Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (June 19):

Question:

     It has been reported that municipal solid waste (MSW) charging will be implemented next year the earliest. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the current population residing in public rental housing (PRH) estates exceeds two millions, whether the Government will discuss with the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) the implementation of a pilot scheme on MSW charging by amending the tenancy agreements signed with tenants, so as to grasp the actual situation of large-scale implementation of MSW charging;

(2) of the details of the preparatory work, undertaken by the HA up to April 30 this year, for the implementation of MSW charging at its PRH estates, e.g. formulating refuse collection procedure as well as modifying the design of and the usage arrangements for refuse stations and refuse chutes;

(3) given the absence of a domestic food waste collection system at present, of the measures to be put in place by the Government to facilitate the proper handling of domestic food waste by the public, so as to lower the impact of MSW charging on general households; and

(4) whether it will extensively set up closed circuit television systems in various districts to curb illegal dumping of domestic waste that may occur after the implementation of MSW charging?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Our responses to the question raised by the Hon Wu Chi-wai are as follows:
 
(1) Premised on the “polluter-pays” principle and built upon the existing municipal solid waste (MSW) collection and disposal system as well as the recommendations made by the Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) after conducting an extensive public engagement exercise, MSW charges are proposed to be levied across the territory through the dual modes of (i) charging by designated bags (DBs)/designated labels (DLs) and (ii) charging by weight-based “gate-fee”. Specifically, charging by DBs/DLs requires members of the public to wrap MSW in pre-paid DBs properly or attach with pre-paid DLs before disposal. This charging mode is applicable to most residential buildings, village houses, street-level shops, and institutional premises, accounting for some 80 per cent of the daily MSW disposed of at landfills. Charging by weight-based “gate-fee” is applicable to the remaining around 20 per cent of the daily MSW collected and disposed of by private waste collectors using waste collection vehicles without compactors (including grab lorries, demountable trucks, and tippers, etc.). Charges are calculated based on the weight of MSW disposed of at landfills or refuse transfer stations.
 
     As most of the MSW from public rental housing (PRH) are generally collected by refuse collection vehicles with rear compactors (except for oversized waste subject to charging by DLs), charging by DBs will be applicable to PRH. 
 
     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has launched different pilot schemes and involvement projects to facilitate different stakeholders to try out MSW charging in actual settings. We launched a six-month pilot scheme in some PRH estates and private housing estates in 2014 to try out the effectiveness of different modes of quantity-based charging. The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) has been funding non-profit-making organisations and bodies since 2015 to carry out Community Involvement Projects (CIPs) in different types of premises to try out MSW charging and prepare for its implementation. As at today, more than 80 MSW charging CIPs have been sponsored, of which three of them are PRH estates.
              
     In addition, to enable more stakeholders in PRH estates to try out MSW charging in actual settings in advance and help PRH residents to get prepared for the implementation of MSW charging, the EPD and the Housing Department (HD) have jointly commenced Trial Projects in ten PRH estates for a period of approximately six months each by batches in end 2018. The EPD provides free dummy DBs to PRH residents for on-site trial and simulating MSW charging arrangements during the trial period. The EPD also organises various publicity and public education activities to enrich participants’ understanding of MSW charging, source separation of waste and clean recycling. 
              
(2) Based on the recommendations made by the SDC, the proposed MSW charging implementation arrangements are built upon the existing MSW collection system. The EPD and HD have maintained close liaison on implementation of MSW charging. To ensure effective implementation of MSW charging, the EPD has taken into account the waste collection arrangements and relevant facilities in PRH such as waste chutes and waste collection rooms, etc. in devising the implementation arrangements.
 
     Upon the passage of the Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) (Amendment) Bill 2018, the HD will consult the Subsidised Housing Committee of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) on the implementation details of MSW charging at PRH having regard to the passed legal provisions and requirements. The HD will also provide clear guidelines to estate management staff including property management companies and cleansing service contractors to ensure that waste would be handled in accordance with the legal requirements. 
 
(3) To promote proper recycling of food waste and make good use of innovation technology mainly on turning food waste into energy to suit the local situation in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive mentioned in her 2018 Policy Agenda that a pilot scheme would be introduced to examine the feasibility of implementing government-run free food waste collection services in the long run.
 
