The Government today (January 10) announced the appointment of three new members and the re-appointment of the Chairperson and five incumbent members to the Women's Commission (WoC) for a term of two years with effect from January 15, 2020.
 
     Ms Chan Yuen-han has been re-appointed as the Chairperson of the WoC. Ms Chan served the WoC as a member before taking up the chairmanship from January 2018. Under her leadership, the WoC has continued its dedicated efforts in advancing the development of women in Hong Kong and maintained close ties with women's groups and concerned stakeholders in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong.

     The three new members are Professor Lui Yu-hon, Ms Winnie Ng Wing-mui and Dr Kitty Wu Kit-ying.

     Professor Lui Yu-hon is the President of Tung Wah College. He is also a member of the Human Resources Planning Commission.

     Ms Winnie Ng Wing-mui is a Director of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited. She is also a member of the Town Planning Board.
 
     Dr Kitty Wu Kit-ying is a clinical psychologist.

     The five re-appointed incumbent members are Ms Melaine Lee Kam-ha, Ms Scarlett Pong Oi-lan, Dr Loletta So Kit-ying, Miss Sherry Tsai Hiu-wai and Mrs Viola Wong Ho Suk-ying.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, welcomed the appointments and re-appointments. He said, "Coming from a diverse background, the newly appointed and re-appointed members have rich experience in their professions and community services. I hope that they will give valuable advice on the work of the WoC."
 
     Dr Law also thanked the three outgoing members, Professor Shirley Hung Suet-lin, Ms Angelina Kwan and Ms Michelle Tang Ming-sum, for their participation in and valuable contribution to the work of the WoC in the past years.

     The WoC was set up on January 15, 2001, as a central mechanism to promote the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong. It plays a strategic role in advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women's issues.

     Following is the membership list of the WoC with effect from January 15, 2020:

Non-official members
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Ms Chan Yuen-han (Chairperson)
Professor Cecilia Chan Lai-wan
Ms Susanna Chiu Lai-kuen
Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
Mrs Emily Tim-yi Lam Ho
Dr Kevin Lau Chung-hang
Ms Melaine Lee Kam-ha
Ms Elaine Lo Yuen-man
Professor Lui Yu-hon
Ms Winnie Ng Wing-mui
Ms Yolanda Ng Yuen-ting
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Ms Scarlett Pong Oi-lan
Ms Rigam Rai
Dr Loletta So Kit-ying
Miss Sherry Tsai Hiu-wai
Mr Walter Tsui Yu-hang
Ms Wong Siu-wah
Mrs Viola Wong Ho Suk-ying
Dr Kitty Wu Kit-ying
Ms Yvonne Yeung Kin-ha

Ex-officio members
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Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare or representative (Vice-Chairperson)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs or representative
Director of Social Welfare or representative

     The Government gazetted today (January 10) the proposed widening of Fuk Hang Tsuen Road between Castle Peak Road – Lam Tei and Fuk Hang Tsuen Lane to improve the traffic conditions and cope with the anticipated traffic growth.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans 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

Tuen Mun Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
2/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices,
1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories

District Lands Office, Tuen Mun,
6/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices,
1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories

     The gazette notice, scheme, plan, resumption 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 March 10, 2020.

     Demand notes for rates and/or Government rent for the quarter from January to March 2020 have been issued, and payment should be made by January 31, 2020.
 
     The demand notes have reflected the rates concession for this quarter, subject to a ceiling of $1,500 and $5,000 for each rateable domestic and non-domestic tenement respectively. Any unused portion of the concession in this quarter will not be used to offset the outstanding rates in any other quarter. The concession does not apply to payment of Government rent.
              
     Payment can be made:

(1) by using autopay or electronic means (such as PPS, bank automated teller machines, Faster Payment System or Internet);
 
(2) by uploading an e-Cheque/e-Cashier's Order via the "Pay e-Cheque" portal www.payecheque.gov.hk;
 
(3) by sending a crossed cheque to the Treasury, PO Box 28000, Gloucester Road Post Office, Hong Kong (please note that mail with underpaid postage will be rejected); or
 
(4) in person at any post office or designated convenience stores. For the addresses and opening hours of post offices, please call Hongkong Post's hotline (2921 2222), or visit www.hongkongpost.hk.
 
     If demand notes have not been received, members of the public may call 2152 0111, fax 2152 0113, or visit the Rating and Valuation Department, 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.
 
     Members of the public can also visit the department's website at www.rvd.gov.hk to obtain replacement demand notes or enquire on the amount payable. For instant payment, payers may obtain a "payment QR code" from the "Account Enquiries" service at the website by using mobile devices and present it at any post office, 7-Eleven, Circle K or VanGo in Hong Kong.
 
     A surcharge of 5 per cent will be imposed for a late payment and a further surcharge of 10 per cent will be levied on the amount (including the 5 per cent surcharge) that remains unpaid six months after the payment deadline.
 
     To support environmental protection, payers are advised to utilise the free eRVD Bill service to receive e-bills and make payments. They are also encouraged to settle bills by Autopay or other means of e-payment (e.g. PPS, ATM, Internet or e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order) to save queuing time. Application forms for autopay are obtainable from the Rating and Valuation Department, District Offices and major banks in Hong Kong or by telephoning 2152 0111. Payers may also download the form from the Department's website.

     The Chief Executive has made the following re-appointments to the Deposit Protection Appeals Tribunal in accordance with the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance (Cap. 581) for a term of three years with effect from January 14, 2020:
 
Chairman
————
Mr Anthony Kenneth Houghton, SC
 
Members
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Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung
Professor Stella Cho Lung Pui-lan
Mr Anson Wong Man-kit, SC
 
     Announcing the appointments, a government spokesman said, "We are confident that, with their expertise and experience, the appointees will continue to contribute to the effective operation of the Tribunal."
 
     The Tribunal was established under the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance to hear appeals from depositors or member banks of the Deposit Protection Scheme who are aggrieved by certain decisions made by the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board or the Monetary Authority in relation to the Scheme.
 
     The above appointments were gazetted today (January 10).

     The New Building (Construction) Regulation (New Regulation) and the amendments to other subsidiary legislation under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) including the Building (Administration) (Amendment) Regulation 2020, the Building (Ventilating Systems) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 and the Building (Construction) Regulations (Repeal) Regulation were gazetted today (January 10).
      
     The New Regulation and the amendments to the subsidiary legislation aim to implement a performance-based building control system and enhance the standards on the design and construction of buildings, streets, building works and street works under the BO.
      
     Most of the provisions in the extant Building (Construction) Regulations (B(C)R) have been in use for some 30 years. With the advancements in building technology and developments in international building codes and standards, the Government has comprehensively reviewed the extant B(C)R. The current prescriptive provisions under the extant B(C)R are converted into performance-based ones as far as practicable. Instead of prescribing requirements, these performance-based provisions specify the expected performance of the design and construction of buildings to facilitate innovation in building technology and to provide design flexibility. The New Regulation also introduces new provisions mandating provision of adequate means of access for maintenance of facilities at the exterior of buildings (for example, air-conditioners) in order to provide better protection of workers' safety.
      
     Following the current practice, the Building Authority (BA) will issue and update codes of practice and practice notes to provide guidelines, standards and technical specifications, the compliance with which would be regarded by the BA as satisfying the performance-based requirements set out in the New Regulation. 
      
     Relevant stakeholders of the industry including various building professional institutions have been consulted and they are generally supportive of the New Regulation.
      
     Following the gazettal today, the New Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on January 15 and will come into operation on February 1, 2021, to allow sufficient time for the stakeholders to become familiar with the changes.