The Education Bureau (EDB) today (August 19) reminded students who are interested in applying for subsidy under the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) for the 2019/20 academic year and who will enter designated Mainland institutions in the 2019/20 academic year for the first year of their studies to submit their completed application forms together with supporting documents to the EDB by post on or before September 2.
      
     Eligible students may apply for the "means-tested subsidy" or "non-means-tested subsidy" under the MUSSS. The subsidy under MUSSS is granted on a yearly basis. The subsidised period would be the normal duration of the undergraduate programmes pursued by the student concerned in the designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants can only receive either the "means-tested subsidy" or "non-means-tested subsidy" in an academic year.
      
     For the 2019/20 academic year, the amount of full-rate subsidy and half-rate subsidy under the "means-tested subsidy" are HK$16,800 and HK$8,400 respectively. The amount of the "non-means-tested subsidy" is HK$5,600. There are 181 designated Mainland institutions, including 112 institutions participating in the 2019/20 Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions. The MUSSS is not subject to any quota.
      
     Detailed information on the MUSSS, including the 181 designated Mainland institutions, application forms and guidance notes, are available at the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/musss19). The EDB will inform individual applicants of the application result by the first quarter of 2020.

     Police had earlier issued a Letter of No Objection regarding a public meeting held yesterday (August 18) on Hong Kong Island.  Although the meeting was generally peaceful, acts of breaching public peace happened afterwards. Police deeply regret such acts.
      
     A large number of protestors rushed to the roads and occupied the carriageways of Causeway Road and Hennessy Road after leaving the public meeting venue. The protestors later proceeded to Western District, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Tin Hau, occupying the carriageways and paralysed the traffic in the vicinity.  In the evening, a large group of protestors still stayed on the carriageways around Admiralty. Some protestors also shot hard objects at the Central Government Complex with slingshots and aimed laser beams at police officers.
      
     One of the accusations by the public meeting organizer was the abusive use of violence by Police. Police have to point out that over the past two months, violent incidents happened in various large-scale protests. The Police Force has always been exercising restraint, tolerance and patience, striving to maintain public order and protect the safety of members of the public. Only when there were violent acts or illegal behaviours which endangered the safety of people at scene, Police would stop them by proportionate use of force to prevent the incidents from heating up and worsening. Protestors neglected their violent acts and the provocation at Police but criticized Police’s use of force was reversing the causality and was unfair to Police.
      
     Police all along respect people’s rights and freedom to express views and facilitate all peaceful public events.  Police appeal to protestors to remain peaceful, rational and non-violent when participating in public events in order to maintain public safety and public order.

     In response to the public meeting held in Victoria Park today (August 18), a Government spokesman said that though the public meeting was generally peaceful, the participants occupied a number of thoroughfares on Hong Kong Island, seriously affecting traffic and causing much inconvenience to the community. The Transport Department and the Police have actively co-ordinated with concerned parties to minimise the impact.
      
     The spokesman reiterated that it was most important to restore social order as soon as possible. The Government will begin sincere dialogue with the public, mend social rifts and rebuild social harmony when everything has calmed down.     
      
   

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     A large group of protestors are currently occupying the carriageways of Harcourt Road in Admiralty, paralysing the traffic in the vicinity. Protestors also shot hard objects at Central Government Complex with slingshots and aimed laser beams at police officers, posing a safety threat to everyone at scene. Police warn protestors to stop their illegal acts and leave immediately.

     Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
      
     A public meeting is underway in Victoria Park. A large group of participants are occupying various main carriageways from Tin Hau to Western District. Police appeal to drivers to avoid travelling to the area and stay tuned to the latest traffic arrangements.