Author Archives: hksar gov

Remarks by SHYA at media session

     Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending ICAC’s Building Management Summit today (June 23):
 
Reporter: First of all, regarding the Joint Property Management which was just launched this month, are there any feedback from the owners’ corporation (OC) or how does the Bureau think about the implementation which has been going on? Secondly, the Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance will be implemented next month, earlier you just said it will only target those irresponsible individuals and it hopes to increase transparency. Can you use English to speak a few words about as to how it could increase the transparency? Also, are you worried that the penalty would create some sort of concern among overall owners that this may also affect them and how would the Bureau address such a concern?
 
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: First of all, about the Joint Property Management pilot scheme, it is a scheme that the society has been longed for. No matter legislators or people working or serving at the districts, they have been advocating this Joint Property Management Scheme. We aim to help those old single block buildings or some “three-nil buildings” to engage professional property management companies to provide them with professional services in managing their own properties. We hope through this scheme, those owners of these old single block buildings and “three-nil buildings” can have a platform and channel to engage professional property management companies to help them carrying out the daily operation and management work of their own buildings. Also, when there is any building order from different government departments, they can have some professionals to help enforce and implement measures to cater for these building management orders. I urge all owners of those old single block buildings and “three-nil buildings” to join this Joint Property Management Scheme. People may not totally understand how this scheme can help them, and for us, both the Bureau and the Department, we will work with the district councilors and also our Care Teams members to let owners understand more about this Joint Property Management Scheme, so that the shop owners and the residential flat owners will know by joining this scheme, they can engage professional companies to help them manage their valuable assets, that is their shops and residential flats. We hope more owners will join this scheme so we can work together and the Government will give them all the support they need to join this scheme and to manage their own properties.
 
     For the amendment of the Building Management Ordinance which will be in effect next month, as I have said earlier, this amendment aims at protecting those who are genuinely helping and serving their own buildings. The amendment is to act against those irresponsible OC members or other owners or any parties. We aim to protect those responsible owners and members of the OCs. We have introduced new measures on procurement and declaration of interest. We hope through these new amendments; our responsible members of the OCs will have clearer regulations to follow when they carry out their daily operation work of the OCs and management work of their own building. I encourage members of the public and owners of those buildings to understand more about our amendments and to work with the Government to participate in the operation of the OCs. We will work together to improve the management of all these buildings in Hong Kong. Thank you.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) read more

East Asia

Applications open for Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies 2026/27

The following is issued on behalf of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council:

     The Sir Edward Youde Memorial (SEYM) Fund Council announced today (June 23) that applications for the SEYM Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies and the SEYM Overseas Fellowship/Scholarship for Disabled Students for the 2026/27 academic year are now open. The closing date for applications is September 5, 2025.

     The fellowships and scholarships aim at encouraging outstanding students to pursue further studies in renowned institutions overseas. Awardees should aspire to contribute to Hong Kong and be ready to give back to the community upon graduation.

     The fellowships are for overseas studies leading to postgraduate degrees either by research or coursework. The maximum value of a fellowship is HK$300,000 per year, tenable for up to three years for a doctoral degree or two years for a master’s degree. The scholarships are for overseas studies leading to undergraduate degrees. The maximum value of a scholarship is HK$280,000 per year, tenable for up to three years.

     The applicants will be responsible for fulfilling all application procedures and admission requirements of the academic institutions of their choice.

     Information notes for the applications are available on the website of the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/en/resources/forms/form.htm). Applicants should submit the completed form through the GovHK website (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/sfo031/en/). For details, please visit the website of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/seymf/en/whatwedo/index.htm), or call (852) 2150 6097 or (852) 2150 6098.

     Shortlisted applicants of the Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies will be invited to attend interviews in Hong Kong. The first round of interviews is scheduled for December 2025 or January 2026. If found suitable, applicants will be invited for a final interview to be held in January or February 2026. For the Overseas Fellowship/Scholarship for Disabled Students, shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in Hong Kong in January or February 2026. read more

East Asia