they are required to obtain a certain level of results in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) in order to qualify for the post.
 
     The GC recruitment exercise will be conducted around late August/early September this year. Similar to last year's recruitment exercise, applicants will be required to obtain a Level 2 result in the Use of English (UE) paper and a Level 1 result in the Use of Chinese (UC) paper of the CRE.
 
     In this connection, Level 5 or above in English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or Grade C or above in Use of English in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) or Grade C or above in English Language in the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the UE paper of the CRE. Furthermore, Level 4 in Chinese Language in the HKDSEE or Grade D in Chinese Language and Culture or Chinese Language and Literature in the HKALE are accepted as equivalent to Level 1 in the UC paper of the CRE. Other equivalent qualifications can also be found at www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/cre/949.html.
 
     Under exceptional circumstances a limited number of applicants who do not meet the requisite Chinese language requirement may be appointed, subject to the operational needs of the department.
 
     Since 2008, applicants for the GC post should also take a Basic Law Test (BLT). While not mandatory, the results of the BLT will be taken into account in considering the suitability of a candidate for appointment.
 
     The next CRE and BLT will be held on October 5 and 12, in Hong Kong. Prospective GC applicants without the requisite results in the CRE or equivalent and/or those who wish to take the BLT are invited to apply between August 2 and 15, for sitting the relevant examination and/or test.
 
     Further information on the CRE and BLT is available on the homepage of the Civil Service Bureau (under the ‘Recruitment’ section) at www.csb.gov.hk.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 2) that the shark prevention nets at Butterfly Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Cafeteria New Beach and Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District have been repaired and the beaches have been reopened.

     The beaches were temporarily closed earlier on for shark prevention net maintenance work.

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has received confirmation from the Government of Iran that with immediate effect HKSAR passport holders may visit Iran visa-free for a stay of up to 21 days.

     An Immigration Department spokesman said, "Iran is along the Belt and Road. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this visa-free arrangement would bring greater travel convenience to the travellers of Hong Kong and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places."

     Including Iran, 166 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders. Please visit the following website for details: www.immd.gov.hk/eng/service/travel_document/visa_free_access.html or scan the attached code.