The Transport Department (TD) today (August 30) announced that the 52nd Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks (PVRMs) Scheme will be open for applications from September 1 to 30, 2024.
 
     Starting from September 1, 2024, applications will be invited for the allocation of PVRMs upon sale by auction. Completed application forms should reach the TD no later than September 30, 2024. If there are more than 1 500 applications, those to be considered will be selected by lot.
 
     The application form (TD 569) and the Guidance Notes for Application can be downloaded from the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_application/index.html) or obtained from the TD's Licensing Offices as well as the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department.
 
     Interested persons should complete and submit the application form through one of the following ways:
 
(a) By post to the Vehicle Registration Marks Unit, Transport Department, 12/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. Applications received by post will be dated by the postmark; 
 
(b) Via the drop-in box at any of the TD's Licensing Offices at Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin. For easy identification, please mark "PVRM Application" on the envelope of the application; or
 
(c) Through the online application service at the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/vehicle/ospvrm.htm) if the applicant possesses an "iAM Smart+" account with the digital signing function (for Hong Kong residents only) or a digital certificate.
 
     Applicants are advised to read carefully the Guidance Notes for details of the scheme before completing the application form. They can also check whether a proposed PVRM is in compliance with the basic combination requirements by using the online service at the GovHK website.
 
     No payment of deposit is required when submitting an application. Each applicant can submit only one application in each exercise. If an applicant submits more than one application, all of his or her applications will not be processed. Once submitted, the applicant cannot withdraw the application or change the arrangement of the PVRM stated in the application form.
 
     Upon successful submission of an online application, the applicant will receive an acknowledgement immediately. Those who submit applications by post or drop in box will receive the TD's acknowledgement by ordinary post within two weeks after submission. Applicants who do not receive the acknowledgement within this time frame should call 2804 2600.

     The Government announced today (August 30) that the Chief Executive has reappointed Dr Lam Tai-fai as the Chairman of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Board of Advisors (the Board). The Chief Executive has also reappointed five incumbent members and appointed seven new members to the Board. The tenure of their appointments is two years with effect from September 1, 2024.
 
     The five incumbent members who are reappointed are Professor Ronald Chiu Ying-chun, Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing, Mr Hsu Hoi-shan, Mr Hendrick Sin and Dr Thomas So Shiu-tsung. The seven new members are Mr Ivan Chan Chi-kin, Ms Kitty Chau Shuk-king, Ms Meggy Cheng Hei-yee, Mr Geoffrey Edward Kao, Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang, Dr Jim Luk Tze-chung and Dr Tse Wai-lok.
 
     Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, "The Board has provided invaluable advice to the Director of Broadcasting and assisted RTHK in fulfilling its public purposes and mission as set out in the Charter of RTHK. I am grateful that Dr Lam and the five incumbent members have accepted reappointment to continue serving on the Board."

     Mr Yau welcomed the new members to join the Board, adding that they would facilitate the work of the Board with their professional knowledge and rich social experience.
  
     Mr Yau also expressed gratitude to the outgoing members, namely, Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung, Ms Linda Choy Siu-min, Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, Ms Shirley Loo Marie Therese, Dr Tik Chi-yuen, Ms Eva Wong Ching-hung and Ms Elaine Wu Siu-ling, for their contributions to and support of the Board during their tenure.
 
     The full membership of the Board commencing on September 1, 2024, is as follows:
 
Non-official members
—————————
Dr Lam Tai-fai (Chairman)
Mr Ivan Chan Chi-kin
Ms Kitty Chau Shuk-king
Ms Meggy Cheng Hei-yee
Professor Ronald Chiu Ying-chun
Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
Mr Hsu Hoi-shan
Mr Geoffrey Edward Kao
Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang
Dr Jim Luk Tze-chung
Mr Hendrick Sin
Dr Thomas So Shiu-tsung
Dr Tse Wai-lok

Ex-officio member
———————-
Director of Broadcasting

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (August 30) gazetted a notice to extend the tender period for the contract for site formation and infrastructure works for public housing development at A Kung Ngam Village, Eastern, (Contract No. SD/2024/01) to noon on September 20.
      
     The CEDD invited tenders for the contract on July 26. The tender period was originally scheduled to expire at noon on September 6. Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html).
      
     The CEDD has commissioned WSP (Asia) Limited to design and supervise the works. For enquiries, please call the company at 2217 2335 during office hours.

     The Government announced today (August 30) that the Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Ian Charles McWalters, a former Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, and Mr Michael Victor Lunn, a former Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, as Chairmen of the Market Misconduct Tribunal (MMT) and the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal (SFAT), for a term of three years from October 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, respectively.
 
     "Mr McWalters and Mr Lunn with deep and extensive judicial experience have been leading the effective operation of the two Tribunals. We welcome their reappointments to continue steering the handling of market misconduct and the review of relevant regulatory decisions," a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said.
 
     Both the MMT and the SFAT are established under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (SFO).
 
     The MMT deals with six types of market misconduct, namely insider dealing, false trading, price rigging, disclosure of information about prohibited transactions, disclosure of false or misleading information inducing transactions, and stock market manipulation. The MMT is also empowered to deal with the breaches of disclosure requirements on price sensitive information of listed corporations.
 
     The SFAT has jurisdiction to review specified decisions made under the SFO by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and an investor compensation company recognised by the SFC. It serves as an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant regulatory decisions are reasonable and fair.
 
     Mr Michael John Hartmann, a former Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal, is the other serving Chairman of the MMT and the SFAT.

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.