The Transport Department (TD) announced that the Government has earmarked about $1.3 billion to provide a subsidy to registered owners of goods vehicles and green minibus operators under the Anti-epidemic Fund. Applications for the subsidy are open today (April 28).
 
Goods Vehicles
 
     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $10,000 will be provided to each eligible registered owner of a goods vehicle(s) for each goods vehicle. The TD started issuing letters from April 27 and will continue to do so until mid-May to inform all eligible registered owners of goods vehicles of the detailed arrangements regarding registration for collection of the subsidy. Starting from today until September 30, eligible registered owners of goods vehicles who have received the letters must use the registration PIN provided in the letters for submission of registrations through GovHK (www.gov.hk/oneoffsubsidy). After successful completion of the registrations, the subsidy will be disbursed to the designated local bank account provided in the registration through autopay in about two to three weeks. After payment of the subsidy, registered owners of goods vehicles will receive the remittance advice.
 
     Eligible registered owners of goods vehicles will have sufficient time to submit registrations. There is no need to rush for registrations at the beginning of the registration period.
 
     Furthermore, the Government will bear the cost of nucleic acid tests for cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers at five land-based ports in Shenzhen and Zhuhai (namely Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To, Huanggang, Shenzhen Bay Port and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port). Cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers who conduct nucleic acid tests in Hong Kong can apply for the subsidy on an accountable basis and the maximum amount is $350 per test. Detailed arrangements will be announced in due course.
 
Green Minibus Operators
 
     A one-off non-accountable subsidy of $30,000 per green minibus (GMB) will be provided to each holder of Passenger Service Licence-Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Service (GMB operator) who has been approved to operate a relevant package of the GMB route(s). The TD briefed the GMB trade today on the arrangement of the subsidy and the application details, with the distribution of the application forms. The GMB operators are required to send the completed application forms to the TD by post on or before September 30. After the TD has verified the submissions from the GMB operators, the subsidy will be disbursed through autopay in about one month.
 
     To assist the transport trades to cope with the operational demands in the prevailing economic environment, the Government has rolled out the fuel subsidy and one-off subsidy measures under the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund progressively. As of mid-April, the TD has received applications for subsidies from three franchised bus companies, 10 franchised and licensed ferry operators, Hong Kong Tramways Limited, registrations from about 1 700 registered owners of non-franchised public buses, school private light buses and hire cars, and has disbursed over $100 million of the subsidies. 

     For details on the subsidy for transport trades under the Anti-epidemic Fund, please visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (April 28), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 15 patients (13 male and two female, aged 13 to 92) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of COVID-19. Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.

     There are 246 patients under isolation currently. So far, 811 patients who had COVID-19 confirmed or probable infections have been discharged upon recovery.

     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.
 

     Police today (April 28) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Hung Hom.

     Choy Chow-moon, aged 84, went missing after he left his residence in Ho Man Tin Estate yesterday afternoon (April 27). His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 54 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, a brown sweater, dark grey trousers and brown leather shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
     

  

     Correctional officers stopped two persons in custody from assaulting another person in custody at Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution today (April 28).

     At 8.10am, a 31-year-old male person in custody and a 34-year-old male person in custody attacked a 46-year-old male person in custody inside the kitchen. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailants and called for reinforcement.

     During the incident, the victim sustained an injury to his head. After examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. One of the assailants sustained an injury to his hand. After treatment by the institution Medical Officer, he did not need to be sent to a public hospital. The other assailant did not sustain any injuries.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The three persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the Transport Department (TD) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (April 28) to learn more about the preparations made by the departments for a resumption of public services.
      
     The Government has announced that the resumption of public services will start from May 4 under a phased approach. Among them, the TD will resume road tests on that day while planning to resume written tests on May 26. The SWD will also gradually resume the services of its Integrated Family Service Centres (IFSC).
      
     Mr Nip first visited the driving test centre of the TD in Ho Man Tin, where he was briefed by the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan, on the arrangements for the resumption of road tests next Monday and the implementation of infection control measures at driving test centres, such as requiring candidates to wear surgical masks and undergo body temperature screenings at entrances. As for the written tests to be resumed later, Mr Nip was pleased to know that the TD will keep the seats apart at appropriate distances and step up cleansing of computers at test centres.
      
     Accompanied by the Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Ms Pang Kit Ling, Mr Nip also visited the Causeway Bay Integrated Family Service Centre where he was briefed on the plan to gradually resume services at IFSCs and on measures to reduce social contacts. Mr Nip also learned that various infection control measures to safeguard the health of colleagues as well as service users will be put in place. For example, group activities will be conducted for no more than four participants, and physical partitioning is erected in meeting rooms for counseling services.
      
     "Many people hope that the Government can provide more public services when the epidemic situation becomes stable. I am pleased to learn that the departments have made all the necessary preparations for providing the services needed by the public while striving to safeguard public health," he said.
      
     "Government departments will continue to maintain a high degree of vigilance and adopt all the necessary precautionary measures. The Government will also closely monitor the situation and determine when to embark on a full resumption of normal business. I hope that members of the public will continue to fight the virus together with the Government so that we can win the war. I would also like to express gratitude to our colleagues for their commitment and dedicated efforts to serve the public during the epidemic."