     The EPD will allocate a portion of the treatment capacity of the Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase 1 (O·PARK1) and the Food Waste/Sewage Sludge Anaerobic Co-digestion Trial Scheme at the Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works (STW) to provide free collection and recycling services for about 50 tonnes of domestic food waste per day (the total food waste treatment capacity of the two facilities will be 250 tonnes per day). We will liaise with the HD and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS) to invite their participation in the pilot scheme. We will accord priority to and invite housing estates with experience in waste separation and/or handling food waste separation and recycling to join the pilot scheme. For example, housing estates that have participated in the food waste recovery trial under “Green Delight in Estates” programme organised by the HA, or those PRH estates who have participated in aforementioned CIPs funded by the ECF and Trial Projects etc.
              
     We are planning to extend the “food waste / sewage sludge anaerobic co-digestion” technology to Sha Tin STW and seeking funding approval of the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase 2 (ORRC2). Upon commissioning of the two projects in 2022, we will allocate one-third of this treatment capacity to treat domestic food waste, which means the domestic food waste treatment capacity will be increased to around 200 tonnes per day.
              
     We are conducting an engineering feasibility study and an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase 3 (ORRC3). Depending on the progress in the preparation and subject to the approval of funds from the LegCo, we hope to commission the ORRC3 in 2026 with a daily food waste treatment capacity of 300 tonnes. 
              
     Subject to the progress and development of the remaining food waste treatment facilities (including other ORRCs and food waste / sewage sludge anaerobic co-digestion facilities which may be built in the future), we anticipate that Hong Kong’s overall food waste treatment capacity will be increased to about 1 800 tonnes per day by around mid-2030s. This would amount to 50 per cent of food waste generated at present. According to overseas experience in food waste recycling, only around 50 per cent of food waste can be recycled even if comprehensive food waste recycling facilities are available. 
 
(4) In order to step up efforts in combating offences of illegal land filling and fly-tipping of construction waste, the EPD has installed surveillance camera systems at about 80 locations, and plans to further extend with 35 sets of surveillance camera systems equipped with artificial intelligence by mid-2019, for enhancing the Department’s enforcement tactics and mobility, including deploying the installation of systems to new black spot locations flexibly with reference to public concern on illegal waste disposal and intelligence shared among relevant departments. We will also deploy manpower resources for inspection having regard to risk assessments and actual conditions of the locations being monitored, and adopt appropriate enforcement strategy, to enhance enforcement effectiveness and deterrent effect.
              
     On the other hand, from June 2018 to May 2019, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) installed surveillance cameras at 118 blackspots across the territory to curb the illegal dumping of waste. The surveillance cameras are used in conjunction with other enforcement strategies, including preliminary public education and targeted blitz operations, to achieve a deterrent effect on repeated offenders. The FEHD often reviews its enforcement approach in tackling illegal waste dumping blackspots in various districts. If frequent illegal dumping of waste is detected in the vicinity of the blackspots with surveillance cameras installed, the FEHD will plan and mount blitz enforcement operations. 
 
     The FEHD intends to extend the surveillance camera scheme for two years starting from the third quarter of 2019 in consultation with the District Councils (DCs). Surveillance cameras will be installed at some 150 illegal waste dumping blackspots in phases according to the locations and priorities proposed by the DCs. If the hygiene conditions of a particular blackspot show significant improvement after the installation of cameras, the cameras will be relocated to other blackspots. The FEHD will progressively extend the scope of the scheme to cover more than 300 locations.
 
     The EPD and FEHD will continue to combat fly-tipping under a multi-pronged approach. Apart from installing more surveillance cameras having regard to the actual circumstances, the two departments will enhance enforcement actions against those who violate the law. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Kwong Chun-yu and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (June 19):
 
Question:
 
     The Government has commissioned non-governmental organisations to run six support service centres for the ethnic minorities (EMs) and two sub-centres (support centres). The services provided by the support centres include organising language classes for EMs. One of these centres, namely the CHEER Centre operated by the Hong Kong Christian Service, also provides interpretation and translation services for EMs using public services. Regarding the support provided for EMs, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of occasions in each of the past three years on which the various policy bureaux/government departments (B/Ds) arranged interpretation and translation services for EMs using public services, with a breakdown by (i) B/D, (ii) name of service provider, and (iii) EM language;
 
