The Government announced today (May 28) that the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury has appointed members to the Statistics Advisory Board (SAB) for a new term of two years from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2022.
 
     The SAB of the new term includes 13 non-official members, six of whom are serving members and seven newly appointed members. The new members are Mr Edward Ho Man-tat, Mr Patrick Leung Chin-pak, Professor Isabella Poon Wai-yin, Professor Shen Haipeng, Mr Stan Tang Yiu-sing, Mr Ivan Ting Tien-li and Mr Daniel Wong Wai-hung.
 
     The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Ms Marion Chan, said, "Members of the SAB are established professionals from different disciplines. Their diverse background and expertise will provide the Census and Statistics Department with invaluable insights and help ensure that its statistical work will continue to meet the evolving needs of our community."
 
     Ms Chan added, "We are grateful to the five outgoing members, Mr Victor Chan Kok-wai, Ms Clara Lau Wai-ping, Professor Leung Siu-fai, Professor Tsui Kwok-leung and Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming for their unfailing support and wise counsel to the SAB that has helped foster the development of the Government's statistical work over the past years."
 
     The SAB is an advisory body established in 1972 to advise the Commissioner for Census and Statistics on matters pertaining to official statistical work. Its membership consists of professionals from the business sector, the academia and the community, providing a wide representation to assist the Commissioner in integrating views of data users, data suppliers and statisticians.
 
     Following is the membership of the SAB for the new term from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2022:
 
Chairperson (Ex officio)

Commissioner for Census and Statistics
 
Official members

Director of Planning (or representative)
Government Economist (or representative)
Representative from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau
 
Non-official members

Mrs Cheung Ang Siew-mei
Ms Nicole Yuen Shuk-kam
Mr Samuel Lau Kin-pui
Ms Michelle Leung Oi-pui
Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun
Mr Gavin Poon Ka-ming
Mr Edward Ho Man-tat *
Mr Patrick Leung Chin-pak *
Professor Isabella Poon Wai-yin *
Professor Shen Haipeng *
Mr Stan Tang Yiu-sing *
Mr Ivan Ting Tien-li *
Mr Daniel Wong Wai-hung *
 
*Newly appointed

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) announced today (May 28) that the Government will establish a dedicated team to review the governance and management of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) so as to ensure that its public broadcasting services fully abide by the Charter of RTHK (the Charter).

     "The management and the programme contents of RTHK has aroused wide public concern recently. The Audit Commission made a number of key recommendations on RTHK in October 2018 regarding its low TV ratings and public awareness, programme performance evaluation, procurement of survey services, and engagement of contract staff/service providers. These Audit recommendations are not yet fully implemented," a spokesman for the CEDB said.

     "The Communications Authority (CA) also gave a serious warning to RTHK for its TV programme 'Pentaprism' broadcast on November 20, 2019, and a warning for the 'Headliner' broadcast on February 14, 2020, urging RTHK to strictly observe the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards.

     "The CEDB took the view that RTHK must address the public concern over its programmes as well as the department's governance and management. RTHK must follow up on the matters in a proactive and positive manner, and conduct a review to ensure that it fully abides by the Charter, duly meets its responsibility as a public service broadcaster and strictly complies with the relevant codes of practice issued by the CA. The establishment of the review team will help RTHK carry out these tasks," the spokesman said.

     RTHK is a government department under the policy purview and housekeeping oversight of the CEDB as stipulated in paragraphs 10 to 12 of the Charter. The review team will be led by a senior directorate officer and comprise officers from various grades of the Government. It will report to the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries).

     The scope of the review is as follows:
     
(1) to review RTHK's administration, including financial control, human resources management and procurement matters to ensure that its manpower and resource deployment complies with all applicable Government rules and regulations, and that such deployment is made for the effective delivery of services under programme areas as set out in paragraphs 17 to 20 of the Charter, and where necessary, to identify scope for improvement;

(2) to review RTHK's progress of implementing the recommendations of the Report No. 71 of the Director of Audit, including the need for a transparent and objective system for setting performance targets and benchmarks for measuring results; and

(3) to review RTHK's overall management systems, processes and practices, making reference to best practices of other public service broadcasters, to ensure full compliance with the Charter and the codes of practice on programming standards issued by the CA.

     "The review will commence in mid-2020 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The review team will submit a report to the CEDB upon completion of its work. The Director of Broadcasting will provide full support to the exercise. Members of the review team will not take part in any programme production or editorial decisions of RTHK," the spokesman said.

     The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) hotline service under the Special Preventive Programme of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will be suspended from 6pm to 9pm tomorrow (May 29) for a maintenance check.

     The service will resume after maintenance.

     The free and anonymous AIDS hotline (2780 2211) provides information on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and a Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody testing booking service to the public.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year licence of a fee-paying public car park on portions of the ground floor and the basement of North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong.

     The premises should be used for the purposes of a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (May 28) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6775 on or before June 5 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on June 18 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 28) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.