Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has announced that as of 4pm today (May 9), no new local confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had been recorded, and that the number of cases in Ho… read more

    In view of the stabilised epidemic situation, subsidised welfare services operated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be resumed by phases, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (May 9).   &… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (May 9):
 
Reporter: Secretary, will you apologise for this…… Some people calling this a “PR disaster”, and also some experts have expressed concerns about the safety of these masks, saying that it could be a problem if you inhale the copper particles. Does the Government have the safety report to prove that these masks will be safe to use even after it has been washed for like 60 times?
 
The Secretary for Innovation and Technology: Thank you for your question. For your second part of the question, I have to emphasise that all the products have been gone through a very comprehensive and very clear testing and certification process. The product can fully comply with the ASTM F2100 Level 1 requirement so that the product can fully meet the need to protect our people from COVID-19. I have to emphasise that this process must be done by proper laboratories. That’s what we have done. For those people who may not have complete understanding about the product, you may visit our website and see the reports and certificates. I fully hope that this product can help our people to combat COVID-19. That’s what we would like to do.
 
Reporter: Sorry, my first question regarding whether you will apologise for this “PR disaster”……
 
The Secretary for Innovation and Technology: The major purpose of this project is to provide reusable masks to our people, the Hong Kong people and we have already fully meet our target. That’s what we need to do and we have already done that. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector (ASPM) under the Anti-epidemic Fund is open for applications and continues to disburse subsidies. 
      
     The ASPM is implemented by the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA). As of today (May 9), the PMSA has received over 8 200 applications for the ASPM, of which over 3 850 applications have been approved. The approved applications involve subsidies of over $140 million and benefit around 22 000 building blocks and around 35 750 frontline property management (PM) workers. Please refer to the website of the PMSA (www.pmsahk.org.hk/en/index.html) for the name of the properties for which applications have been approved.
      
     The Government has launched the ASPM under the Anti-epidemic Fund to subsidise owners’ organisations (OOs) or PM companies of eligible buildings to provide the Anti-epidemic Hardship Allowance to the frontline PM workers. The ASPM will also provide the Anti-epidemic Cleansing Subsidy to OOs or PM companies. Phase I of the ASPM covers private residential and composite (i.e. commercial cum residential) buildings, whereas Phase II of the ASPM covers industrial and commercial buildings (including shopping malls). 
      
     For details on the ASPM, please contact the PMSA at 3696 1156 or 3696 1166, or visit the website of the PMSA.    read more

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories separately from 7am to 12.30pm today (May 9). The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by two of the charities that the regional flag-selling activities scheduled to be held by them have been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.
 
     Information on the regional flag-selling activities today is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation and contact information	Colour of collection bag	Colour of flag
New Territories	OIWA Limited Contact person: Mr Wong Contact number: 3141 7110	Orange	Light blue

 
     Contact information for the organisations that have cancelled regional flag-selling activities is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation	Contact person	Contact number
Hong Kong Island	The Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council	Ms Kwong	2810 1104
Kowloon	Life Workshop	Mr Chun	2789 8815

 
     For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678. Information on flag days is available at the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew) and the GovHK portal (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap).
 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).
 
     If any flag day activity is suspected to be fraudulent, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more