The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (January 11) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at end-December 2018. Banking complaints include cases concerning general banking services and conduct-related issues.

     In December 2018, 161 cases were received and the handling of 232 cases was completed. As at end-December, the handling of 414 cases was in progress. 

     A table summarising the progress made in the handling of banking complaints by the HKMA is attached.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 11) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From January 4 to 10, the CHP confirmed two imported DF cases. The patients had been to the Philippines (one case) and Sri Lanka (one case) during the incubation period.

     As of yesterday (January 10), six cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported cases. The cases were imported from Malaysia (two), Maldives (one), the Philippines (one), Sri Lanka (one) and Vietnam (one). 

     DF remains endemic in some areas of Asia and beyond. The latest figures revealed that 365 cases have been recorded in Singapore since December 30, 2018, and 201 cases in Japan last year. In Taiwan, no local cases have been recorded to date in 2019. In the Americas, the latest figures indicated that 247 393 and 78 621 cases were filed in Brazil and Mexico respectively in 2018.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or exposed parts of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF and Zika virus infection should apply insect repellent for 14 days or at least 21 days respectively upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.
   

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public may refer to the CHP's tips for using insect repellents for details.

     To meet changing circumstances, the Definition of Terms used in Statutory Plans (DoT), Broad Use Terms (BUT) and Master Schedule of Notes to Statutory Plans (MSN) are reviewed by the Town Planning Board from time to time. Further to the last revisions made in June 2017, the Board today (January 11) promulgated a revised set of DoT, BUT and MSN for clarity and to streamline the planning application process.
      
     In order to allow greater flexibility for uses/activities of "Art Studio" that would be allowed in industrial buildings in the "Industrial", "Residential (Group E)" and "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Business" zones, an additional remark to the DoT for "Art Studio" has been added to state that "Art Studio (excluding those involving direct provision of services or goods)" means "any art studio which would not involve uses/activities that would attract visiting members of the general public by providing direct services or goods, such as hobby classes, seminars and sales of goods, or providing rehearsal facilities for any party other than the operator, owner and tenant(s) of the premises".
      
     Given that district health centres are similar to medical consulting rooms in nature and modern markets are akin to general retail stores in operation, the BUT and DoT of "Shop and Services" are revised to include "health centre" and "market". Opportunity is also taken to revise the DoT of "Public Clinic" to include health centre co-ordinated by the Government with a view to facilitating the provision of district health centres co-ordinated by the Government. Corresponding technical amendments are also made to the MSN as a result of the above revisions.
      
     Revisions to the DoT of "Telecommunications Radio Base Station" (RBS) are also made to provide flexibility on the location for installation of an RBS. An RBS may be installed at the rooftop or other parts of a building or structure with a view to fostering the development of 5G mobile services. The Board has also made revisions to the DoT of "Public Utility Installation" and "Utility Installation for Private Project" to allow small-scale electricity installations not exceeding 12 square metres (area) x 3 metres (height) within the "Village Type Development" zone to support Small House/New Territories Exempted House developments.
      
     The amendments take immediate effect while revisions to individual Outline Zoning Plans, as appropriate, will be made when the opportunity arises.
      
     The revised DoT, BUT and MSN are now available at the Secretariat of the Board at 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong (Tel: 2231 4810 or 2231 4835), the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb), and at the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary today (January 11) announced five judicial appointments covering the High Court and the District Court.

     The appointments include one Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, three Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and the Principal Family Court Judge. The appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. All appointments will take effect from January 14, 2019.

Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
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     The Honourable Mr Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung is appointed as Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court.
 
Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court
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     His Honour Judge Poon Siu-tung, Her Honour Judge Marlene Ng May-ling and His Honour Judge Lee Wan-tang are appointed as Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.
 
Principal Family Court Judge
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     His Honour Judge Chan Chan-kok is appointed as the Principal Family Court Judge.
 
     The biographical notes of the appointees are as follows:
 
The Honourable Mr Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung

     Mr Justice Au was born in Hong Kong in 1963. He obtained an LL.B. from the University of Hong Kong in 1996 and a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree from the University of Oxford in 1997. He acquired a P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1998. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1998 and was in private practice between 1999 and 2007. He was appointed as District Judge in 2007 and as Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in 2009.
 
His Honour Judge Poon Siu-tung

     His Honour Judge Poon was born in Hong Kong in 1967. He obtained an LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1990 and 1993 respectively. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1994 and was in private practice between 1994 and 2002. He was appointed as Permanent Magistrate in 2002, as District Judge in 2009 and as the Chief District Judge in 2012. He was appointed as the judge with special responsibility for the Executive Body of the Hong Kong Judicial Institute in 2017. 
 
Her Honour Judge Marlene Ng May-ling

     Her Honour Judge Ng was born in Hong Kong in 1960. She obtained an LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1982 and 1983 respectively. She was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1990. She was also admitted as a Solicitor of Supreme Court of England and Wales and as a Barrister and Solicitor of Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 1991, and as a Solicitor of Supreme Court of New South Wales of Australia in 1993. She was in private practice as a solicitor between 1990 and 2002. She was appointed as District Judge in 2003.
 
His Honour Judge Lee Wan-tang

     His Honour Judge Lee was born in Hong Kong in 1966. He obtained an LL.B and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1989 and 1991 respectively. He was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1993 and was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 2000. He joined the then Legal Department as Crown Counsel in 1993 and was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel in 1995. He was appointed as Deputy Principal Government Counsel in 2005 and took up the post of Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in the same year. He joined the Judiciary as District Judge in 2013.
 
His Honour Judge Chan Chan-kok

     His Honour Judge Chan was born in Macao in 1960. He obtained an LL.B. from the University of London in 1989 and a P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1990. He acquired an LL.M. from the City University of Hong Kong in 1997. He was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1992 and in England and Wales in 1993. He was in private practice between 1992 and 1998. He was appointed as Permanent Magistrate in 1998 and as District Judge in 2009.

     The Government announced today (January 11) that the subsidy amount of the Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for Self-financing Undergraduate Studies in Hong Kong (NMTSS) in the 2019/20 academic year will be adjusted upward according to the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index. The annual subsidy amount of the NMTSS will be increased from $30,800 in the current academic year to $31,300.
      
     The adjusted subsidy amount is applicable to both new and continuing students meeting the criteria. The subsidies are tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Eligible students enrolling in the relevant programmes 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.
      
     The NMTSS was one of the priority measures announced by the Chief Executive in July 2017 to support quality education. Since the 2017/18 academic year, a non-means-tested annual subsidy has been provided to Hong Kong students who have:
 
(a) attained "3322" in the Hong Kong Diploma for Secondary Education Examination (i.e. level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language and level 2 for Mathematics Compulsory Part and Liberal Studies) when they are enrolled in eligible self-financing first-year-first-degree programmes; or
 
(b) attained sub-degree qualifications (i.e. after completing the locally accredited sub-degree programmes in relevant disciplines) when they are enrolled in eligible self-financing top-up degree programmes.
 
     In the 2019/20 academic year, the NMTSS will cover the eligible full-time self-financing locally accredited local and non-local first-year-first-degree and top-up degree programmes offered by 16 institutions. A list of the relevant institutions and programmes for the 2019/20 cohort is in the Annex. Subsidy will be disbursed to all eligible students enrolling in the programmes covered by the NMTSS. Applications for the subsidy should be made through the institutions concerned. For details, please visit: www.cspe.edu.hk/nmtss.