The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Town Planning Board:

     In line with the latest adjustment to public services in response to the most recent situation of COVID-19 announced by the Government, and to significantly reduce the flow of people and social contacts to stop COVID-19 from further spreading in the community, starting from today (July 20), members of the public can place their submissions made under the Town Planning Ordinance in the drop-in box located at the Town Planning Board (TPB) Secretariat's reception counter on 15/F, North Point Government Offices during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Other counter services will be temporarily suspended until further notice. Members of the public can continue to make enquiries through the telephone hotline (2231 4810) or email (tpbpd@pland.gov.hk), and can visit the TPB's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb) for statutory planning information.

     Posting of site notices for planning applications will also be suspended starting from today, and the related site notices will not be posted thereafter. However, notices of planning applications will continue to be published in the prescribed newspapers and posted on the TPB's website. 

     The meetings of the Metro Planning Committee and the Rural and New Town Planning Committee of the TPB originally scheduled for July 24 will be rescheduled.

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (July 20) said that one more outsourced contractor's worker at the department's Pak Kong Water Treatment Works preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19, subsequent to the outsourced contractor's worker testing positive yesterday (July 19). There is no effect on drinking water safety.

     The outsourced contractor's transportation worker last went to work yesterday. In light of an outsourced contractor's worker testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday, he was arranged to undergo virus testing. The WSD was notified in the early hours today that he preliminarily tested positive. He has been admitted to hospital under isolation. He is now in stable condition.

     The outsourced contractor's worker wore a surgical mask at work. He underwent temperature screening at work and his body temperature was normal. The WSD thoroughly cleaned and disinfected Pak Kong Water Treatment Works yesterday. The department will maintain close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection. Staff have been reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.

     A spokesman for the Environment Bureau (ENB) said today (July 20) the subsidy programme for graduates under the Green Employment Scheme (GES) has received dozens of applications covering around 120 jobs, representing more than half of the some 200 jobs covered by the programme. The ENB calls on the relevant trades to apply for the programme before its deadline on August 28, so as to support enterprises and safeguard jobs while fighting the virus together. Meanwhile, among the over 500 time-limited jobs created under the GES, recruitment for more than 200 jobs commenced in late May and that for the remaining vacancies will gradually commence from next month.
      
     The spokesman noted that the subsidy programme will be implemented from 2020-21 to subsidise private companies to employ fresh graduates working in areas related to environmental protection, ecological conservation, green energy and energy conservation, climate change, sustainable development and more. Application for the programme has been open since June 26. The programme is expected to cover more than 200 jobs and will provide employers of eligible graduates with a monthly subsidy of $5,610 to form part of the monthly salary paid to each eligible graduate for a period of 18 months. Graduates under the programme will be provided with environment-related professional training by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in collaboration with various professional societies and organisations to help the employed graduates become better equipped in different areas of expertise in the field. Details and the application form of the programme are available on the EPD website at www.epd.gov.hk/epd/tc_chi/graduates_subsidy_programme.html. The application deadline is August 28. For more information, please call 2835 1870 or email graduates_subsidy@epd.gov.hk.
      
     Among the over 500 time-limited jobs created under the GES covering three categories of environmental protection work, recruitment for more than 200 jobs has commenced, including the 30 Project Co-ordinator (electric vehicles) positions under "Electric Vehicles Popularisation", 30 posts of Project Assistant (Waste Reduction and Recycling) and 40 waste reduction and recycling green ambassadors (food waste) under "Use Less, Waste Less", as well as dozens of jobs offered by Community Green Stations through their operators and dozens of green ambassador and cleaning worker positions created for further promoting the "Leave No Trace at Mountain and Sea" outing concept. Recruitment for the 100 ambassadors to participate in coastal cleaning and publicity work under the "Leave No Trace at Mountain and Sea" outing concept will gradually commence from next month.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, at a media session at the Central Government Offices today (July 20):

Reporter: Just a few English questions. First, on the release of DSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) results, why can't the examination results be released by the Government, for example, on a single website? Instead the Government is asking schools to do it individually according to ways that allow them to do so. Second question: The Government will have to make an announcement in two weeks' time on whether classes can really resume on August 17. But is two weeks really enough as some kind of buffer time to see how the epidemic unfolds? Third question involves the cross-boundary students. Some critics are saying that the quarantine-free exemptions are to be blamed for this current wave of infections. So is it safe to let the arrangement continue for some of the cross-boundary students (CBS)? 

Secretary for Education: On the first question about the DSE Examination results, the whole arrangement is organised by the HKEAA (Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority); it is not organised by the Government. So I will refer your suggestions to the HKEAA for their consideration for future DSE results release arrangements. You asked about whether two weeks will be enough. I could not answer you at this moment. I could only say that we at least need two weeks to assess whether we could resume schooling, for those schools to resume their new school year, on August 17. Of course, I can say a longer time, but I would like to cut that as short as possible. So initially I say we will make it. We will have another look and try to make a decision before the end of this month. 
  
     On cross-boundary students, I must emphasise that all cross-boundary students, before coming to Hong Kong, have to go through a test every seven days on the Mainland side. So in theory they are clean. So far, we have not seen a case that is caused by our CBS.

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