The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
     
     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) are deeply saddened by the traffic accident on the Cheung Tsing Highway in Tsing Yi that happened this morning (November 30), in which a number of citizens died and many more were injured. The ExCo Non-official Members express their deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who passed away and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured citizens.

     The ExCo Non-official Members are confident that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would render all possible assistance to their families. They also wish to express their full support for any follow-up action that may need to be taken by the relevant government departments.

     The Transport Department today (November 30) announced that two auctions of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on December 15 (Saturday) and 16 (Sunday), in Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
 
     "A total of 300 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public sale at each auction. The lists of marks have been posted at the department's website, www.td.gov.hk," a department spokesman said.
 
     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.
 
     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:
 
(a) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
 
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
 
(b) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.
 
(c) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(d) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.
 
(e) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk.

     The Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2018, the Tsing Ma Control Area (Tolls, Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 and the Tsing Sha Control Area (Tolls, Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 were gazetted today (November 30) to exempt the toll for franchised buses using government tunnels as well as the Tsing Ma and Tsing Sha Control Areas.

     The three Amendment Regulations seek to implement the proposed toll exemption for franchised buses using tolled government tunnels as well as the Tsing Ma and Tsing Sha Control Areas, announced by the Chief Executive in her Policy Address 2018, with a view to relieving fare increase pressure of franchised bus operators and benefiting the general public. 

     A government spokesman said, "Each franchised bus operator will set up its own dedicated fund account for keeping the toll saved. When the franchised bus operator applies for a fare increase and the Chief Executive-in-Council considers that there is a justifiable need to increase the fare, the franchised bus operator will be required to offset the increase by first using the balance in the fund. Hence, the magnitude of the fare increase shouldered by the passengers will be lowered, and the public can enjoy a more affordable yet efficient franchised bus service."

     The three pieces of Amendment Regulations will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on December 5, 2018. Upon completion of the procedures, the Amendment Regulations will come into operation on February 17, 2019.

     The "Quarterly Report on General Household Survey" for July to September 2018 is now available for download.
 
     The report contains statistics on labour force, employment, unemployment and underemployment for the third quarter of 2018. It also contains detailed analyses of the characteristics of different categories of members of the labour force, including their age, sex, educational attainment, employment status, occupation, industry, hours worked per week and monthly employment earnings. Information on reasons for leaving last job and duration of unemployment for the unemployed is also presented.
 
     Users can download the report free of charge from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp200.jsp?productCode=B1050001).
 
     The summary of broad survey findings published in the report is shown in Table 1 attached. Enquiries about the contents of the report can be directed to the Household Statistics Analysis Section, Census and Statistics Department (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).

     Concerning the serious traffic accident which happened in Tsing Yi this morning (November 30), members of the public who are emotionally affected or in need of any assistance may call the Social Welfare Department's 24-hour hotline (2343 2255).