Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (September 1): Reporter: Good morning, Mrs … read more
The Government today (September 1) announced the establishment of the Steering Committee on Promotion of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) and Qualifications Framework (QF).
The Steering Committee has been established pursuant to a recommendation of the Task Force on Promotion of VPET in its review report submitted to the Government in January 2020, with a view to strengthening co-ordination of the overall strategy to promote VPET and fostering closer industry partnership. To foster collaboration and create synergy between VPET promotion and the QF, the newly established Steering Committee will also take over the functions of the Steering Committee on QF Fund.
The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said, “The Government has all along been committed to providing multiple and flexible education pathways for young people with different aspirations and abilities through VPET. The Steering Committee will provide valuable advice to the Government on further promoting the development of VPET in Hong Kong through a more innovative and coordinated approach.
“We are very pleased that Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin has accepted the appointment to lead the Steering Committee. I am confident that, with Dr Yip’s extensive experience in public service, particularly in education, industry and technology fields, the Steering Committee will assist the Government in further promoting VPET as a popular choice for young people.”
He also thanked the outgoing Chairman, Dr York Liao, and other members of the Steering Committee on QF Fund for their valuable contributions to the development and implementation of the QF and the management of the QF Fund.
The members of the Steering Committee are appointed by the Secretary for Education for a period of two years, from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2022.
The membership of the Steering Committee is as follows:
Chairman
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Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin
Vice-chairman
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Ms Caroline Mak Sui-king
Members
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Dr Chan Cheuk-hay
Dr Lawrence Cheung Chi-chong
Ms Joanne Chong Sze-pui
Professor Ronald Chung Chi-kit
Mr Eugene Fong Yick-jin
Dr Alex Kai Sze-fai
Mr Lam Chun-sing
Mr Freddy Law Wai-hung
Dr Ringo Lee Yiu-pui
Mr Thomas Lo Sui-sing
Mr Joseph Tsang Chi-to
Miss Tsoi Kuen-kuen
Ms Shirley Wong Hau-yeung
Dr Vincent Wong Wai-lun
Miss Winnie Ying Fung-sau
Ex-officio Members
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Executive Director, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications or his/her representative
Executive Director, Vocational Training Council or his/her representative
Secretary for Education or his/her representative read more
The following press release is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Director of Housing, Mr Donald Tong, today (September 1) responded in writing to the speeches and views on housing matters delivered and expressed by members of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) at its annual special open meeting held on June 8.
Mr Tong had planned to give the response to members’ views at the HA regular open meeting scheduled for August 7, but as the meeting was cancelled due to the latest situation of the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic, he replied in writing instead.
In the response, Mr Tong elaborated on the measures that the Government and the HA adopted to relieve public difficulties and to prevent the spread of the virus amid the epidemic. Regarding members’ concerns on issues such as increasing the supply of public housing, redeveloping aged public housing estates, rationalising the use of public housing resources, enhancing living environments in housing estates and expediting the sale of Subsidised Sale Flats, etc, he set forth various strategies and initiatives adopted by the Government and the HA. He also responded to members’ views on a number of housing-related government initiatives, including offering assistance to households waiting for public rental housing over a prolonged period of time, the progress of the transitional housing initiative and the work of the Task Force for the Study on Tenancy Control of Subdivided Units.
The full reply by Mr Tong has been uploaded onto the HA’s website: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/common/pdf/about-us/housing-authority/ha-paper-library/HA23-20-EN.pdf.
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The Labour Department (LD) today (September 1) launched new measures to enhance its employment programmes with the aim of strengthening employment support for elderly and middle-aged people, young people and persons with disabilities.
On a pilot basis, the LD is providing a retention allowance to the elderly aged 60 or above, young people and persons with disabilities who have participated in the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM), the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) and the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme (WOPS) to encourage them to undergo and complete on-the-job training (OJT), thereby stabilising employment.
The pilot scheme will run for three years during which these employees will be offered a retention allowance of $3,000 if they have stayed in full-time posts for three months. Thereafter, they will receive an additional allowance of $1,000 for completion of each subsequent month until the end of the six to 12-month OJT period. For part-time posts, the respective amounts payable will be halved. Subject to the length of the OJT period, the maximum amount of the retention allowance an eligible employee may receive under the pilot scheme is $12,000.
In addition, the ceiling of the OJT allowance payable to employers for engaging a job seeker under the above three employment programmes is also increased in tandem, with a view to further encouraging employers to hire elderly and middle-aged people, young people and persons with disabilities. Details are as follows:
(1) The maximum amount of the OJT allowance payable to employers engaging job seekers aged 60 or above who are unemployed or have left the workforce and providing them with OJT under the EPEM is increased from $4,000 to $5,000 per month for a period of six to 12 months. The maximum amount of the OJT allowance for engaging unemployed job seekers aged 40 to 59 is increased from $3,000 to $4,000 per month for a period of three to six months;
(2) The maximum amount of the OJT allowance payable to employers under the YETP is increased from $4,000 to $5,000 per month for a period of six to 12 months; and
(3) The maximum amount of the OJT allowance payable to employers under the WOPS is raised from $7,000 to $8,000 per month during the three-month work adaptation period and from $5,000 to $6,000 per month for the following six months.
Through the provision of the OJT allowance to employers, the EPEM encourages employers to take on mature unemployed job seekers aged 40 or above and offer them OJT, which can facilitate their adaptation to the new working environment and acquisition of essential job-specific skills, thereby stabilising their employment. The YETP provides comprehensive training and employment support to young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below to enhance their employability. The WOPS aims to encourage employers, through the provision of financial incentives, to hire persons with disabilities and provide them with coaching and support, so as to enhance their employability and career prospects.
Details of the above employment programmes are available at the Interactive Employment Service’s website (www.jobs.gov.hk), the YETP’s website (www.yes.labour.gov.hk), and the Interactive Selective Placement Service’s website (www.jobs.gov.hk/isps). Members of the public can also call the EPEM’s hotline at 2150 6398, the YETP’s hotline at 2112 9932, or the Selective Placement Division at 2852 4801 for more information. read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council:
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council reminded interested students today (September 1) that its Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies (including the award for students with disabilities) for the academic year 2021/22 have been accepting applications since July 2.
The fellowships and scholarships aim at encouraging outstanding students to pursue further studies in reputable institutions overseas. Successful candidates for the awards are expected to have a strong sense of commitment to Hong Kong and be ready to contribute significantly to the community upon graduation.
The fellowships are for studies leading to postgraduate degrees either by research or by coursework. The scholarships are for studies leading to undergraduate degrees.
The applicants will be responsible for fulfilling all application procedures and admission requirements of the academic institutions of their choice.
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 maximum value of a scholarship is HK$280,000 per year, tenable for up to three years.
Application forms and information notes can be downloaded from the website of the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency at www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/en/forms/form.htm.
The documents are also available at the following offices:
(a) Student Finance Office
Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency
Reception Hall, 11/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices
303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon
(b) Trust Funds and Temples Joint Secretariat
Reception Counter, 34/F, Wu Chung House
213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Hong Kong
For enquiries, please call (852) 2150 6097 or (852) 2150 6098.
The closing date for all applications is September 18, 2020. For Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies, short-listed applicants will be invited to attend interviews in person in Hong Kong. The first round of interviews is scheduled for January 2021. If found suitable, applicants will be invited for a final interview to be held around February/March 2021. Applicants short-listed for the Overseas Fellowship/Scholarship for Disabled Students will be invited to attend one round of interview in person in Hong Kong around February/March 2021. read more