(2) of the number of occasions in each of the past three years on which the various B/Ds engaged the interpretation and translation services provided by the CHEER Centre, with a breakdown by (i) service category (i.e. telephone interpretation service, on-sight interpretation service, on-site (escort) interpretation service, simultaneous interpretation service, written translation service and proofreading service) and (ii) EM language;

(3) of the following details of the Cantonese classes and English classes offered by each support centre in each of the past three years: (i) number of classes offered, (ii) medium of instruction, and (iii) number of students enrolled (with a breakdown by ethnicity); and
 
(4) of the current population of EM who are aged 65 or above, and the number of those who are receiving the various types of allowances under the Social Security Allowance Scheme, with a breakdown by (i) type of allowances and (ii) ethnicity?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     In 2010, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau issued the “Administrative Guidelines on Promotion of Racial Equality” (Guidelines) to provide guidance to relevant bureaux and departments to promote racial equality and ensure equal access by ethnic minorities (EMs) to public services in the key areas concerned, and to take this into account in the formulation, implementation and review of relevant policies and measures. 
      
     After consulting the relevant bureaux and departments, the consolidated reply to the question raised is as follows:

(1) Various bureaux and departments will provide interpretation services for EMs in need to ensure their equal access to public services. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is conducting a review on the Guidelines. To enhance the provision of interpretation services by bureaux and departments, the Bureau is exploring the feasibility of including guidance on the provision of interpretation services in the Guidelines. 
 
     The number of interpretation services for EMs arranged by bureaux, departments and public organisations under the scope of application of the Guidelines in the past three years and names of service providers are shown in Annex 1. The above bodies have not provided the breakdown of the number of interpretation services by EM languages.

(2) The Home Affairs Department provides support services for EMs to help them integrate into the community. Major services include the provision of language learning classes and integration programmes through six support service centres for EMs and two sub-centres. One of these centres, namely the CHEER Centre operated by the Hong Kong Christian Service, also provides interpretation and translation services in seven EM languages (Note) for non-specialised areas. Bureaux and departments and EMs are welcome to make use of these services. Interpretation services include mainly instant telephone interpretation services. Subject to the availability of resources, on-site or simultaneous interpretation services can also be arranged. From 2019-20 onwards, the Home Affairs Department will enhance the interpretation services provided by the CHEER Centre, including the introduction of interpretation services in Vietnamese.
 
     The usage of CHEER Centre’s interpretation and translation services with breakdowns by bureaux, departments, public organisations and EMs as well as by EM languages in the past three years are shown in Annexes 2 and 3 respectively.

(3) The support service centres for EMs and sub-centres of the Home Affairs Department provide Cantonese classes and English classes with the aim to help EMs meet the needs in their daily social lives and strengthen their capability and confidence to integrate into the community. The languages of instruction for Cantonese classes in the centres are mainly English and Cantonese, while English is the primary language of instruction for English classes. The centres will, depending on the situation, arrange EM teaching assistants to assist the teachers.
 
     The number of Cantonese classes and English classes organised in the centres and the number of participants by ethnicities in the past three project years are shown in Annex 4.

(4) According to the information of the 2016 Population By-census by the Census and Statistics Department, there are 20 124 EMs (excluding foreign domestic helpers) who are aged 65 or above in Hong Kong, including 2 838 Indian, 713 Nepalese, 633 Pakistani, 1 256 Filipino, 1 400 Indonesian and 1 011 Thai. The total population of EMs who are aged 65 or above for the above-mentioned six ethnicities is 7 851. The Social Welfare Department does not collect information on the ethnicity of the recipients of the Social Security Allowance Scheme.
 
Note: The seven EM languages are Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Tagalog, Thai and Urdu. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, in the Legislative Council today (June 19):
 
Question:
 
     In recent months, a number of sponsors were reprimanded, fined and/or had their licences suspended by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for failing to discharge their obligations. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:
 
(1) the respective numbers of complaints or reports about sponsors failing to discharge their obligations (i) received, (ii) an investigation into which was launched and (iii) the investigation of which was completed, as well as the number of cases in which disciplinary sanctions were imposed on sponsors found guilty of misconduct (and the details of each case), by SFC in each of the past five years;
 
(2) if SFC has studied new measures to make issuers of listed securities, their directors and underwriters shoulder greater responsibilities for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the contents of the prospectuses, so as to avoid such responsibilities being borne solely by sponsors; and
 
(3) if SFC maintained, in the past three years, communication with the various parties involved in the issue of listed securities, with a view to understanding their needs and adjusting from time to time the measures concerned; if SFC did, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
(1) During the period from January 2014 to May 2019, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) received a total of 113 complaints or reports related to alleged sponsors failures. The details are set out in Table 1 of the Annex. During the same period, the SFC has taken 16 disciplinary actions against the failures of sponsors and/or sponsor principals (including cases that are originated from complaints or reports received outside the said period). The respective penalties of these cases are set out in Table 2 of the Annex.

