Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 5) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC) published a notice in the Gazette today (May 5) to declare one registration of an ex-officio member of Election Committee (EC) as valid.

     In accordance with section 5J of the Schedule to the Chief Executive Election Ordinance (Cap. 569), a person holding a specified office under Part 2A of the Schedule may register as an ex-officio member of the EC. If the specified person is not eligible to be registered as an ex-officio member or is the holder of more than one specified office, he/she may designate another person who is holding an office in a relevant body in relation to the specified office to be registered as an ex-officio member.

     The Registration and Electoral Office had received one registration of an ex-officio member arising from a change of a holder of a specified office. After review, the CERC determined that this registration is valid. The subsector and specified office involved are listed below:
 

     The CERC is chaired by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, with three official members (the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung) and three non-official members (Miss Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Mrs Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai and Professor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee). In accordance with Annex I to the Basic Law, the CERC is responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates for the membership of the EC (including ex-officio members). The CERC will decide whether the person concerned complies with the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC.

     The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakesh Treaty) entered into force in China today (May 5), which also applies to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

     A spokesman for the Intellectual Property Department said, "The application of the Marrakesh Treaty to the HKSAR formalises the application of the international standards to the HKSAR, enabling persons with a print disability to enjoy better access to accessible copies of copyright works. It demonstrates and reaffirms our commitment to upholding such international standards for the benefit of the print-disabled population."

     The copyright legislation of the HKSAR is fully in compliance with the standards under the Marrakesh Treaty following the commencement of the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 on June 26, 2020, which enhanced the copyright exceptions for persons with a print disability. 

     The Marrakesh Treaty is an international agreement administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Its main goal is to facilitate and enhance access to copyright works in accessible formats for persons with a print disability. As at March 31, 2022, there were 88 contracting parties to the Treaty. 

     Details of the Marrakesh Treaty are available at the WIPO's website (www.wipo.int/marrakesh_treaty/en/).

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced today (May 5) that the Base Rate was adjusted upward to 1.25 per cent with immediate effect according to a pre-set formula.

     The Base Rate is the interest rate forming the foundation upon which the Discount Rates for repurchase transactions through the Discount Window are computed. The Base Rate is currently set at either 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate or the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rates (HIBORs), whichever is the higher.
 
     Following the 50-basis point upward adjustment in the target range for the US federal funds rate on May 4 (US time), 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate is 1.25 per cent, while the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month HIBORs is 0.11 per cent. The Base Rate is therefore set at 1.25 per cent according to the pre-set formula.

     The Government yesterday (May 4) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 4.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Sham Shui Po (i.e. Cheung Tin House, Pak Tin Estate, Sham Shui Po) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained.
      
     In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from April 28 to May 4, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before May 6, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
      
     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today (May 5) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the "restricted area" to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.
      
     Starting from around 8am today, persons in the specified "restricted area" in Sham Shui Po who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.
      
     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 9pm yesterday. A total of about 1 440 persons had undergone testing. Amongst them, five tested positive cases were found and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will take follow-up action. Regarding cases tested positive in the specified "restricted area", the Government will provide health advice for persons tested positive pending admission to hospitals or isolation facilities, disinfection products and surgical masks to these persons and their household members pending follow-up arrangement.
      
     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit about 780 households within the "restricted area", among which 90 households did not answer the door. The Government will take measures to follow up.
      
     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $10,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.