The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (March 27) the rating results of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Distributor Safety Performance Recognition Scheme for 2019 for public reference.
 
     All the 167 distributors under the five registered gas supply companies supplying cylinder LPG in Hong Kong joined the Scheme. Among the participating distributors, 54 attained the highest level of safety performance, the gold rating, while 19 and 94 received silver and bronze ratings respectively. Compared with last year, six more distributors have attained gold ratings.
 
     Under the Scheme, independent auditing companies commissioned by the registered gas supply companies rated the distributors based on their performance in various aspects such as LPG cylinder delivery arrangements, safety inspections of gas appliances, record keeping of customer receipts, employee training and maintaining gas safety operation records. The rating results were verified by the EMSD.
 
     Distributors will display the Scheme's logo and the rating certificate outside and inside their shops respectively for easy identification by the general public.
 
     Organised by the EMSD and registered gas supply companies, the Scheme aims to further enhance the safety performance of the LPG cylinder trade. Details of the Scheme and the ratings of LPG cylinder distributors are available at the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/media/lpgcdsprs) and the EMSD mobile application "E&M Connect".

    

     Hongkong Post announced today (March 27) the postal service arrangements for the Ching Ming Festival on April 4. No mail delivery and no mail collection will be provided. All post offices will be closed. In accordance with the usual practice, mail posted on the public holiday will be processed on the next working day.
      
      For more information, members of the public may visit Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk or contact the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.
 

     The Chief Executive has appointed two new members and re-appointed 16 serving members to the panel of the Resolvability Review Tribunal (RRT); and appointed three new members and re-appointed 15 serving members to the panel of the Resolution Compensation Tribunal (RCT) for a new term from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022.
 
     The lists of members of the RRT and RCT panels for the new term are as follows:
 
RRT
—–
 
New appointees
 
Ms Sammy Koo Chi-sum
Mr Alexander Tang Hing-lam
 
Re-appointed members
 
Mr Vincent Chan Chun-hung
Mr Chan Kam-hon
Ms Florence Chan Yuen-shan
Ms Winnie Cheung Chi-woon
Mr Louis Chow Ka-leung
Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen
Mr Eugène Kieren Thomas Goyne
Mr Edward Ho Man-tat
Dr Hu Zhanghong
Professor Angela Ng Lai-ping
Mr Jeremy Robert Porter
Ms Sabita Prakash
Ms Winnie Wong Chi-shun
Mr Patrick Wu Yung-wei
Dr Yuen Wai-kee
Dr Paul Yung Pui-yip
 
RCT
—–
 
New appointees
 
Mr Eric Hui Kam-kwai
Mr Garth Brian Jones
Ms Norris Lam Man-ngar
 
Re-appointed members
 
Ms Annie Chan Wai-hing
Mr Anthony Chiu Ling-cheong
Dr Abril Choy Fung-peng
Mr Michael Fung Lik-yeung
Ms Samantha Ho Shuk-yee
Mr Peter Kung
Ms Josephine Kwan Wai-tuen
Mr Henry Stephen Lai Hin-wing
Ms Angela Leung Wai-tuen
Dr Gladie Lui Man-ching
Mr John Martin Maguire
Dr Kelvin Mak Po-lung
Mr Timothy Keith Pogson
Mr Rupert James Purser
Mr Roy Tsang Chi-wai
 
     Welcoming the above appointments today (March 27), the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, said, "The RRT and the RCT strengthen the appellate mechanism under the resolution regime and provide an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant decisions made by the resolution authorities and the independent valuer are reasonable and fair."
 
     Mr Lau thanked the outgoing members for their support for the work of the RCT. They are Mr David John Kidd, Mr Costa Tzatzakis and Ms Maura Wong Hung-hung.

     The RRT and the RCT are statutory tribunals established under the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Ordinance (Cap. 628) to hear appeals from persons aggrieved by the specified decisions made by the resolution authorities and the independent valuer. The Monetary Authority, the Insurance Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission are the resolution authorities under the Ordinance and are vested with a range of powers to effect orderly resolution for maintaining the stability of the financial system of Hong Kong. An independent valuer decides whether any pre-resolution creditor or shareholder is eligible for a payment of compensation. The chairperson of the RRT and the RCT is Mr Anson Wong Man-kit, SC.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will pass on the rates concession for the four quarters of 2020-21, as set out in the Budget Speech of the Financial Secretary in February, to its domestic and non-domestic tenants starting from April 2020.
      
     "Following approval by the Subsidised Housing Committee of the HA, the apportioned amount of rates concession will be transferred to domestic tenants on a monthly basis over a 12-month period from April 2020 to March 2021 by offsetting an equivalent amount in the rent payable by them, subject to a ceiling of $1,500 per quarter for each rateable property," a spokesman for the HA said today (March 27). For tenancies that do not cover the entire month, the transfer of the rates concession will be made on a pro-rata basis.
      
     "The rates concession passing-on arrangement will apply to all domestic lettings including interim housing licensees and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients," the spokesman said.
      
     "Similarly, the Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) of the HA approved that the rates concession for the financial year of 2020-21 for the HA's non-domestic properties (excluding carparks) will also be passed on to the non-domestic tenants/licensees on a 'no loss, no gain' principle. Their monthly rates from April 2020 to March 2021 will be waived subject to a ceiling of $5,000 per quarter in the first two quarters and a ceiling of $1,500 per quarter in the remaining two quarters for each rateable non-domestic property," the spokesman said.
      
     For the HA's 12 single-operator markets viz. Ching Long, Hung Fuk, Kwai Chung, Lei Muk Shue, Mun Tung, On Tai, Ping Yan, Shek Mun, Shui Chuen O, Tin Yan, Yan Tin and Ying Tung, the operators will also pass on the rates concession to their licensees in full.
      
     "Given the small amount of rates concession to individual carpark users and the significant administrative costs involved for its distribution to these users, the CPC endorsed the exclusion of carparks from this exercise in line with the arrangements for passing on the rates concession in previous exercises. The rates concession for carparks received by the HA would be invested in enhancing the HA's carpark facilities, such as the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities at suitable sites, replacement of energy-efficient lighting to promote environmental protection and upgrading of the security system, etc," the spokesman said.
      
     The maximum total amount of rates concession to be passed on to domestic and non-domestic tenants/licensees by the HA is estimated to be about $2,599 million and $58.9 million respectively. They will be individually notified of the arrangements.

     The Government gazetted today (March 27) the proposed road works at Chun Tin Street, Hok Yuen Street and Sung Chi 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 May 26, 2020.