Following is a question by the Hon Alice Mak and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, in the Legislative Council today (May 22):
 
Question :

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) implements the foster care service to provide residential family care for children in need under 18 years of age, and provides children under nine years of age with day care services through the home-based child carers under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project.  Regarding these two types of care services for children, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information on foster care service in each of the past three years: the respective numbers of foster families, foster children and children waiting to be placed, as well as the respective average time for which the children waited to be placed and stayed with the foster family; the number of home-based child carers and the number of children they took care of in each of the past three years; 

(2) as it is learnt that SWD has encountered difficulties in recruiting foster families and home-based child carers, whether the Government will raise the allowance and incentive payment for foster parents, as well as the incentive payment for home-based child carers; whether SWD will set target numbers of these two types of carers to be recruited; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) of the measures put in place to enhance public recognition for the contributions made by these two types of carers; whether it will formulate new measures for stepping up its support for these two types of carers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply :
 
President,
 
     My reply to the Hon Alice Mak’s question is as follows:

(1) Foster care service provides residential family care for children aged under 18 who cannot be adequately taken care of by their families due to family problems or crises, so that they may continue to enjoy family life before they re-unite with their families, join an adoptive family or live independently; and foster care (emergency) service provides immediate and short-term residential family care to children whose parents cannot care for them because of emergency or crisis situations.  In the past three years, the number of foster homes, the number of children in placement, the average number of children on waiting list, average waiting time and duration of stay with foster families are at Annex 1.
 
     The Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (NSCCP) aims to provide a flexible form of child care service for children aged under nine at the neighbourhood level and, at the same time, to foster mutual help and care in the community.  In the past three years, the number of home-based child carers and the number of children served are at Annex 2.

(2) In order to further support families in need and recruit more families to provide foster care service, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has raised various foster care allowances by more than 20 per cent since December 2017.  The SWD has also introduced a new grant of extra incentive payment for taking care of children under the age of three, so as to encourage foster families to take care of young children.  As for the NSCCP, home-based child carers provide child care service as volunteers in the spirit of care for others and will receive incentive payment for recognition of their contribution to the service.  The SWD will raise the level of incentive payment to child carers in 2019-20 to show appreciation and encouragement to the home-based child carers for their service.  The SWD will discuss with the service operators details of the arrangement later.
  
     As regards the recruitment of foster families, in order to let more general public learn about foster care service and recruit more suitable foster families, the SWD launched a set of television/radio Announcement in the Public Interest and posters in respect of foster care service in April 2017, so as to strengthen the promotion of foster care service.  The SWD will continue to collaborate with the 11 foster care agencies to promote and recruit foster families through various channels and the media.  Apart from encouraging more families with selflessness, love and enthusiasm to provide foster care service, the SWD also welcomes those who can commit themselves to join in the force of foster parents for being short term or substitute carers in taking care of foster children, so as to provide services to more children in need.  As for the NSCCP, since its implementation, service operators have been recruiting suitable volunteers to serve as home-based child carers.  Also, the SWD has been producing promotional materials for NSCCP and promoting it to the public and social service units through different channels including seminars and meetings.

(3) The SWD organises the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony on a biennial basis to recognise and commend foster parents’ commitment to foster care service and let foster parents exchange and share their experience, while promoting foster care service through the media. As for the NSCCP, in addition to the incentive payment for home-based child carers, individual service operators will also hold volunteer recognition ceremony on a regular basis to recognise their contribution to the service and to encourage more volunteers to join as child carers and continue promoting mutual help and care in the neighbourhood and at the same time meeting the need of child care services.
 
     In addition, to provide support for foster parents, the SWD in collaboration with the foster care agencies organise relevant training programmes for them, including pre-service training for prospective foster parents and training on care of foster children.  It also provides assistance to foster parents in learning about the characteristics and development needs of children with special needs, as well as the caring skills required and how to communicate with the birth parents.  When the foster parents encounter difficulties in caring for foster children, the responsible supervising foster care workers will provide them with timely assistance and support. 
 
     As regards the NSCCP, the SWD will further enhance the service quality in 2019-20, including additional provisions for service operators to increase professional and supporting staff under NSCCP so as to strengthen training for home-based child carers.

     A spokesman for the Department of Justice (DoJ) today (May 22) announced the publication of the latest edition of "The Judge Over Your Shoulder – A Guide to Judicial Review for Administrators" (JOYS) at the DoJ's website (www.doj.gov.hk/eng/public/The_Judge_Over_Your_Shoulder.html).

     "Since it was first published in 2010, JOYS has served to provide guidance to administrators in the Government on principles of judicial review which are relevant to their work as decision or policy makers. The purpose of the publication is to provide a better understanding of judicial review so as to maintain the highest standards of public administration in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.

     "The latest edition of JOYS is now available on the DoJ's website in English and Chinese versions. We hope that the guide, by providing an overview of the relevant law, will serve as a useful general reference for not only government officials, but anyone who wishes to understand more about judicial review, which is an integral part of the Hong Kong legal system," the spokesman continued.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 is 105.6 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 22) appealed to members of the public not to buy or use two whitening cream products (see photos) as they may contain excessive mercury, which is harmful to health.

     The appeal followed the CHP's receipt of notification of a case of mercury poisoning from the Hospital Authority (HA) involving a 25-year-old female patient. The CHP commenced investigations immediately.

     The patient has developed generalised swelling since mid-April this year and reported using the two products for around six months. Her urine and blood samples revealed mercury levels higher than the reference levels, which was clinically suspected to be related to the use of the products.

