The Lands Department announced today (November 29) that demand notes for Government rent in excess of $100 per annum for the half year ending December 25 in respect of properties subject to the Government Leases Ordinance (Chapter 40) and certain other properties have been issued.

     Payers can settle Government rent through various electronic means including autopay, bank automated teller machines (ATMs), e-Cheque/e-Cashier's Order, payment by phone service (PPS), and bill payment services provided by banks and PPS on the Internet. Payment may also be made in person and in cash at designated convenience stores. For details, please visit the Treasury's website at www.try.gov.hk.

     Payment may be made by sending a crossed cheque to PO Box No. 28000, Gloucester Road Post Office, Hong Kong, or in person to any post office. Please ensure sufficient mailing time and postage to make delivery in order. Underpaid mail will be rejected. For locations of post offices and their opening hours, please call Hongkong Post's enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit its website at www.hongkongpost.hk.

     Government rent payers who have not received their demand notes should enquire at the Government Rent and Premium Unit of the Lands Department at 1/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, or call 2231 3033.

     Purchasers of properties are strongly advised to instruct their solicitors to ensure that Government rent has been paid to date at the time of purchase. Enquiries on outstanding accounts can be made at 2231 3033 or email to landsd@landsd.gov.hk. An enquiry fee is payable for each property if a written confirmation of accounts position is needed.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 29) that the following leisure and sports facilities will be temporarily closed:
 
(a) The mini-soccer pitch at Kowloon Park in Yau Tsim Mong District will be temporarily closed from December 1 to January 31, 2020 for renovation works. During the closure period, the public may use similar facilities at King George V Memorial Park, Kowloon in the same district. 

(b) The turf pitch at Tai Po Sports Ground in Tai Po District will be temporarily closed from December 17 to 30 for turf maintenance works, while the running track will remain open. During the closure period, the public may use similar facilities at Kwong Fuk Park Football Pitch or Kwong Fuk Football Ground in the same district. 

     For the most up-to-date closure schedules of the above leisure and sports facilities, the public may refer to the notices at the venues or contact venue staff directly.

     In response to the measure of waiving the tolls of the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel as announced in the 2019 Policy Address, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (November 29) announced that the tender for the contract for the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel Free-flow Tolling System project (Contract No. ED/2019/03) has been cancelled.
      
     The tender cancellation notice was gazetted today.
  
     Enquiries can be made to Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited at 2268 3540 during office hours.

The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund Secretariat:

     The Community Care Fund (CCF) will extend the assistance programme Subsidy for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients Living in Rented Private Housing tomorrow (November 30). The six-month programme is administered by the Social Welfare Department (SWD).
      
     The programme, rolled out in October 2011, was launched annually in September 2013 to 2016 and relaunched for two years in November 2017. It aims at providing a one-off subsidy to Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) households living in rented private housing and paying rent which exceeds the maximum rent allowance (MRA) under the CSSA Scheme, so as to relieve their financial burden arising from the periodic increase of rent. The SWD has now extended the programme for six months.
      
     Beneficiaries should be, as at July 31, 2019, tenants of private housing receiving CSSA with monthly rental payment exceeding the MRA under the CSSA Scheme. The CSSA recipients concerned are not required to submit applications as the SWD will identify eligible CSSA households based on information on reported rental records as at July 31, 2019. In accordance with the current model of operation, monthly subsidy will be calculated based on the reported rental records as at July 31, 2019. The monthly subsidy will be either 50 per cent of the portion of the rental amount exceeding the applicable MRA or 15 per cent of the applicable MRA, whichever is the less. The subsidy will be disbursed during the extension period of the programme in one go. It is expected to be deposited directly into the eligible CSSA households' bank accounts for CSSA payment from late January 2020.
      
     For details of the programme, please visit the CCF website (www.communitycarefund.hk) or the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the CCF Team of the SWD at 3422 3090 during office hours.
 

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Due to the latest situation at various districts and the possibility of traffic disruptions, the Customs and Excise Department announces that the Hong Kong Customs College open days originally scheduled for tomorrow (November 30) and December 1 will be postponed. Ticket holders please keep the admission tickets. The rescheduling arrangements will be announced on the department's website (www.customs.gov.hk) later.