The Government today (March 20) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Somalia) Regulation 2019 (Amendment) Regulation 2020 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
      
     "The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Somalia) Regulation 2019 to implement the decisions on exemptions for arms embargo and financial sanctions, as well as the sanctions measures on improvised explosive device components, as set out in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2498," a Government spokesman said.
      
     The Amendment Regulation mainly amends or extends certain exemption conditions and arrangements in respect of arms embargo and financial sanctions, and implements the sanction measures prohibiting the supply of improvised explosive device components and related technology to Somalia.     

     The Government today (March 20) invites public tender for a private residential site on Anderson Road, Kwun Tong for implementing the second Starter Homes for Hong Kong Residents (SH) pilot project. The tender invitation will close on May 15, 2020. 

     According to the land sale conditions, all residential units to be built by the developer on the site should range from 23 sq m to 46 sq m (around 250 sq ft to 500 sq ft) in saleable area, among which 20 per cent shall be studio units, 25 per cent shall be one-bedroom units and the remaining 55 per cent shall be two-bedroom units. After the developer has obtained occupation permit of the project, the Government will randomly select from all residential units no less than 1 000 SH units, including 200 studio units, 250 one-bedroom units and 550 two-bedroom units.
  
     The developer is required to offer for sale the SH units selected by the Government at 80 per cent of the market prices to persons who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Government.

     A spokesman said, "Having made reference to the experience from the SH pilot project at Ma Tau Wai Road, the eligibility criteria of SH applicants should include the following – applicants have to be Hong Kong residents who have lived in Hong Kong for seven years; who have never owned any residential property in Hong Kong; whose income falls between the income limits for White Form (WF) applicants for the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and 30 per cent above such limits; and whose assets should not exceed the limit of 30 per cent above the HOS asset limits for WF applicants. The Government will determine the detailed eligibility criteria prior to the sale of SH units by the developer by making reference to the prevailing HOS limits."

     The SH units are subject to alienation restrictions. Owners cannot sell or let their SH units in the first five years after purchase. After the first five years, owners have to pay a premium to the Government before they can sell or let their units in the open market. The alienation restrictions are the same as those imposed under the SH pilot project at Ma Tau Wai Road.

     "The Government wishes to test out the arrangements of enlisting developers to build and sell SH units through inviting tender for the site on Anderson Road. The Government will make reference to relevant experience in considering the way forward of SH pilot project" the spokesman added.

     Regarding the support on e-learning for students from grassroots families, a Government spokesman said today (March 20) that the Community Care Fund (CCF) has implemented the assistance programme on "Provision of Subsidy to Needy Primary and Secondary Students for Purchasing Mobile Computer Devices to Facilitate the Practice of e-Learning" from the 2018/19 school year for three years.  Having regard that many students need to use their own mobile computer devices for e-learning at home during the class suspension period, all public sector schools implementing e-learning can submit applications to the Education Bureau for subsidy under the CCF programme for their students meeting the relevant eligibility criteria. 
      
     For enquiries, please contact the IT in Education Section of the Education Bureau at 3698 3670 or 3698 3584.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The People's Bank of China (PBOC) will issue Renminbi Bills through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Bills to be issued by the PBOC. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau announced today (March 20) that it has approved the first two production lines under the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme.
 
     The applicant of the first approved production line is Topwill Passion Limited. The production line is expected to supply an average of 2 million masks to the Government every month starting from April 20, and produce a further 250 000 masks for the local market on average every month.
 
     The applicant of the second approved production line is Shang Manufactory Limited. The production line is expected to supply an average of 800 000 masks to the Government every month starting from May 5.
 
     Based on their committed production output, the above-mentioned production lines may receive subsidies of up to $2.5 million and $2 million respectively. The actual amount of each subsidy is contingent upon the actual expenditure for production equipment and setting up the venue and clean room facilities, as well as testing and standards compliance, and will be finalised when the expenditure is confirmed.
 
     The Scheme will provide subsidies to a maximum of 20 local production lines. Taking into account the two approved applications, there remains a subsidy quota of 18 production lines.     
 
     As of yesterday (March 19), the Scheme had attracted a total of 82 applications. Apart from the two approved applications above, five other applications, after verification, have been confirmed to have met all the five eligibility criteria of the Scheme and the Government will process them as soon as possible. 70 applications have yet to meet the eligibility criteria, while the eligibility of five applications is being verified.
 
     The Government launched the Scheme under the Anti-epidemic Fund to facilitate local production of masks as soon as possible to help address the imminent shortage as well as to build up stock. An applicant must be a company holding a valid Business Registration Certificate and a valid Certificate of Incorporation in Hong Kong and demonstrate that the following five eligibility criteria have been met:
 

• having the production equipment in Hong Kong;
• having the raw materials in Hong Kong;
• having already in place or rented the production venue in Hong Kong;
• having already in place, rented or hired a contractor to set up clean room facilities in Hong Kong; and
• each production line being able to produce at least 500 000 masks per month.

 
     The Government has engaged the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to administer the Scheme. Details of the Scheme can be found at the HKPC's website: u.hkpc.org/mask. Companies interested in applying can contact the HKPC's hotline at 2788 6035 or email mask@hkpc.org.