Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (January 20) that the second round of the Basic Law Test (BLT) will be held on February 26 and is open for application starting next Monday (January 24).

     A spokesman for the EDB said that persons interested in taking the test may apply through the online application system on the EDB webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/basiclawtest) from 9am on January 24 to 5pm on February 7 (Hong Kong time). As places for the test are limited, applicants will be arranged to sit for the test on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The EDB is conducting two rounds of the BLT for teachers on a pilot basis. The first round of the BLT was held in early January while the second round will be the last round of the BLT organised this school year. The relevant test results are only applicable to the newly appointed teachers in the 2022/23 school year. For the content and format of the BLT, the EDB will draw reference to the arrangements of the BLT conducted by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB). Candidates have to answer 15 multiple-choice questions within 20 minutes. Those who get at least eight out of 15 questions correct (i.e. attaining a score at or above 53 out of the full mark of 100) will be deemed to have a “pass” result. Those who have already obtained a pass result in the first round of the BLT will not be allowed to sit for the second round of test again. Teachers who have sat for a BLT conducted by the CSB and attained the abovementioned passing score will be deemed to have met the relevant requirement.

     The spokesman said, “The Basic Law is closely related to our lives and is also a key element of the school curriculum which should be strengthened. Teachers should have a correct understanding of the Basic Law in order to enlighten students and help them correctly understand the constitutional status of Hong Kong and develop positive attitudes towards the Basic Law and ‘one country, two systems’.

     “In this regard, while the EDB and teacher training institutions have been strengthening training on the Basic Law, starting from the 2022/23 school year, newly appointed regular teachers including newly joined teachers, teachers changing schools, and teachers changing from teaching posts remunerated with a cash grant to those remunerated with a Salaries Grant, and monthly paid temporary teachers in all public sector schools are required to pass the BLT in order to be considered for appointment. The requirement applies to all ranks of the teacher grade including principals.”

     The spokesman added that at the current stage, the BLT requirement is temporarily not applicable to daily rated supply teachers, teachers employed under the Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme and teachers who are remunerated with cash grants. The EDB will consider progressively extending the relevant requirement to other schools (such as schools joining the Direct Subsidy Scheme and kindergartens joining the kindergarten education scheme) and other teachers.

     The EDB will closely monitor the epidemic situation and move in step with the development of the overall anti-epidemic measures in Hong Kong for the arrangement of the test. For more details about the BLT organised by the EDB and the latest updates, please refer to the EDB webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/basiclawtest). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In view of the latest epidemic developments, the Hospital Authority (HA) today (January 20) announced the continued suspension of the special visiting arrangement at public hospitals until further announcement. Visits under compassionate considerations will be arranged according to patients’ conditions and the operation of the wards/units.
 
     “For pre-arranged compassionate visits under specific circumstances, the visitors must have completed two-dose COVIDâ€�19 vaccination for 14 days, and must provide either a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result obtained within 48 hours or provide a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours,” the HA spokesman said.
 
     “For compassionate visits under emergency situations, such as visiting the critically ill or end-of-life visits, visitors must provide a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result obtained within 48 hours or a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours before the visit. If the visitor cannot arrange the test in advance, a COVID-19 rapid antigen test must be performed and the test result must be provided right after the visit.”
 
     The HA hopes the patients’ family members can understand the limitations of the visiting arrangements under the current epidemic situation. All hospitals will continue to facilitate video visiting as far as practicable.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that all visitors entering public hospitals are required to strictly comply with the infection control measures, such as wearing surgical masks, temperature checking and filling in health declaration forms. In addition, visitors need to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code when entering public hospitals, except for exempted persons (persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, those with disabilities that render use of the app difficult and individual persons granted exemptions due to actual circumstances can complete a record form as registration). read more

     The Government announced today (January 20) that children aged 5 to 11 can receive the Sinovac vaccine from tomorrow (January 21) with reservation service starting from 8am, while the reservation for BioNTech vaccination will start on February 9 and the vaccination service will commence on February 16. 
       
     “The Government attaches great importance to the vaccination of children and will provide them with special channels to receive vaccination. Under the threat posed by mutant virus strains with high transmissibility, eligible persons, both young and old, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection,” a Government spokesman said.  
  
Sinovac vaccine 
————————
  
     The Government will provide a special appointment service for schools at the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) or the Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) and a transport service from and to schools. Arrangements will also be made for the COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Stations to provide the outreach Sinovac vaccination service at schools.   
       
     Schools can also liaise with the Education Bureau on arrangements for the outreach Sinovac vaccination service at schools by visiting doctors. 
       
     Starting from 8am tomorrow, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive the Sinovac vaccine at the CVCs or the designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) and accompany them to receive the vaccine in person. 
  
