The Housing Department (HD) today (August 14) learned that a female security guard employed by its car park contractor was tested positive for COVID-19. She is now staying at hospital for treatment T… read more
In view of the extension of the special work arrangement for government employees until August 23, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (August 14) that it will continue to provide emergency and essential public services during this period. The services will be mainly handling public reports on building safety and unauthorised building works in progress, critical statutory submissions for new developments, registration of building professionals and contractors, advisory services for licensing authorities and implementation of Operation Building Bright 2.0.
Submission of the following applications and documents in person should be through:
1. A drop-in box located at G/F, Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon (BD Headquarters), for collection of the specified forms and supporting documents required to be submitted under the Minor Works Control System, the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme, applications for registration and renewal of registration of building professionals and contractors under the Buildings Ordinance as well as documents for compliance with statutory orders or directions issued by the BD (e.g. investigation reports, remedial works proposals, completion reports, etc) from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday;
2. A tender/quotation box located at the ground floor of the BD Headquarters for receiving tender/quotation documents from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday; and
3. A drop-in counter located at the office of the BD’s New Buildings Division on 7/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong, for receiving statutory applications and related documents and forms for new building works and returning the processed plans and related documents to the applicants from 9.30am to 2.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The department will issue receipts/acknowledgements of submissions in due course. However, the handling time of the above services may be longer than usual.
The Building Information Centre and all receipt counters, dispatch counters, general enquiry counters and meeting rooms of the BD will not be open to the public until further notice. All appointments, meetings (except meetings essential to meet statutory requirements such as Minor Works Contractor Registration Committee meetings) and inspections scheduled for the period will be rescheduled to later dates and the individuals concerned will be notified in due course.
The BD appeals to the public to minimise visiting the department’s offices in person unless they genuinely require its public services urgently. The public may call 1823 to make emergency reports. For general enquiries and other reports, they may call 1823 or inform the department by email (enquiry@bd.gov.hk), online reporting (eform.one.gov.hk/form/bd0001/en/), fax (2537 4992) or post (North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon). In addition, electronic information may be submitted to the BD via receipt@bd.gov.hk. read more
The Transport Department today (August 14) reminded members of the public that the Government has temporarily relaxed the monthly threshold of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme to $200 from July 1 for six months till December 31. Commuters may collect the public transport fare subsidy for July starting from August 16.
The local economy has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a view to further alleviating commuters’ fare burden amidst the pandemic situation, the Government has temporarily relaxed the monthly threshold for calculation of the subsidy from $400 to $200 from July 1 to December 31, 2020. The Government provides a subsidy amounting to one-third of the actual public transport expenses in excess of $200, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each Octopus.
Commuters may collect the subsidy through the following channels:
(i) Subsidy Collection Points installed at MTR stations, Light Rail Customer Service Centres, designated public transport interchanges and designated ferry piers;
(ii) Octopus readers at any outlet of 7-Eleven, Circle K and Wellcome supermarket;
(iii) Octopus Service Points; or
(iv) the Octopus App.
The subsidy for each month is valid for collection within three months. Hence, members of the public can collect the subsidy for July from August 16 to November 15.
Commuters can check their record of public transport expenses and subsidy amounts through the website of the Scheme (www.ptfss.gov.hk), the Octopus App or the Scheme hotline 2969 5500. For enquires about the details of the Scheme, please browse through the website of the Scheme or call 1823. read more
The Department of Justice today (August 14) reminded potential applicants for the post of Government Counsel (GC) that they are required to obtain a certain level of results in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) in order to be qualified for the post.
The Department is planning to conduct the GC recruitment exercise this year. Similar to last year’s recruitment exercise, applicants will be required to obtain a Level 2 result in the Use of English (UE) paper and a Level 1 result in the Use of Chinese (UC) paper of the CRE.
In this connection, Level 5 or above in English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or Grade C or above in Use of English in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) or Grade C or above in English Language in the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the UE paper of the CRE. Furthermore, Level 4 in Chinese Language in the HKDSEE or Grade D in Chinese Language and Culture or Chinese Language and Literature in the HKALE are accepted as equivalent to Level 1 in the UC paper of the CRE. Other equivalent qualifications can also be found at www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/cre/949.html.
Under exceptional circumstances a limited number of applicants who do not meet the requisite Chinese language requirement may be appointed subject to the operational needs of the department.
Applicants for the GC post should also take a Basic Law Test (BLT). The results of the BLT, while not mandatory, will be taken into account in considering the suitability of a candidate for appointment.
The next CRE and BLT will be held in Hong Kong on October 10 and 17 or another date in October if necessary. Prospective GC applicants without the requisite results in the CRE or equivalent and/or those who wish to take the BLT are invited to apply between August 7 to 20, for sitting the relevant examination and/or test.
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Further information on the CRE and BLT is available on the homepage of the Civil Service Bureau (under the ‘Recruitment’ section) at www.csb.gov.hk. read more
The Government announced today (August 14) that the Financial Secretary, in exercise of his authority under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance, had re-appointed the Chairman and seven incumbent members of, and appointed three new members to, the Mandatory Provident Fund Industry Schemes Committee (ISC). The membership of the ISC is as follows:
Chairman
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Dr Chung Chi-ping, Roy
Members
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Mr Chan Pat-kan
Mr Cheung Tat-fai
Mr Chui Man-wai, Rayman
Mr Lam Kin-wing, Eddie
Mr Lam Tsin-kwok (new appointee)
Mr Bob Lee (new appointee)
Mr Lee Yuen-hong
Mr Li Man-kiu, Adrian
Mr Wong Ka-lung (new appointee)
Mr Yu Chak-ming
Their term of office is two years, from August 25, 2020, to August 24, 2022, both dates inclusive.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “With Dr Chung and other members’ concerted efforts, I am confident that the effectiveness of the MPF Industry Schemes will continue to improve and better serve the interests of the scheme members.”
Mr Hui also thanked outgoing members Mr Kwok Wang-hing, Mr Wong Ho-shun, Johnson and Mr Wong Ping for their valuable contributions to the ISC during their tenure. read more