The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (April 27) that the Department will allocate some 10,000 new extendable niches at Block A, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI, Fanling, which will be open for application from May 11 to June 10.
 
     An FEHD spokesman said, "Further to the previous allocation of some 20,000 niches at Block B, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI, in 2021, the FEHD will launch a new round of niche allocation exercise. A total of 10,900 extendable niches including 10,657 standard niches (5,730 smoke-free niches and 4,927 non-smoke-free niches) and 243 large niches (120 smoke-free niches and 123 non-smoke-free niches) at Block A, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI, will be allocated. If the number of applications exceeds the quantity of niches available for allocation in Block A, a corresponding quantity of niches in Block B will be supplemented for allocation."
 
     The FEHD will only process one application for each deceased in any application period. Applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large niche or standard niche for the same deceased person. When applying for a large niche, the applicant has to fill in at least three deceased persons' particulars in the application form. When applying for a standard niche, the applicant has to fill in at least one deceased person's particulars.
 
     The spokesman said, "In order to expedite the allocation process, the priorities of successful applicants for niche allocation and the designated niches assigned to them are to be determined by drawing of lots and computer random balloting. The niches will not be chosen by the applicants themselves. The successful applicants can make use of the niche location enquiry system on the FEHD website to enquire as to the location of the niches concerned. If the applicant decides to take up the designated niche, he or she must complete the relevant formalities and settle the payments at the Public Niche Allocation Office according to the scheduled date and time."
 
     To encourage co-location of ashes and take into consideration those who have failed in the last annual niche allocation exercise (excluding the record for monthly niche allocations), these two categories of applicants, if meeting the criteria for the respective category, will be given an additional ballot paper under that category to enhance the chance of successful balloting. In exceptional cases, for applicants who were unsuccessful in the most recent two annual niche allocation exercises, two additional ballot papers will be allotted under that category, and so on.
 
     As regards the ash interment period, the initial interment period is 20 years after allocation of a niche to the applicant and can be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter. On expiry of the 20-year/10-year interment period, as long as the related persons confirm extension of the interment period and pay the prevailing prescribed fee, the use of the allocated niche can be continued.
 
     The spokesman added, "Since the quantity of each type of niche (standard/large; smoke-free/non-smoke-free) available for allocation in the columbarium is different, the chance of successful allocation varies. When deciding the type of niche to be selected for application, applicants should make reference to relevant information in the application form for assessing the chance of successful allocation."
 
     Starting from May 11, application forms can be downloaded from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or obtained from the department's Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, or by fax via hotline 2841 9111. The completed application form together with copies of the required documents shall be submitted within the application period by fax (2333 1716), email (apply_newniche@fehd.gov.hk), by post or in person to the FEHD's Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office.
 
     The spokesman advises applicants to fill in the online application form and submit the application online so as to avoid postal delay or non-delivery.
  
     The FEHD will notify the successful applicants by SMS and email or post of the serial number of the designated niche allocated. Applicants can also check the results of their applications immediately after the drawing of lots and computer random balloting at the FEHD website or on the following day at Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, Public Niche Allocation Office, or through the enquiry hotline 2841 9111.
 
     Leaflets about the arrangement of this niche allocation exercise are available for collection from today at the department's Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices and Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department. For details, please visit the FEHD website, or call 2841 9111 or email to enquiry_newniche@fehd.gov.hk.
 
     Information on the Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices and Public Niche Allocation Office of the FEHD is as follows:
 
Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: 1J, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Tel: 2570 4318
Fax: 2591 1879
 
Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel: 2365 5321
Fax: 2176 4963
 
Public Niche Allocation Office
Address: Units 3501-3511 & 3520-3525, 35/F, Tower 1, Metroplaza, 223 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Fong, NT
Tel: 2330 5635
Fax: 2333 1716

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (April 27) that the fuel subsidy for public light buses and taxis under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) will be provided starting from May 1 this year.
      
     For a five-month period between May 1 and September 30, 2022, the Government will offer a subsidy of $2 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for public light buses and taxis, and reimburse 40 per cent of the actual fuel costs for diesel public light buses and petrol taxis. It is expected that 163 green mini-bus operators, as well as some 49 000 taxi and red mini-bus drivers, can benefit from the fuel subsidy.
      
     Having regard that the majority of taxi and red minibus drivers are rental car drivers who need to refuel at the LPG stations at their own expense, in order to relieve the economic pressure of these frontline drivers in a simple and direct manner, oil companies will provide drivers with instant discounts of $2 per litre at LPG stations, with no registration or application needed. The Government will reimburse oil companies for the actual amount of LPG subsidies provided to taxi and public light bus drivers. 
      
