Author Archives: hksar gov

     To tie in with World Book Day, the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has launched a range of exciting activities today (April 20). Built on last year’s theme “Discover and Share the Joy of Reading”, the new element “Unlock the Secrets@LIBRARY” is introduced this year to help readers experience the joy of reading.

     During the fight against COVID-19, the HKPL will launch a series of online programmes to allow members of the public to enjoy reading anytime, anywhere. In the first programme “Interaction with Authors”, local young writers Yau Yan-ni and Leung Wai-lok, through video clips, share how reading influences their lives, while children’s book author Cheng Wing-sze explores the benefits of parent-child reading. The videos will be uploaded to the YouTube Channel of HKPL in phases. Online writer Blue God Zi will go live in real time to engage fans and create stories.

     In addition, the HKPL organises the 4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition annually to encourage children and youth to broaden their reading scope. Featuring the theme “Growing Up with Reading”, this year’s competition received an overwhelming response with over 1 400 entries from more than 240 schools. Winning entries were selected from each category, with 25 chosen from junior primary, 15 from senior primary Chinese, 15 from junior secondary Chinese, 12 from senior secondary Chinese, eight each from senior primary English and junior secondary English, and five from senior secondary English. The result of winning entries will be uploaded to www.hkpl.gov.hk/wbd on April 25.

     The HKPL is also rolling out the campaign “Take a Break – eReading Corner” to promote e-books. Thirty e-books from two popular online Chinese collections, HyRead and SUEP, will be selected each month. Readers can simply download the HyRead 3 App and log in with their library accounts to borrow the online books anytime at no charge. For more details, please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/ereading-corner.

     Other highlight activities such as “Meet-the-Authors”, “Summer Reading Fiesta”, “Hong Kong Library Festival” and “Library-on-Wheels” will also be held. Details of the activities are available on the HKPL’s website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/index.html), “Reading is Joyful” Facebook page (www.facebook.com/readingisjoyful) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/readingisjoyful).

     Members of the public can enjoy reading through the HKPL’s vast e-resources. The public can log in to their library accounts to read online or download to computers and mobile devices for e-reading anytime. Hong Kong residents who have never applied for library cards or HKPL e-accounts can visit the HKPL’s website to create e-accounts and gain instant access to the diversified digital content. To learn more about HKPL’s e-resources, please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/e-resources/index.html.

      

     The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (April 20) appealed to eligible persons/bodies who have not yet registered as geographical and/or functional constituency electors to submit new registration applications by the statutory deadline of May 2, so that their registration particulars can be included in the final registers to be published in July this year, and they will be able to vote in the 7th Legislative Council General Election.
 
     “Completed application forms can be submitted to the REO by post (13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay), by fax (2891 1180), or by email (form@reo.gov.hk). Applications may also be submitted via the REO e-Form Upload Platform (www.reo-form.gov.hk). When submitting their voter registration applications forms, applicants should also provide their telephone numbers and email addresses, so that the REO can contact them more promptly and efficiently when needed,” a spokesman for the REO said.
 
     Due to the shortened service hours or closures of certain government facilities in response to the epidemic, the REO reminds members of the public who opt to submit applications by post to send out their application forms early in order not to miss the statutory deadline. When submitting applications by email, members of the public should avoid attaching a large number of voter registration application forms to a single email and sending it to REO’s email account, as it may cause delivery failure because of the large file size.
 
     After sending their voter registration applications through email, applicants are advised to check if they receive a confirmation email (see attached) which is automatically sent by the REO email server. If they do not receive a confirmation email, applicants are advised to resend their voter registration application by email or through the other aforesaid submission channels. Applicants who submit their application forms through the REO e-Form Upload Platform should take note of the application number generated by the system, so that they may check the status of their applications afterwards when needed.
 
     To facilitate members of the public in submitting their application forms by the statutory deadline of May 2, the REO will make special arrangements for its office on 13/F of Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay to remain open until 11.59pm on May 2 to receive application forms.
 
     In addition, the REO again urges registered electors who received inquiry letters issued by the REO to, as per the instructions of the letter, reply as soon as possible by the statutory deadline of May 2 this year via post, fax or email, so as to maintain their voter registration status.
 
     The specified application forms for voter registration can be obtained from the REO, the District Offices and the management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk).
 
