Author Archives: hksar gov

The following press release is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

     In response to the COVID-19 epidemic and its evolving global impact, the University Grants Committee (UGC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) have allocated a one-off additional funding of $150 million and $100 million respectively under the Collaborative Research Fund and the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) to support the UGC-funded sector in conducting research related to COVID-19 and other novel infectious diseases (NIDs).
 
     The Chairman of the UGC, Mr Carlson Tong, said, “The rapid spread of COVID-19 has brought about a huge impact around the world, including Hong Kong. We face unprecedented challenges not only to our public health system but also to education, business operations and all facets of life in our community. Looking back on the past few decades, different NIDs also brought various threats to humankind. The UGC would like to support, through this one-off additional funding, UGC‑funded universities for research projects related to COVID-19 and NIDs, especially projects and solutions that can help identify and/or address the wider health, social, economic or environmental impact of the epidemic. 
 
     “While priority will be given to COVID-19 research and those projects that may be completed early, NID research in all facets and disciplines are welcomed. We expect that the additional funding can support around 25 medium-size and two to three large-scale research projects.”
 
     He added, “The UGC and the RGC always strive to encourage local universities to conduct high-impact research especially those that would benefit people’s livelihood and the economy. Through this additional funding, we are joining hands with the Hong Kong community in our battle against the epidemic.”
 
     The RGC has issued invitations to the UGC-funded universities for submissions, with the deadline on July 17, 2020. Further information is available on the website of the RGC (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/collaborative/application.html). For the TRS, call for preliminary proposals for TRS 2021/22 will be issued in July/August 2020. Details will be uploaded to the RGC website in due course. read more

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (May 15) that the Scheme on Relief Grants for Interest Class Instructors Hired by Organisations Subvented by the Social Welfare Department is open for application from today for one month, with June 15 as the closing date. Application details have been uploaded to the SWD website. Completed application forms are to be submitted to the SWD through the subvented welfare service units concerned.

     As one of the measures of the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, the Scheme aims at providing relief grants to eligible interest class instructors hired by subvented welfare service units of SWD-subvented organisations such as youth centres, elderly centres, community centres and rehabilitation centres, where the units’ services have been suspended and the instructors’ income affected owing to coronavirus disease 2019, so as to help lessen the impact of the pandemic on them.

     A one-off relief grant of $7,500 will be provided for each of the eligible interest class instructors engaged or planned to be engaged by subvented welfare service units of SWD-subvented organisations for providing training in arts, dancing, handicraft work and sports, etc, for service users during the period from February to August 2020. For those instructors who have submitted applications to the Education Bureau for relief grants for school instructors of learning/interest classes or to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for relief grants for registered sports coaches, further submission to the SWD is not required. read more

     To reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the community, the Transport Department (TD) said today (May 15) that special arrangements will continue to be implemented at the seven government … read more

     The Government gazetted today (May 15) the proposed road works at Wan On Street, Wan Lok Street, Wan Hing Street, Wan Fat Street, Wan Tat Street, Wing Kwong Street, Bailey Street, Kai Ming Street, Hung Fook Street and Ngan Hon Street in To Kwa Wan, which are required to serve the redevelopment project of the Urban Renewal Authority.
 
     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
 
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
Kowloon City Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
LG/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon
 
District Lands Office, Kowloon East and Kowloon West,
4/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices,
11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan will be available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau’s drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than July 14, 2020. read more

     The following list of general holidays for 2021 was gazetted today (May 15) for public information:
 

Every Sunday			Sunday
The first day of January		January 1	Friday
Lunar New Year’s Day		February 12	Friday
The second day of Lunar New Year		February 13	Saturday
The fourth day of Lunar New Year		February 15	Monday
Good Friday		April 2	Friday
The day following Good Friday		April 3	Saturday
The day following Ching Ming Festival		April 5	Monday
The day following Easter Monday		April 6	Tuesday
Labour Day		May 1	Saturday
Birthday of the Buddha		May 19	Wednesday
Tuen Ng Festival		June 14	Monday
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day		July 1	Thursday
The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival		September 22	Wednesday
National Day		October 1	Friday
Chung Yeung Festival		October 14	Thursday
Christmas Day		December 25	Saturday
The first weekday after Christmas Day		December 27	Monday

 
     A Government spokesman said, “As the third day of the Lunar New Year in 2021 falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year is designated as a general holiday in substitution. Furthermore, as the Ching Ming Festival in 2021 falls on a Sunday, the following day will be designated as a general holiday in substitution. However, as the day following the Ching Ming Festival and Easter Monday fall on the same day, the next day that is not itself a general holiday will be observed as an additional general holiday. With regard to the proposal for gradually increasing the number of statutory holidays, we need to make an objective assessment of the financial burden on employers brought about by the proposal and its impact on society and the economy, and more. After completing the analysis, we will submit it to the Labour Advisory Board for discussion this year.” read more