The Government announced today (September 4) that the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 3,056 places in 37 undergraduate programmes of six post-secondary institutions for the cohort to be admitted in the 2020/21 academic year. 
      
     These 37 designated programmes fall under 10 disciplines that have been identified as having keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, health care, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality.
      
     The programmes and number of subsidised places under the SSSDP were determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments. Details of the participating institutions, the programmes and the number of subsidised places are listed in the Annex.
      
     In the 2020/21 academic year, the annual subsidy amount for laboratory-based programmes will be increased from $72,800 in the 2019/20 academic year to $74,600, while that for non-laboratory-based programmes will be increased from $41,700 to $42,800 according to the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index.
      
     The adjusted subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing students meeting the criteria. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee after subsidy. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office in respect of the actual amount of tuition fees payable.
      
     Allocation of the subsidised first-year intake places will mainly go through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System to ensure that eligible students are selected on a merit basis.
      
     The SSSDP was launched in the 2015/16 academic year to subsidise students to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing undergraduate programmes in selected disciplines. The SSSDP aims to achieve the following objectives:
      
     (1) To increase the supply of subsidised undergraduate places by leveraging the supply of the self-financing post-secondary education sector;
      
     (2) To nurture talent in support of specific industries with keen demand for human resources;
      
     (3) To encourage the self-financing post-secondary education sector to offer programmes in selected disciplines that meet Hong Kong’s social and economic needs by providing targeted financial support; and
      
     (4) To support the healthy and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary education sector to complement the University Grants Committee-funded sector in broadening and diversifying study opportunities.
      
     The scope of the SSSDP was expanded with effect from the 2019/20 academic year to benefit students enrolling in designated sub-degree programmes. Details of the participating institutions, the sub-degree programmes, the number of subsidised places, the subsidy amounts and more for the 2020/21 cohort will be announced in due course.
      
     For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/SSSDP.

     Police today (September 4) laid a holding charge against a 49-year-old man with one count of murder.

     The man was in suspected connection with a murder case reported on September 2 in Sai Kung in which a 21-year-old woman died. The case will be mentioned at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon.

     Police today (September 4) appealed to the public for information on a fatal traffic accident in Cheung Sha Wan yesterday (September 3) in which a 90-year-old man died.

     At about 9.15am yesterday, a bus driven by a 64-year-old man was travelling along Cheung Sha Wan Road towards the New Territories. When turning right into Tonkin Street, it reportedly knocked down the 90-year-old man who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining serious multiple injuries, the 90-year-old man was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 8.57pm on the same day.

     The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm after the accident. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries and is required to report back to Police in late September.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9062 or 3661 9000.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will leave for Nanning, Guangxi Province, tomorrow afternoon (September 5) to attend the 2019 Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference to be held the next day. The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will join the visit.
 
     Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the evening on September 6. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
 

     Hong Kong Customs and Macao Customs conducted a joint operation codenamed "Turbine" to step up enforcement action against cross-boundary drug trafficking between Hong Kong and Macao during the period from July 20 to August 31. A total of 18 dangerous drug cases were detected with the arrest of 19 persons. A total of about 4.45 kilograms of different kinds of suspected dangerous drugs with an estimated market value of $5.5 million were seized.

     Seventeen men and two women aged between 17 and 58 were arrested in the cases. The seized suspected dangerous drugs include cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, ketamine and cannabis.

     Of the 18 cases, three were effected at Hong Kong International Airport. In one case, Hong Kong Customs intercepted a transhipment parcel from Malaysia to Macao and found 272 grams of suspected methamphetamine concealed between the paper layers of the carton box.

     In the other two cases, Hong Kong Customs intercepted two transiting male passengers arrived at Hong Kong from Ethiopia and planned for Macao via SkyPier. They were suspected to have dangerous drugs concealed inside their body cavities. A total of 1.96 kgs of suspected cocaine were seized in the cases.

     As for the remaining 15 cases, one involved an incoming passenger who was intercepted at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal and was found in possession of 1.92 kg of suspected cocaine concealed inside false compartments of his suitcase. The other cases involved outgoing passengers from Hong Kong who carried a small quantity of suspected dangerous drugs.

     Hong Kong Customs today (September 4) reminds members of the public that criminals may post recruitment advertisements on unknown websites and social media platforms to lure citizens into carrying dangerous drugs or various controlled items. They are reminded to stay alert and not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Hong Kong Customs believes that the joint operation has effectively combated cross-boundary drug trafficking between Hong Kong and Macao. The department will keep up its close co-operation with the Macao Customs in order to deter drug trafficking activities between the two places.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue stringent law enforcement at every boundary control point to combat cross-boundary trafficking activities of dangerous drugs.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Hong Kong Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).