     For enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001. Members of the public may also check their registration status and particulars at any time by logging into the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk). read more

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will allocate some 40,000 new extendable niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun and Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, which will be open for application starting from May 11.
 
     An FEHD spokesman said today (April 20), “Further to the previous allocation of some 20 000 niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium (Phase I) and Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium in 2019, the FEHD will launch a new round of niche allocation. A total of 44 950 extendable niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium and Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI will be allocated, including 22 680 standard niches (7 080 smoke-free niches and 15 600 non-smoke-free niches) and 220 non-smoke-free large niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium; and 21 720 standard niches (11 490 smoke-free niches and 10 230 non-smoke-free niches) and 330 large niches (160 smoke-free niches and 170 non-smoke-free niches) at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI. The application period will start from May 11 till June 10.”
 
     Applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large niche or standard niche for the same deceased person. When applying for a large niche, the applicant has to fill in at least three deceased persons’ particulars in the application form. For applying for a standard niche, the applicant has to fill in at least one deceased person’s particulars.
 
     The spokesman said, “In order to expedite the allocation process, the priorities of successful applicants for niche allocation and the designated niches assigned to them are to be determined by drawing of lots and computer balloting. The niches will not be chosen by the applicants themselves. The successful applicants can make use of the niche location enquiry system on the FEHD website to enquire as to the location of the niches concerned. If the applicant decides to take up the designated niche, he or she must complete the relevant formalities and settle the payments at the Public Niche Allocation Office according to the scheduled date and time.
 
     “In addition, to encourage co-location of ashes and take into consideration those who have failed in the last allocation exercise, these two categories of applicants – if meeting the criteria for the respective category – will be given an additional ballot paper under that category to enhance the chance of a successful ballot exercise. In exceptional cases, for applicants who were unsuccessful in the most recent two consecutive niche allocation exercises, two additional ballot papers will be allotted under that category.
 
     “As regards the ashes interment period, the initial interment period is 20 years after allocation of a niche to the applicant and can be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter upon payment of the prevailing prescribed fee. On expiry of the 20-year/10-year interment period, as long as the related persons confirm extension of the interment period and pay the prevailing prescribed fee, the use of the allocated niche can be continued.”
 
     The spokesman added, “Since the quantity and type of niches (standard/large; smoke-free or non-smoke-free) available for allocation in these two columbaria are different, the chance of successful allocation varies. When deciding the type of niche to be selected for application, applicants should make reference to the relevant information in the application form for assessing the chance of successful allocation.”
 
     Starting from May 11, application forms can be downloaded from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or obtained from the department’s Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of Home Affairs Department, Post Offices on Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Peng Chau and at Mui Wo and Tai O or by fax via hotline 2841 9111. The completed application form together with copies of the required documents shall be submitted within the application period by fax (2333 1716), email (apply_newniche@fehd.gov.hk), or in person to the FEHD Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office or by post to the above offices.
 
     Applicants can also fill in the online application form and submit the application online. The FEHD advises applicants to submit application forms online so as to avoid postal delay or non-delivery.
       
     The FEHD will notify the successful applicants by SMS, email or post of the serial number of the designated niche allocated. Applicants can also check the results of their applications on the next day after the drawing of lots and computer balloting at the FEHD website, Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, Public Niche Allocation Office or through the enquiry hotline 2841 9111.
      
     Leaflets regarding the arrangement of this niche allocation exercise are available for collection from tomorrow (April 21) at the department’s Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of Home Affairs Department, Post Offices on Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Peng Chau or at Mui Wo and Tai O. For details, please visit the FEHD website, or call 2841 9111 or email to enquiry_newniche@fehd.gov.hk.
      
     The FEHD has launched a subscription scheme for the new niche allocation announcement since February 27 this year to facilitate members of the public to receive the department’s relevant announcements. Subscribers can choose to receive notifications by SMS and/or email.
 
     Information on the Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices and Public Niche Allocation Office of FEHD is as follows:
 
Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: 1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Tel: 2570 4318
Fax: 2591 1879
 
Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel: 2365 5321
Fax: 2176 4963
 
Public Niche Allocation Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, Block B, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel：2330 5635
Fax：2333 1716 read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:        The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (April 22) at 11am and Thursday (April 23) at 9am in the Chamber of the LegCo C… read more

     A correctional officer stopped a remand person in custody who was committing self-harm at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre today (April 19).      At 3.06pm today, the 25-year-old female remand person in custody… read more