Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (May 4):

Question:
 
     It is learnt that at around 2.30am on March 14 this year, many members of the public reported to the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) that they felt an earth tremor, but it was only after a certain period of time that the HKO released on its online platform the news about an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 which had occurred near the coast of south-eastern China. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the staffing establishment of the Forecasting and Warning Services Branch of the HKO and, in respect of its officers working on shifts on a round-the-clock basis, their numbers and work arrangements in times of normal operation and during the epidemic respectively;
 
(2) of the current locations across the territory where the HKO has set up seismic sensors, and the total number of such sensors; whether such sensors are capable of accurately monitoring and detecting seismic activities in Hong Kong and neighbouring areas; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) as it is learnt that the HKO will analyse cases of earth tremors felt in Hong Kong, of the time required for the basic analysis as well as compilation and dissemination of earthquake information; and
 
(4) of the circumstances under which the HKO will, through the Emergency Alert System, send emergency alert messages about extreme weather, natural disasters or radiation leaks to members of the public?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted the Security Bureau, our reply to the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:
 
(1) The Forecasting and Warning Services Branch of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) is mainly responsible for providing weather forecasting service and issuing warnings on inclement weather. The branch currently has an establishment of about 80 staff. The Central Forecasting Office under the branch is responsible for monitoring weather, issuing weather reports, forecasts and warnings, as well as disseminating information on the occurrence of earthquake and tsunami to the public. The Central Forecasting Office operates round-the-clock and its staff are arranged to work in three shifts per day, with seven staff per shift. The shift arrangement has been maintained throughout the epidemic over the past two years or so to ensure the aforementioned weather forecasting and emergency services are unaffected.
 
(2) The HKO currently monitors distant and nearby earthquake activities by broadband and short-period seismographs respectively. Two broadband seismographs are installed at Po Shan Road on Hong Kong Island and the HKO Headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui to effectively monitor earthquakes as far as about 8 000 kilometres away, whilst seven short-period seismographs are installed at Cape D’Aguilar, Cheung Chau, Keung Shan, Lead Mine Pass, Luk Keng, Tsim Bei Tsui and Yuen Ng Fan to mainly monitor earthquakes within about 200 kilometres of Hong Kong. 
 
     The HKO also assesses the impacts of earthquakes on Hong Kong by five strong motion accelerographs at Po Shan Road on Hong Kong Island, the HKO Headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui, Lead Mine Pass, Tsim Bei Tsui and Yuen Ng Fan. In addition to the seismographic network in Hong Kong, the HKO also receives real-time raw seismic data from the global seismographic network, with about 480 broadband seismographs around the world, for monitoring global earthquake activities and their possible impacts on Hong Kong. The broadband seismograph at Po Shan Road is one of the broadband seismographs in the global seismographic network.
 
(3) The HKO receives real-time data from local and global seismographic networks, and can calculate parameters of an earthquake, including its origin time, magnitude (i.e. amount of energy released from the earthquake source, usually presented on the Richter Scale) and epicentre location, within around 10 minutes upon its occurrence. For all global earthquakes reaching magnitude 5.0 or above, the HKO will disseminate information of the earthquakes through issuing “Quick Earthquake Messages” on its website and social media pages.
 
     In the event of a locally felt earth tremor in Hong Kong, the HKO will also immediately analyse data from the seismographic networks and reports from the public (including information on the extent and duration of the felt vibration and spatial distribution of the reports) to determine the earthquake’s local intensity (i.e. impacts of vibration on individuals, furniture, buildings and geological structures, etc, usually presented on the Modified Mercalli Scale). Such analysis is usually completed within an hour upon earthquake occurrence, after which the HKO will immediately issue a “Locally Felt Earth Tremor Report” through channels including the HKO website, mobile weather application “MyObservatory”, social media pages and the Government News and Media Information System. The report covers the origin time, magnitude, epicentre location, and local intensity of the earthquake, as well as the number of reports received from the public, etc.
 