     Testing by the HA revealed that the levels of mercury in the two products were 8 411 times (day cream) and 15 597 times (night cream) the acceptable level. The CHP's investigation is continuing. The case has also been referred to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow-up.

     "Chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, concentration difficulty, impaired hearing and vision, and change in the taste function. In severe cases, renal failure may occur," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "As the content of mercury in both products far exceeded the acceptable level, their use may cause serious side effects. People who are using them should stop immediately and consult healthcare professionals as soon as possible if they feel unwell or are in doubt. Members of the public are urged not to buy or use cosmetic products of unknown composition or obtained from doubtful sources," the spokesman added.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (May 22) that applications for purchase under the Sale of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Flats 2019 (HOS 2019) and White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM) 2019 (WSM 2019) will commence concurrently on May 30. Eligible White Form and Green Form applicants may submit applications from May 30 to June 12.
 
     White Form applicants may choose to apply for HOS 2019, WSM 2019, or both, using one single White Form. Application fees are $250 for HOS 2019, $160 for WSM 2019 and $410 for both.
 
     A total of 4 871 flats in six new HOS developments, i.e. Kwun Tak Court in Ho Man Tin, Hoi Tak Court in Cheung Sha Wan, Sheung Man Court in Kwai Chung, Yung Ming Court in Tseung Kwan O, Kam Fai Court in Ma On Shan and Yuk Wo Court in Sha Tin, will be offered for sale.
 
     "Rescinded flats arising from cancellation of the Agreements for Sale and Purchase from five HOS developments (namely Ka Shun Court in Sha Tin, Ping Yan Court in Yuen Long, Ngan Wai Court and Ngan Ho Court in Mui Wo and Choi Hing Court in Kwun Tong) previously put up for sale in 2016 and 2017 will be included for resale in this sale exercise. Apart from the 27 rescinded flats as at April 1, any additional rescinded flats from the five HOS developments after that date will also be included for resale in this sale exercise," the spokesman said.
 
     Project information, approved building plans, Outline Zoning Plans, land grants, latest drafts of or executed Deeds of Mutual Covenant and aerial photographs of the six new HOS developments and the five HOS developments with rescinded flats will be exhibited and building models and doll houses produced using the building information modelling technique of the six new HOS developments will be displayed at the Housing Authority Customer Service Centre (HACSC) in Lok Fu from 8am to 7pm between tomorrow (May 23) and June 12 for inspection by the public.
 
     Sales booklets of the six new HOS developments, the sales leaflet of the rescinded flats, application forms and application guides for HOS 2019 and WSM 2019 will be available at the HACSC for collection by the public starting from tomorrow. These documents will also be available for collection by the public within office hours at the office of the HA's Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) Sales Unit, estate offices and District Tenancy Management Offices of the HA, rental estate offices of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS), the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department and the Sham Shui Po Housing Information Centre.

     Soft copies of the sales booklets of the six new HOS development, the sales leaflet covering details of the rescinded flats, latest drafts of or executed Deeds of Mutual Covenant and aerial photographs will also be uploaded to the designated websites of the respective HOS developments from tomorrow. "Members of the public are encouraged to browse the websites for HOS 2019 (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/hos/2019) and for WSM 2019 (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/wsm/2019)," a spokesman for the HA said. Soft copies of the application forms and application guides for both schemes will also be available for viewing and downloading from the above websites.

     In addition, the HA will make available hard copies of the sales brochures covering details of the HOS developments and the price lists for collection by the public at the HACSC and viewing at the designated websites for the respective HOS developments before the commencement of flat selection for this sale exercise.
 
     With effect from this application exercise, an e-Submission service will be provided in addition to the current paper-based submission. Applicants may choose either to submit paper-based application forms by post/by hand as in the past or to submit online application. Details are set out in the application guides. 
 
     For online submission, a step-by-step e-Submission video demonstrating how to apply online will be available shortly before the commencement of application on May 30. "This is the first e-Submission service provided for the schemes by the HA and we will closely monitor the operation of the system. We anticipate that the volume of usage will be large, especially nearer the closing of application, and the system is expected to be very busy. Applicants are therefore reminded to submit applications as early as possible," a spokesman for the HA said.
 
     "For Green Form applicants who are living in the HA's public rental housing estates or the HS' rental estates and use the e-Submission service, staff of their respective estate offices will contact them and verify their household information after receiving their e-Submissions. The estate office will prepare hard copies of the application forms and the applicants will have to return the completed application forms, together with signatures of the applicants and all family members aged 18 or above, to their respective estate offices for further processing," the spokesman said.
 
     Streamlined application arrangements are also being implemented in this sale exercise. Valid HOS Green Form applicants are allowed to opt for carrying over their applications to the next subsidised sale flats (SSF) sale exercise without submitting separate applications and paying further application fees.
 
     "Green Form applicants who wish to use this carry-over arrangement need to indicate their consent in their HOS application forms. However, if an applicant later wishes to apply for the next SSF based on a household category different from that for this HOS application, he or she is required to inform the HA during the stipulated application period of the next SSF sale exercise," the spokesman said.

     "The application period will run from 8am on May 30 until 7pm on June 12. Applications submitted before the application period or after the closing time will not be accepted," the spokesman said.

     Members of the public may visit the HACSC from 8am to 7pm during the application period. They can also call the 24-hour HA Sales and WSM hotline on 2712 8000 for matters relating to HOS 2019 or WSM 2019.