The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: 
 
     As entrusted by the Government, HKMC Insurance Limited announced that the application period for the principal moratorium arrangement under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme (SFGS) will be further extended by three months to end in end-September 2023. The maximum principal moratorium period will remain at 42 months (Note).
      
     The principal moratorium arrangement is a time-limited special relief measure first introduced in September 2019 for the 80% Guarantee Product of the SFGS. Since then, it has been extended several times, having regard to the COVID-19 epidemic, and made applicable to the 90% Guarantee Product and the Special 100% Loan Guarantee, to help small and medium enterprises manage their cash flow amidst economic uncertainties. 
      
     With the Hong Kong economy recovering steadily as the epidemic subsides, this special relief measure has fulfilled its purpose, and its application period will expire in end-September this year.
      
     Borrowing enterprises in need may apply for principal moratorium before the end of the application period, or thereafter apply for a partial repayment option so that normal repayment could be resumed gradually. Enterprises should approach their lending institutions in due course to discuss the arrangements.
 
Note: Currently, for term loan facilities, borrowing enterprises may apply for principal moratorium of no more than 12 months each time. If the principal moratorium period is about to expire, borrowing enterprises in need may apply for a renewal of no more than 12 months in the relevant application period, but the total number of months of principal moratorium cannot exceed the limit set under the SFGS. To be eligible for the principal moratorium arrangement, borrowing enterprises and/or the related facilities shall not have outstanding default for more than 30 days. These requirements will continue to be applicable during the extended application period for principal moratorium mentioned above (i.e. until end-September 2023).

      Police today (June 23) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwun Tong.
 
     Mok Lai-han, aged 79, went missing after she left her residence in Ping Tin Estate on June 21 morning. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (June 22).
 
     She is about 1.4 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. She was last seen wearing a black floral pattern T-shirt with white short sleeves, black trousers, black shoes and carrying a black recycle bag.
 
      Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 23) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From June 16 to yesterday (June 22), the CHP recorded two imported DF cases. The patients had been to Thailand and Indonesia respectively during the incubation periods.

     As of yesterday, 14 imported cases of DF had been recorded in 2023. In 2022, 26 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some countries and areas in Southeast Asia and South America compared to the same period last year, and the trend is rising. Members of the public, while travelling abroad, should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     "Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     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 light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     â€‹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.

     â€‹The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

     The Town Planning Board today (June 23) announced amendments to the approved Shau Kei Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     The amendments mainly involve the following items:
 
(i) rezoning a site at A Kung Ngam Village and its adjacent areas from "Open Space" ("O"), "Green Belt", "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Business" ("OU(B)"), "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Comprehensive Recreational Development Area" and areas shown as 'Road' to "Residential (Group A)6" for public housing development; 

(ii) rezoning a site to the north of Ming Wah Dai Ha from "O", "Residential (Group A)" ("R(A)") and "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC") to "Residential (Group A)5" for public housing development; 

(iii) rezoning a site at 5 A Kung Ngam Village Road from "OU(B)" to "OU(B)1" to facilitate the wholesale conversion of the existing building to hospital; and 

(iv) rezoning a site at 456 Shau Kei Wan Road from "G/IC", "O" and an area shown as 'Road' to "G/IC(1)" to facilitate the redevelopment of an existing social services building.  

        Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The draft Shau Kei Wan OZP No. S/H9/19, incorporating the amendments, is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Hong Kong District Planning Office and (iv) the Eastern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre.
      
     Any person may make written representations in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before August 23. Any person who intends to make a representation is advised to read the Town Planning Board Guidelines No. 29B on "Submission and Publication of Representations, Comments on Representations and Further Representations under the Town Planning Ordinance" (TPB PG-No. 29B).

     Submission of a representation should comply with the requirements set out in TPB PG-No. 29B. In particular, the representer should take note of the following:

* If the representer fails to provide his or her full name and the first four alphanumeric characters of his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport number as required under TPB PG-No. 29B, the representation submitted shall be treated as not having been made; and
* The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.

     The Guidelines and the submission form are available at the above locations (i) and (ii) and the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
     
     Copies of the draft Shau Kei Wan OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

     â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 23) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).

     Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Grade 2 beaches are: 

Grade 3 beaches are:

     Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2.  Deep Water Bay Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Kiu Tsui Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Middle Bay Beach and Pui O Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Anglers' Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.

     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend.  The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 1.

Note 2: The non-gazetted beach is Discovery Bay which has no lifeguard service.