     The Chai Wan, Lam Tin, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Western SHSCs of the Department of Health (www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/covid19/covid19_vaccination_in_shsc.html) will expand their Sinovac vaccination service to cover students of primary and secondary schools starting from tomorrow. Parents/guardians can call 2856 9133 during office hours for reservations. 
       
     Eligible persons can also make an appointment to receive the Sinovac vaccine through more than 1 000 private doctors or clinics that participate in the Vaccination Programme. For details, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/VSS.
  
     An interval of 28 days is required for children to receive the first and the second doses of the Sinovac vaccine, which is the same for adults. 
  
BioNTech vaccine 
—————————
     
     â€‹As the BioNTech vaccine for children requires a special dilution procedure, and in accordance with the recommendation by the Joint Scientific Committees and Expert Advisory Panel that an interval of 12 weeks is required for children to receive the first and the second doses of the BioNTech vaccine, the Government will set up three Children Community Vaccination Centers (CCVCs) on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the vaccine. 
       
     Located in Hong Kong Children’s Hospital and the multi-purpose arena on the first floor of Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre, the CCVCs will be operated by the Hospital Authority and will come into service from February 16. The CCVC at Gleneagles Hospital will be run by the University of Hong Kong and begin its service from February 24. 
  
     Apart from the CCVCs, children aged 5 to 11 cannot receive the BioNTech vaccine at other venues. 
       
     Starting from February 9, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive vaccination at the CCVCs through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). 
       
     The Government will also provide a special appointment service for schools at the CCVCs and a transport service from and to schools. 
       
     The Education Bureau will issue a letter to inform schools about the arrangements for receiving the vaccines. 
  
Points to note 
———————
  
     Children are required to bring along a consent form signed by their parents on the date of vaccination. The consent form can be downloaded from the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/Consent_Form_for_COVID19_Vaccination_ENG.pdf). They must be accompanied by their parents/guardians in person when receiving vaccination. 
       
     Persons have to bring along the original identity documents on the date of vaccination. If the identity documents do not bear the photo of children such as the birth certificate, school documents (such as school handbooks) bearing a photo of the student must be presented at the time of vaccination. 
       
     The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine will be lowered to 5 from January 21. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine will be lowered to 5 from February 26. 
       
     Members of the public can learn more relevant information by making reference to the continuous benefit-risk analysis of the authorised COVID-19 vaccines by the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/12/P2022011200679.htm) as well as an update of the consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children by the scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700600.htm). 
  
     Before making an appointment, please take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination).  read more

     The Government announced today (January 20) that children aged 5 to 11 can receive the Sinovac vaccine from tomorrow (January 21) with reservation service starting from 8am, while the reservation for BioNTech vaccination will start on February 9 and the vaccination service will commence on February 16. 
       
     “The Government attaches great importance to the vaccination of children and will provide them with special channels to receive vaccination. Under the threat posed by mutant virus strains with high transmissibility, eligible persons, both young and old, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection,” a Government spokesman said.  
  
Sinovac vaccine 
————————
  
     The Government will provide a special appointment service for schools at the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) or the Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) and a transport service from and to schools. Arrangements will also be made for the COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Stations to provide the outreach Sinovac vaccination service at schools.   
       
     Schools can also liaise with the Education Bureau on arrangements for the outreach Sinovac vaccination service at schools by visiting doctors. 
       
     Starting from 8am tomorrow, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive the Sinovac vaccine at the CVCs or the designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) and accompany them to receive the vaccine in person. 
  
     The Chai Wan, Lam Tin, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Western SHSCs of the Department of Health (www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/covid19/covid19_vaccination_in_shsc.html) will expand their Sinovac vaccination service to cover students of primary and secondary schools starting from tomorrow. Parents/guardians can call 2856 9133 during office hours for reservations. 
       
     Eligible persons can also make an appointment to receive the Sinovac vaccine through more than 1 000 private doctors or clinics that participate in the Vaccination Programme. For details, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/VSS.
  
     An interval of 28 days is required for children to receive the first and the second doses of the Sinovac vaccine, which is the same for adults. 
  
BioNTech vaccine 
—————————
     
     â€‹As the BioNTech vaccine for children requires a special dilution procedure, and in accordance with the recommendation by the Joint Scientific Committees and Expert Advisory Panel that an interval of 12 weeks is required for children to receive the first and the second doses of the BioNTech vaccine, the Government will set up three Children Community Vaccination Centers (CCVCs) on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the vaccine. 
       
     Located in Hong Kong Children’s Hospital and the multi-purpose arena on the first floor of Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre, the CCVCs will be operated by the Hospital Authority and will come into service from February 16. The CCVC at Gleneagles Hospital will be run by the University of Hong Kong and begin its service from February 24. 
  
     Apart from the CCVCs, children aged 5 to 11 cannot receive the BioNTech vaccine at other venues. 
       
     Starting from February 9, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive vaccination at the CCVCs through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). 
       