     The SFC will take follow-up actions on every complaint and report received. However, the position of the follow-up actions of the complaints and reports and the progress of investigations are details that are subject to the secrecy provisions of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO). The SFC cannot disclose such information.

(2) The existing legislation has already prescribed the respective responsibilities of the sponsors, listing applicants and their directors involved in an initial public offering. Following the established practice in strictly adhering to the provisions of the SFO, the SFC may object to listing applications that contain false or misleading information and prosecute the persons involved, including listing applicants and their directors.
 
     According to the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, directors of a listing applicant shall bear legal liability in respect of the contents of the prospectus.
 
     According to the Securities and Futures (Stock Market Listing) Rules, the SFC may object to a listing application on certain grounds, including that if it appears to the SFC that the listing applicant has provided false or misleading information regarding a material fact (or through the omission of a material fact).
 
     In addition, according to the SFO, if the SFC has reasonable cause to believe that a person (including the directors of a listing applicant) has knowingly or recklessly provided false or misleading information in its statutory filing with the SFC, the SFC may conduct investigation against that person. Where appropriate, the SFC may prosecute the offenders.
 
(3) The SFC conducts regulatory supervision of sponsors based on its risk-based supervisory approach, and with particular attention to the possible deficiencies in their due diligence work. During the regulatory supervision, the SFC communicates with the sponsors about the concerns that it may have on the sponsors’ work. The SFC also provides the industry with examples of cases that fall short of the expected standards through publishing circulars or thematic reports. For example, the SFC issued a thematic report in March 2018 which draws the industry’s attention to specific deficiencies and the instances of non-compliance as observed by the SFC during its regulatory supervisions. The report also highlights the practices that meet the SFC’s expected standards. In addition, the SFC issued a circular in March 2018 to remind licensed corporations engaging in sponsors work of the SFC’s expected standards on conduct and due diligence practices and to urge them to critically review and enhance their internal system and control measures. read more

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Helena Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 19):
 
Question:
 
     In 2015, around 75 per cent of the elderly persons (i.e. persons aged 65 or above) in Hong Kong suffered from chronic illness. Some patient groups have pointed out that elderly patients with a number of chronic illnesses at the same time have to make a lot of efforts attending specialist outpatient clinics (SOPCs) in various public hospitals on different dates for treatment. Besides, they may not have the ability to sort out the medications prescribed by different doctors in order to take the medications according to schedule. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it knows in the past 12 months,
(i) the median and maximum numbers of SOPCs attended by the various elderly patients;
(ii) the number of elderly patients attending SOPCs for treatment, with a breakdown by the number of SOPCs attended by them (i.e. one to two, three to four, five to six, and seven or more) and the relevant percentages;
(iii) the median and maximum numbers of public hospitals visited by the various elderly patients for attending SOPCs for treatment; and
(iv) a breakdown of the number of elderly patients attending SOPCs for treatment by the number of public hospitals visited by them (i.e. one to two, three to four, five to six, and seven or more), and the relevant percentages;
 
(2) whether it knows, in each of the past three years, (i) for how many days on average were medications prescribed for each elderly patient by SOPCs, and (ii) the number of elderly patients who were prescribed five or more medications and the percentage of that number in the total number of such patients;
 
(3) given that under the Drug Refill Services E-Fill pilot programme launched by the Hospital Authority (HA), patients’ prescriptions are split into smaller and manageable quantities, and pharmacists will review and reaffirm the latest condition of the patients before each refill, whether the Government knows the current number of patients covered by the pilot programme; and
 
(4) given that while elderly patients who suffer from a number of chronic illnesses have to attend a number of SOPCs for treatment and take a number of medications, they may not have adequate care support and the ability to manage the medications, whether it knows if HA will consider providing health management services for such patients under a case approach; if HA will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     My reply to the various parts of the question raised by Dr the Hon Helena Wong is as follows:
 
(1) In 2018-19, the number of patients aged 65 or above who attended specialist outpatient clinics (SOPCs) of the Hospital Authority (HA) was about 687 000 (provisional figure), about 80 per cent of them received treatment by one to two specialties.  The HA does not maintain statistics on the median and maximum number of specialties attended by each elderly patient and the number of public hospitals each elderly patient has visited for specialist treatment.
 
