The One-off Recycling Industry Anti-epidemic Scheme (ORIAS) and the One-off Rental Support Scheme (ORSS) under the Recycling Fund (RF) are open for applications and continue to disburse subsidies to help the recycling industry cope with the current operational difficulties.

     As of today (May 25), the RF has approved over 410 applications for the ORIAS, which involve subsidies of about $50 million. Over 170 applications for the ORSS involving subsidies of about $42 million have also been approved.

     The RF has allocated $100 million to launch the ORIAS with the aim of providing timely financial support to help with recyclers' operational costs for six months. The funding limit for each recycler is $20,000 per month from January 1 to June 30, 2020, for a total maximum subsidy of $120,000.

     The ORSS, with a total funding of $250 million, originally ran from October 2019 to March this year to provide rental concessions of 50 per cent to the trade. The rental concession period was subsequently extended for another six months to September this year, with the rental subsidies increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, setting the maximum total rental subsidy for the 12-month period at $375,000.

     The application deadline for the ORIAS is June 30, 2020, while that of the ORSS is September 30, 2020. For more information about the two schemes, please visit the RF website (www.recyclingfund.hk) or contact the Secretariat at 2788 5658 or by email enquiry@recyclingfund.hk.

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (June).
      
     Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area.
      
     Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in June 2020:
 
San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
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Tsing Shan Firing Range
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Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:
 
     "The Social Welfare Department announces that while the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, all child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres and day rehabilitation units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres, integrated vocational training centres and day activity centres will remain open during their normal operating hours. However, if necessary, members of the public can contact the centres to make arrangements for the safe return home of their children and family members."

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: 

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals: 

     â€‹As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, the Home Affairs Department's Emergency Co-ordination Centre is now in operation. 

     The Home Affairs Department will open temporary shelters for people in need of temporary accommodation. 

     For details, please contact the centre on 2572 8427. 

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is now in force, classes of all PM schools are suspended this afternoon. AM and whole-day schools which are in session should continue until the end of school hours. They should ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.