     Regarding the earthquake mentioned in the question, it occurred at 2.29am on March 14 this year. The HKO issued a report at 2.40am on the same day through its website and social media pages etc, indicating that reports of felt earth tremor were received from the public and analysis was underway. Later at 3.16am (i.e. 47 minutes after the earthquake occurred), the HKO issued a “Locally Felt Earth Tremor Report” which contained information about the earthquake.
 
(4) The HKO currently disseminates messages including weather warnings and special weather tips to the public through multiple channels, such as the HKO website, “MyObservatory”, social media pages, the Government News and Media Information System and the mass media. The HKO maintains close communication with relevant bureaux in respect of extreme weather, natural disasters or incidents of radioactive release, and will consider disseminating messages through the Emergency Alert System on emergency situations in Hong Kong, such as severe hazards arising from super typhoons, severe tsunamis or serious nuclear accidents at the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, to alert the public of appropriate precautions and emergency response actions, having regard to the specific circumstances of the events, including their severity, urgency and potential public impacts. read more

     The Land Registry today (May 4) released its statistics for April 2022. Land registration  —————— * The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in April was 4,8… read more

     With a dry northeast monsoon affecting Hong Kong and less moisture supply to the south China coast for most of the time in the month, April 2022 was much drier than usual in Hong Kong. The total rainfall in the month was 3… read more

     The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Deductions for Domestic Rents) Bill 2022 will be gazetted on May 6 and introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) on May 11. It seeks to implement the tax deduction for domestic rent proposed in the 2022-23 Budget. The Government hopes to secure passage of the Bill before the summer recess of the LegCo this year, so that the measure could be implemented from the year of assessment (YA) 2022/23.

     Eligible taxpayers can provide information about their expected domestic rent paid in relation to YA 2022/23 in the tax returns for YA 2021/22 to be issued this June. Upon passage of the Bill, the Inland Revenue Department will take into account the deduction when assessing the provisional salaries tax for YA 2022/23. 
 
     A government spokesperson said today (May 4), “The measure aims at easing the burden on taxpayers liable to salaries tax and tax under personal assessment who do not own any domestic property. It is expected to benefit about 430 000 taxpayers. The government revenue forgone will amount to about $3.3 billion per year.”
 
     According to the Bill, a taxpayer liable to salaries tax or tax under personal assessment may claim deduction for the rent paid by him/her or his/her spouse (who is not living apart from him/her) as tenant (or by both of them as co-tenants) in relation to a relevant YA for renting eligible domestic premises. The proposed maximum amount of allowable deduction is $100,000 for each YA.
 
     To meet the eligibility, the relevant premises must be the taxpayer’s principal place of residence, and the relevant tenancy must be stamped. 
 
     To ensure that it is a targeted measure that supports taxpayers who are most in need, forestall abuse, and prevent potential double tax benefit or tax avoidance, the Bill proposes to provide for certain circumstances in which the deduction is not allowed, including:
 
– the taxpayer or his/her spouse (who is not living apart from the taxpayer) is a legal and beneficial owner of any domestic premises in Hong Kong;
– the landlord or principal tenant of the rented domestic premises is an associate of the taxpayer or his/her spouse (e.g. the landlord is the taxpayer’s spouse, or a parent, child, sibling or partner of the taxpayer or his/her spouse);
– the taxpayer or his/her spouse (who is not living apart from the taxpayer) is provided with a place of residence by his/her employer;
– the taxpayer or his/her spouse (who is not living apart from the taxpayer) is a tenant or authorised occupant(s) of a public rental housing flat;
– the rented premises are not allowed for residential use or the tenancy is prohibited under any law or a government lease;
– the taxpayer or his/her spouse has entered into a lease purchase agreement in respect of the premises concerned with the landlord;
– the sum representing the domestic rent is allowable as a deduction under any other provision of the Inland Revenue Ordinance; or
– the taxpayer or his/her spouse (who is not living apart from the taxpayer) has been allowed deduction for any other domestic rent paid in respect of any other domestic premises for the same period.
 