(2) In each of the years between 2016 and 2018, the average prescription duration for HA patients aged 65 or above attending SOPCs with prescribed medications is around 94, 96 and 98 days respectively.  The numbers of prescriptions involving five or more items were around 870 000, 900 000 and 940 000 in the past three years, accounting for about 40 per cent of the total number of prescriptions for the above-said patients in each year respectively.
 
(3) Since December 2017, the HA has implemented the Drug Refill Services “E-Fill” pilot programme in phases at the Prince of Wales Hospital, the Tuen Mun Hospital and the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.  Currently, the pilot programme covers about 25 000 Medical SOPC patients aged 60 or above who are typically prescribed with relatively more drug items.  The HA will review and refine the scope and operation workflow of the programme in a timely manner and extend its coverage to other hospitals progressively in order to benefit more patients.
 
(4) At present, medication review clinics are set up in a number of public hospitals where clinical pharmacists provide individual patients in need and their care-givers with medication consultation, counselling and related drug education as needed so as to enhance patient compliance in use of drugs. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kin-yuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (June 19):
 
Question:

     Earlier on, the Education Bureau indicated that it had set aside $1 billion for implementing a programme under which funding would be provided, for carrying out minor internal conversion works, to those aided schools whose premises had facilities not up to the current standards for school premises. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the objectives and the following details of the aforesaid programme: (i) the respective numbers of secondary schools, primary schools and special schools expected to benefit from the programme, and (ii) the number of conversion works projects in respect of which each school may apply for funding and the maximum amount of funding which may be allocated to each school;
 
(2) of the specific differences in the nature of the works projects carried out under the programme and those under the regular Aided Schools Applications for Capital Subventions: Major Repairs/ Alterations (major works); the number of schools which applied for subvention for major works, the number and nature of the alteration works projects involved in such applications, the number of alteration works projects for which subvention was granted and the total amount of subvention involved, and the percentage of that amount in the relevant estimated expenditure of that year, in each of the past five school years, together with a breakdown by type of schools (namely secondary school, primary school and special school);
 
(3) whether that $1 billion funding was included in the budgeted expenditure for the 2019-2020 financial year; if so, of the head and subhead of the expenditure, and the percentage of the funding in the total amount of expenditure under the relevant subhead; if not, the financial resources from which the funding was drawn and whether approval by the Finance Committee of this Council is required;
 
(4) why it is stipulated that schools may submit applications for the programme only within this year and next year; whether it has assessed if the contractors concerned can cope with the conversion works to be carried out by a large number of schools in these two years; if it has assessed, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) of the expected number of schools whose premises will meet the current standards for school premises upon completion of the conversion works, as well as the types of school facilities that can be upgraded up to the current standards (together with a breakdown by type of schools); and
 
(6) whether the priority accorded to, and the success rate of, the schools’ applications for (i) subvention for major works and (ii) redevelopment/reprovisioning will be affected as a result of the funding allocated to the schools under the programme? 

Reply:

Mr President,

     The reply to the six questions asked by the Hon Ip Kin-yuen is as follows:

     At present, there are about 900 public sector schools (including special schools) in the territory. Their premises were built in different periods in accordance with the building standards at the time of construction and facilities in the premises vary. While the standards have been changing over the years, existing school premises in operation are required to comply with prevailing statutory requirements. As at May 2019, about 200 of them were built according to prevailing standards. 

     Over the years, the Education Bureau (EDB) has put in place various measures to enhance school facilities. These measures include the School Improvement Programme implemented between 1994 and 2006, where over 700 public sector schools built according to the planning standards when the schools were constructed have their school facilities enhanced (e.g. through provision of additional or conversion of classrooms and special rooms) as far as technically feasible. The EDB have also sought to address shortfall in space and school facilities through reprovisioning and redevelopment programmes.

