The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association:

     The Beat Drugs Fund (BDF) is inviting applications for the 2019 Funding Exercise of the Regular Funding Scheme (RFS) from today (August 5) until September 16.
 
     The BDF RFS aims to promote worthwhile anti-drug projects that can help address the problem of drug abuse. For the 2019 Funding Exercise of the RFS, projects meeting one or more of the priority areas (at Annex) for treatment and rehabilitation, preventive education and publicity, and research will be accorded priority.
 
     The application form and guide to applicants are available on the website of the Narcotics Division (www.nd.gov.hk/en/beat_drug_fund_2019.htm). Briefing sessions for interested applicants will be held on August 19 and 20 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre. The enrolment form for the briefing sessions is also available from the same website. 
 
     Enquiries are welcome by telephone at 2867 2737 or 2867 2286; by fax on 2810 1790; or via email to bdf@sb.gov.hk.
 
     The results of applications for the 2019 Funding Exercise are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2020. Applications for the next round of the funding exercise will tentatively be invited in the third quarter of 2020.

     A woman was fined $8,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (August 5) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in January this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Lohas Park Road in Tseung Kwan O. During the inspection, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
      
     According to the OLA's record, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for managing the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
      
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to make a report to the OLA through the hotline (tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (August 5) that due to blockage of public access to the Tuen Mun Government Offices (TMGO) and Sha Tin Government Offices (STGO), public services including map sales and enquiry services in the Tuen Mun District Lands Office and the District Survey Office in the TMGO and the Sha Tin District Lands Office and the District Survey Office in the STGO will be suspended with immediate effect.

     The Transport Department (TD) announced this afternoon (August 5) that owing to the situation in Sha Tin, the counter services at the TD's Sha Tin Licensing Office at 2/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories, are suspended until further notice.

     For enquiries, please call 2804 2600.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, August 5, 2019 is 106.6 (up 0.7 against last Saturday's index).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, August 3, 2019 was 105.9 (same as last Friday's index).