The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the 79th Recruits Passing-out Parade at its headquarters today (December 16). The parade was reviewed by the Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council, Mr Bernard Chan.

     The CAS Recruit Training Certificate Programme has been recognised by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications as having accreditation standards at Level 3 under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework. This year's graduates, comprising 170 recruits, are the third batch to be awarded the Certificate in Auxiliary Forces Basic Training (Civil Defence). A total of 26 graduated officer cadets, who have undergone eight months' training relating to disaster preparedness and disaster human resources management, will be deployed to various CAS units.

     Mr Chan today presented outstanding recruit awards to one officer cadet and eight recruit members. The CAS members and recruits also demonstrated removal of fallen trees, emergency rescue, and mountain search and rescue skills.

     The Assistant Commissioner (Training and Development) of the CAS, Mr Fung Kam-man, said that the CAS recruitment exercise for 2019 has started. A total of 600 members will be recruited in the recruitment exercise throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available at the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk).

              

     A man who went missing in Tsuen Wan has been located.

     Chan Chi-shing, aged 25, went missing after he was last seen at a bus stop on Tsuen King Circuit on December 7 night. His family made a report to Police on December 9.

     The man returned to his residence in Sha Kok Estate, Tin Sum last night (December 15). He sustained no injuries and was sent to Prince of Wales Hospital for examination.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will invite employers of persons with disabilities to submit applications for the 23rd batch of the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED) from tomorrow (December 17) until January 25, 2019.
      
     To support the employment of persons with disabilities, the SWD launched SPED in June 2013 to provide employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications. The programme seeks to facilitate employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhance their work efficiency.
      
     The subsidy is capped at a maximum support level of $20,000 for each employee with disabilities. Starting from 2014-15, a grant of up to $40,000 may be considered for deserving cases for which the price of a single item of assistive device and its essential accessories exceeds $20,000.

     A wide range of assistive devices and workplace modifications which cater to the special needs of employees with disabilities at the workplace will be considered. Examples include computer accessories or adaptive equipment, optical magnifying devices, hearing and assistive devices, Braille products and handrails.
      
     The Po Leung Kuk has been commissioned to serve as the SPED Administrator. It will assist in administering and promoting SPED, provide advisory services and follow up on the progress of the subsidised programmes, prepare assessments on the applications and make recommendations to the Committee on the SPED set up by the SWD for consideration.
      
     Employers may apply for a subsidy under the SPED through nomination of the following referring organisations:
 

1. non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating SWD-subvented vocational rehabilitation services;
2. NGOs running training courses for persons with disabilities or persons recovering from work injuries with the funding support of the Employees Retraining Board;
3. the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department;
4. the Vocational Training Council; or
5. the SPED Administrator (Po Leung Kuk).

             
     Employers may submit their completed application forms together with the required documents by mail or by hand to the SWD through the referring organisations. No application fee is required and each applicant may submit more than one application.
      
     For enquiries, please contact Po Leung Kuk SPED Office by phone at 3980 9677, by email at sped@poleungkuk.org.hk or by fax at 3980 9633.

     For more details, the information note and SPED application form, people may visit and download from the SWD homepage www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_rehab/sub_listofserv/id_vocational/id_sped.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will invite employers of persons with disabilities to submit applications for the 23rd batch of the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED) from tomorrow (December 17) until January 25, 2019.
      
     To support the employment of persons with disabilities, the SWD launched SPED in June 2013 to provide employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications. The programme seeks to facilitate employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhance their work efficiency.
      
     The subsidy is capped at a maximum support level of $20,000 for each employee with disabilities. Starting from 2014-15, a grant of up to $40,000 may be considered for deserving cases for which the price of a single item of assistive device and its essential accessories exceeds $20,000.

     A wide range of assistive devices and workplace modifications which cater to the special needs of employees with disabilities at the workplace will be considered. Examples include computer accessories or adaptive equipment, optical magnifying devices, hearing and assistive devices, Braille products and handrails.
      
     The Po Leung Kuk has been commissioned to serve as the SPED Administrator. It will assist in administering and promoting SPED, provide advisory services and follow up on the progress of the subsidised programmes, prepare assessments on the applications and make recommendations to the Committee on the SPED set up by the SWD for consideration.
      
     Employers may apply for a subsidy under the SPED through nomination of the following referring organisations:
 

1. non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating SWD-subvented vocational rehabilitation services;
2. NGOs running training courses for persons with disabilities or persons recovering from work injuries with the funding support of the Employees Retraining Board;
3. the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department;
4. the Vocational Training Council; or
5. the SPED Administrator (Po Leung Kuk).

             
     Employers may submit their completed application forms together with the required documents by mail or by hand to the SWD through the referring organisations. No application fee is required and each applicant may submit more than one application.
      
     For enquiries, please contact Po Leung Kuk SPED Office by phone at 3980 9677, by email at sped@poleungkuk.org.hk or by fax at 3980 9633.

     For more details, the information note and SPED application form, people may visit and download from the SWD homepage www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_rehab/sub_listofserv/id_vocational/id_sped.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (December 18) to consider nine applications for new issue, renewal or transfer of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
———–
Winstons Coffee in Kennedy Town
Flaming Frango in Central
Servicemen's Guides Association in Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
———
ASS and Lung Shing Bo in Tsim Sha Tsui
ABCB in Mong Kok
MeowBox Limited in Kwun Tong
 
New Territories:
—————-
"Ah B Cha Kay" in Sheung Shui
MEGA-1 in Tuen Mun
 
     The board will also consider revoking the liquor licences of Ten Japanese Restaurant in Tin Hau; MINI 21, ASS and Lung Shing Bo in Tsim Sha Tsui; and THE ORIENT BARBECUE CUISINE in Sham Shui Po.
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except during the private session on confidential items.