     In addition, the EDB is providing school premises maintenance and repair support to some 840 aided schools (including special schools) through the annual Major Repairs (MR) and Emergency Repairs (ER) mechanism. For the scope of works under the mechanism, apart from providing repairs to impaired items, the EDB also seek to improve school premises facilities through, for example, retrofitting of lighting systems, paving of non-slip floor tiles, improvement of ventilation systems, replacement of surfacing materials, etc. In the recent five financial years (i.e. 2015/16 to 2019/20), an annual average of about 840 aided schools submitted MR applications. When the EDB considers the allocation of funding for taking forward MR requests from schools, priority will be accorded to those works items that are required under the law and ought to be carried out from the repairs angle (i.e. must-repair items), e.g. items related to safety, health and hygiene or those that are statutorily required. During these five financial years, applications for must-repair items have all been approved. And, with the increase in resources allocation in recent years (the relevant non-recurrent subvention provision has increased from $1 billion in 2015/16 to $1.5 billion in 2019/20), on average, about 50% of the MR applications for other repairs and improvement works were approved in the recent two years. The total approved project estimates of approved MR works has increased from some $560 million to over $1 billion in the recent five financial years.

     The EDB understand that the community is concerned about the conditions of facilities at old school premises. As provided in our response to the Legislative Council (LegCo) Education Panel on March 19, 2019 (Note 1), as well as in our reply to the question raised by the Hon Ip Kin-yuen about improvements to existing school premises in examining the Estimates 2019-20 (Note 2), based on the consensus reached with LegCo and the sector earlier on, the EDB is carrying out improvement works for those primary schools operating in “matchbox-style school premises” (Note 3), with a focus on addressing the problems arising from the unique architectural design of those premises. Under this programme, our works consultants have also explored technically feasible means for more flexible use of existing space, such as minor internal conversion and installation of movable partition walls to turn existing facilities into temporary special rooms, with a view to improving the teaching and learning environment. Such minor internal conversion works were well received by the schools concerned.

     Taking into account the experience from the aforementioned “matchbox-style school premises” improvement programme and views of different stakeholders (including the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association and the Subsidized Primary School Council), the EDB are working on a programme to conduct similar minor internal conversions at the other 600 odd aided school premises (including special schools) constructed according to past building standards to facilitate more flexible use of existing space by schools, thereby enhancing the teaching and learning environment and efficacy.

     The EDB have reserved $1 billion under the Capital Works Reserve Fund (CWRF) to take forward this time-limited minor conversion works programme (the Programme). Individual schools may submit works proposals to the EDB this year and next (i.e. 2019 and 2020) having regard to their premises conditions and school-based needs. The works consultants and contractors engaged by the EDB will continue to help take forward the Programme. They have sufficient capacity and experience in handling the works concerned. The EDB arranged briefing sessions in April 2019 for the schools concerned to explain the detailed arrangements of the Programme and to share the experience from similar improvement works in “matchbox-style school premises” for the schools’ reference. Over 480 schools attended the briefing session and the feedbacks were very positive. The 2019 application period was just closed on June 6. Since the premises conditions and school-based needs of individual schools vary, the conversion works applied for and in turn the related works schedule and costs would vary. The EDB are now processing the applications received, and will follow up with the schools concerned on the proposed works and related arrangements as soon as practicable. The EDB will also follow the established mechanism to seek the LegCo Finance Committee’s approval with regard to the annual cashflow requirements for the Programme under the CWRF Block Votes allocation. 

     Meanwhile, the EDB will continue to enhance school facilities and improve the teaching and learning environment in accordance with the schools’ needs through the various on-going measures, including the annual MR and ER mechanism, reprovisioning and redevelopment arrangements.

Note 1: Re LC Paper No. CB(4)666/18-19(01).
Note 2: Re Reply Serial No. EDB506.
Note 3: The so-called “matchbox-style school premises” are cuboidal-shaped premises constructed between mid-1960s and 1980 in public housing estates for primary school use. Following the reprovisioning of one public sector primary school previously operating in “matchbox-style school premises” to a vacant school premises (VSP) in September 2018, there are at present 27 public sector primary schools operating in “matchbox-style school premises”. Among these 27 schools, 6 have been allocated with new school premises or VSP through School Allocation Exercises for reprovisioning or expansion. read more