     The amount of deduction allowable to a taxpayer is the amount of rent paid under the tenancy in relation to the YA or the deduction ceiling for the tenancy for the YA, whichever is less. If there is more than one tenant under the tenancy, the deduction ceiling will be reduced in proportion to the number of co-tenants. If the tenancy period covers less than 12 months of a YA, the deduction ceiling will be reduced in proportion to the tenancy period falling within the YA.
 
     To facilitate the filing of tax returns by taxpayers, the Inland Revenue Department website has provided explanations on the details of the tax deduction for domestic rent as proposed in the Bill, including the detailed deduction rules. For more information, please refer to the following link: www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/drd.htm. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kin-por and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 4):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that a number of violent incidents and family tragedies suspected to be related to patients with mental illness occurred earlier on. There are analyses pointing out that the anti-epidemic measures implemented in the past two-odd years may have affected the rehabilitation and community support services provided for patients with mental illness, and that the social distancing measures and “restriction-testing declaration” operations have also increased their mental stress, rendering them more prone to bouts of their illness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of violent incidents relating to patients with mental illness which occurred in the past two years;
 
(2) whether it has assessed the impacts of the anti-epidemic measures implemented in the past two-odd years on the treatment, rehabilitation and community support services provided for patients with mental illness; and
 
(3) whether the Government will consider allocating additional resources after the epidemic to resume and increase the treatment, rehabilitation and community support services provided for patients with mental illness?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Security Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Kin-por is as follows:
 
(1) The Police and the HA do not maintain statistics on the number of violent incidents relating to patients with mental illness. 

(2) and (3) Amid the COVID-19 epidemic, the HA has maintained normal consultation services in psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics for patients to attend scheduled follow-up medical appointments. Patients who have rescheduled their appointments due to the epidemic will be given drug refills as appropriate to ensure that they have the necessary medication. Hospitals will provide services, if needed, through other channels for suitable patients, e.g. following up on their conditions by phone.  Meanwhile, the HA’s psychiatric services are piloting a mobile application to provide telehealth services. For example, tele-consultations may be arranged when providing elderly psychiatric outreach services for suitable patients living in residential care homes for the elderly.
 
     The HA has earmarked additional funding of around $70 million in 2022-23 for addressing the increasing public demand for psychiatric services. Relevant measures include –
 
(a)    enhancing mental health services for children and adolescents (C&A) by developing specialised C&A psychiatric service in Hong Kong East Cluster and Kowloon Central Cluster in phases;
(b)    enhancing community psychiatric service by recruiting additional case managers; and
(c)    enhancing psychiatric in-patient, out-patient and consultation liaison services.
 
     The HA will keep in view the situation, and continue to review and monitor its services closely so as to meet patients’ needs. Additional resources will be allocated in a timely manner to cope with new service demand that may arise.
 
     On the other hand, under the subvention of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), a total of 24 Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) set up by non-government organisations have been providing community mental health support services for persons such as those who are in recovery from mental illness and in need, those with suspected mental health needs as well as their family members/carers. The SWD has also deployed Mobile Vans for Publicity Service on Mental Wellness (Mobile Vans) to step up community education.
 
     Amid the COVID-19 epidemic, ICCMWs have maintained their services, with alternative modes of communication including contacting service users by phone and conducting virtual meetings via electronic/online platforms to provide support for them. Service users can also make use of the above-mentioned platforms to obtain information on mental health support and participate in group activities/courses provided by ICCMWs. The Mobile Vans have strengthened collaboration with welfare service units, schools and so on to hold events such as online workshops and talks on emotion management to enhance community mental health education. As the epidemic situation is stabilising, the SWD will liaise closely with the operators for gradual resumption of their normal services.  read more