     The Government will also provide a special appointment service for schools at the CCVCs and a transport service from and to schools. 
       
     The Education Bureau will issue a letter to inform schools about the arrangements for receiving the vaccines. 
  
Points to note 
———————
  
     Children are required to bring along a consent form signed by their parents on the date of vaccination. The consent form can be downloaded from the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/Consent_Form_for_COVID19_Vaccination_ENG.pdf). They must be accompanied by their parents/guardians in person when receiving vaccination. 
       
     Persons have to bring along the original identity documents on the date of vaccination. If the identity documents do not bear the photo of children such as the birth certificate, school documents (such as school handbooks) bearing a photo of the student must be presented at the time of vaccination. 
       
     The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine will be lowered to 5 from January 21. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine will be lowered to 5 from February 16. 
       
     Members of the public can learn more relevant information by making reference to the continuous benefit-risk analysis of the authorised COVID-19 vaccines by the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/12/P2022011200679.htm) as well as an update of the consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children by the scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700600.htm). 
  
     Before making an appointment, please take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination).  read more

     Following the completion of the 2022 Article IV Consultation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the International Monetary Fund Staff Mission (Mission) published today (January 20) its assessment in the Concluding Statement.

     The Mission commends Hong Kong’s strong economic recovery and the Government’s efforts to safeguard financial stability. The Mission reaffirms Hong Kong’s position as a major international financial centre and recognises that Hong Kong’s financial sector, underpinned by robust regulatory and supervisory frameworks, has continued to expand robustly, even during the pandemic. The well-functioning Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS) remains key to safeguarding economic and financial stability. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s macroprudential policies and strong institutional frameworks have provided it with important buffers to cope with economic shocks.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “I welcome the Mission’s recognition of Hong Kong’s strong economic recovery supported by our swift and bold policy responses, including the electronic consumption voucher scheme and various anti-epidemic support measures. I am glad that the Mission commends our resilient financial system underpinned by robust regulatory and supervisory frameworks and ample buffers built over the years. We will continue to stay highly vigilant and monitor the economic situation closely, with a view to maintaining financial stability and fostering balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth.”

     The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “I welcome the Mission’s positive assessment of our regulatory and supervisory framework that it has kept pace with market developments and technological advancements. Despite the multifaceted challenges over the past few years, we have managed to maintain the stability of Hong Kong’s financial system while bolstering the city as an international financial centre. As noted by the Mission, our LERS is an anchor of monetary and financial stability in Hong Kong, and it continues to demonstrate resilience and operate smoothly amidst global and market uncertainties.”

     The Mission notes that Hong Kong’s economy has recovered strongly, supported by swift and bold policy responses. The Mission projects Hong Kong’s real Gross Domestic Product growth as 6.4 per cent and 3.0 per cent in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Possible risks to growth in the short to medium term include pandemic-related uncertainties, sustained disruptions to global supply chains, an unexpected rise in global risk premia and further escalation of China-US tensions. The Mission adds that there is upside potential, such as a faster-than-expected global recovery and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), for Hong Kong’s economic growth. The development of the GBA would generate huge business opportunities and provide the best entry point for Hong Kong to integrate into the national development, thereby benefitting Hong Kong’s medium- and long-term growth prospects.

     The Mission commends the large fiscal stimulus that has helped mitigate the impact of economic shocks on Hong Kong. It recommends that Hong Kong’s fiscal policy return to a balanced budget in a gradual manner and focus on more targeted support with a view to supporting balanced and inclusive growth and addressing structural challenges.

     The Mission acknowledges that Hong Kong has made significant progress in addressing climate change in the past decade and welcomes the recently announced plan to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 with an intermediate target to halve the 2005 level of carbon emissions before 2035. The Mission also recognises the Government’s ongoing efforts to enhance the green and sustainable finance ecosystem, such as adopting internationally accepted standards and promoting eligible green and sustainable financing. In addition, the Mission views that capitalising on opportunities from the Mainland and strengthening regional and international collaboration on the green development front are conducive to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a major international financial centre.

     The Mission supports the Government’s three-pronged approach to containing housing market risks and increasing housing affordability (which include macroprudential measures, demand-side management measures and an increase in housing supply). The Mission comments that the current macroprudential measures for the property market should be maintained to safeguard financial stability, and the demand-side management measures have been effective in containing speculative activity and external demand. The Mission also welcomes the Government’s stepped-up efforts to raise and expedite housing supply, including the multifaceted approach to providing additional public housing units in the next 10 years and the recently announced Northern Metropolis Development Strategy.

     The Mission held virtual discussions with government officials, regulators and private sector representatives in Hong Kong from December 1 to 15, 2021, for the 2022 Article IV Consultation with the HKSAR. The Mission’s Concluding Statement is attached in the Annex. The full report of the Article IV Consultation will be discussed by the IMF Executive Board in February 2022. read more