     As for petrol taxis and diesel public light buses, due to the relatively smaller number of drivers and operators involved, and considering that gasoline and diesel may stand a higher chance to be transferred than LPG, drivers/operators should apply for the 40 per cent actual fuel costs reimbursement from the Government by using refilling receipts or monthly statements of fleet cards. Upon completion of the vetting process, reimbursement will be made by auto-pay, and applicants will be notified in writing. 
      
     The fuel subsidy reimbursement arrangement is the same as that under the first round of the AEF. Details are available at the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/fsub/fsub_01).
      
     All oil companies will make appropriate arrangements at each filling station, and will display posters.
      
     To assist the transport trades to cope with the operational demands in the prevailing economic environment, the Government has rolled out the relief measures under the sixth round of the AEF progressively. As of mid-April, the TD has disbursed over $300 million of subsidies to the transport trades.
      
     For details on the subsidies for transport trades under the AEF, please visit the TD's website.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 is 98.2 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or e-mails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (April 27):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that cannabidiol (CBD) is currently not regulated by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134). Quite a number of merchants boast in their advertisements that CBD is harmless, has the effect of easing stress and pain, and is able to prevent and cure insomnia, eczema and other skin diseases. They even add CBD into products such as coffee, fruit juice and cosmetic skincare, which are then sold at high prices. However, as tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC), which is classified as a dangerous drug, is found in a number of CBD-containing products in the market, the Government is planning to impose control on CBD under Cap. 134. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has studied the efficacy of CBD; given that some merchants have exaggerated the efficacy of products containing CBD and sold the relevant products to customers, whether it has studied if such merchants have breached the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362);
 
(2) of the number of market products containing CBD which were randomly inspected by law enforcement agencies in each of the past three years and, among such products, the number of those found to contain THC; the respective numbers of persons prosecuted and convicted as a result, and the penalties imposed on the convicted persons; and
 
(3) before CBD is brought under the regulatory control of Cap. 134, whether the Government will, by following the practices of the governments of foreign countries, make recommendations to members of the public the maximum daily CBD intake, remind pregnant women, lactating women and persons on medications to avoid using products that contain CBD, and restrict the age of buyers for products containing CBD; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Cannabis is a drug strictly controlled by the United Nations. However, cannabidiol (CBD) has not been listed as a substance controlled by the three major international drug conventions. In Hong Kong, cannabis, cannabis resin, tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) and certain other cannabinoids are already controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO) (Cap. 134). On the other hand, under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), any pharmaceutical product containing CBD is classified as a Part 1 poison and prescription medicine, and is subject to the control of the relevant regulatory regime on pharmaceutical products. At present, there is no registered pharmaceutical product containing CBD in Hong Kong. Since CBD is generally extracted from cannabis, CBD products may likely contain THC, which is a dangerous drug. As such, the Government has planned to further control CBD by legislation and will seek the views of the Legislative Council Panel on Security within this year.
 
     In consultation with the Food and Health Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, my reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:
 
(1) In recent years, different types of CBD products, including food, health supplements, skin care and beauty products, etc, have become available for sale around the world. Such products must comply with the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) (Cap. 362) if they are sold in Hong Kong. Under the TDO, a trader making a false or misleading statement of any goods to a material degree without sufficient supporting evidence commits the offence of false trade description, and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. In addition, the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (Cap. 231) prohibits the advertising of any medicine, surgical appliance or treatment for the prevention or treatment of diseases or conditions prescribed in its Schedules, and offenders shall be liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year.
 
(2) Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) (including the Hong Kong Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department) proactively launched operations at various locations to seize and test products claiming to contain CBD in view of the different types of CBD products imported and sold locally in recent years. Since 2019, nearly 120 such operations have been conducted. Of the samples sent to the Government Laboratory for testing and for which testing had been completed, around one-third of them were found to contain THC, involving more than 4 000 items seized. For most of the cases with THC detected, LEAs are currently conducting investigations or seeking advice from the Department of Justice.
 
(3) Currently, there are different pieces of legislation regulating products containing CBD. For example, any CBD product containing THC at any concentration is regarded as a dangerous drug and controlled under the DDO (Cap. 134). In addition, legislations such as the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), the Food Safety Ordinance (Cap. 612), the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (Cap. 456), etc, are also applicable to CBD products under their respective areas. The Government has planned to further control CBD by legislation. Since products containing CBD may likely contain THC, which is a dangerous drug, the Government considers it inappropriate to recommend to the public on any daily intake limit or set the age of buyers.