Tag Archives: China

     The Chief Secretary for Administration (CS), Mr John Lee, met with the Chairman of the Legislative Council (LegCo) House Committee, Ms Starry Lee, and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Mr Ma Fung-kwok, for the first time in his capacity as CS this afternoon (July 5).
 
     At the meeting, Mr Lee said that he would render full support to the Chief Executive in the administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in accordance with the Basic Law to ensure the comprehensive and accurate implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, and to apply the concept of “patriots administering Hong Kong”.
 
     Mr Lee said he looked forward to working closely with LegCo Members in enhancing the relationship between the executive and the legislature. The HKSAR Government will strive to maintain effective communication and close liaison with the LegCo, and facilitate the monitoring of the Government by the LegCo, with a view to safeguarding the overall interests of the community and serving the Hong Kong people. He will also set aside time to communicate with LegCo Members and exchange views on the Government’s legislative and funding proposals to be submitted to the LegCo for scrutiny before the end of the current-term LegCo.
 
     Mr Lee said he would lead the bureaux concerned to fully co-operate with the LegCo in its scrutinising work in its remaining term of office.

  

     June 2021 was marked by the long awaited rainy weather brought by tropical cyclone Koguma, troughs of low pressure and the active southwesterly airstream. The total rainfall of June 2021 was 628.0 millimetres, about 28 per… read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, July 5, 2021 is 101.3 (down 0.1 against last Saturday’s index).
     
     â€‹The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, July 3, 2021 was 101.4 (down 0.2 against last Friday’s index). read more

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will invite applications from tomorrow (July 6) until August 9 from eligible individuals and organisations for the IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (2nd Round) and the Central Fund for Personal Computers (44th Round).

     The objectives of the IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (the Scheme) are to support non-governmental and non-profit-making organisations providing services or schooling for people with visual impairment (PVI) as well as tertiary institutions to acquire advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays of 40 cells and accessories/portable devices to facilitate PVI’s surfing on the Internet, and to subsidise individual PVI in need to purchase these devices for the purpose of studying or employment.

     Successful organisational applicants will be supported in full for purchasing a set of high-performance Chinese screen readers (capped at $9,800) and/or Braille displays (capped at $36,000) and/or accessories/portable devices (capped at $66,300) on the reference list under the Scheme. Successful individual applicants will be sponsored to purchase a set of high-performance Chinese screen readers with an amount not more than $9,800 and/or accessories/portable devices not more than $49,600 and/or Braille displays on the same reference list not more than $32,400.

     Eligible organisations may lodge their applications by completing the designated form. For individual applicants, a nomination from subvented non-governmental rehabilitation organisations, the student affairs offices of local tertiary institutions, principals of local secondary/primary schools, or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department (LD) is required, and application should be submitted through the nominating organisation in the designated form together with the quotations for the items concerned. Invitation letters have been sent to the relevant organisations to invite nominations.

     As for the Central Fund for Personal Computers, the Fund aims to assist eligible persons with disabilities in acquiring the required computer facilities for self-employment or receiving supported employment services at home with guidance and follow-up services to be provided by the referral rehabilitation organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD. Applicants must:

(a) be users of rehabilitation services of and nominated by rehabilitation service organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD;
(b) have difficulties in engaging in open employment;
(c) provide a viable business plan which has to use computer facilities;
(d) have financial difficulty in acquiring the required computer facilities;
(e) be capable of using a computer to carry out the business plan; and
(f) have the consent of the nominating organisations or the LD to provide guidance and follow-up services after applicants’ acquisition of the computer facilities.

     For enquiries, please contact the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch of the SWD at 3586 3594, through email at eoimc@swd.gov.hk or by fax: 2834 7046.

     Details of the above schemes are available on the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk) and CyberAble.net (www.CyberAble.net). Information notes and application forms can be downloaded from the websites. read more

     The Government announced today (July 5) that, given public health considerations, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has, since the end of May, covered Mainland residents who are holders of the Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and will stay in Hong Kong for a period of time. The Government is also preparing to arrange for non-refoulement claimants and refugees recognised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees who are in Hong Kong to be vaccinated starting from around mid-July. The coverage of the Vaccination Programme is now further extended to other visitors who are allowed to stay in Hong Kong for a period of time as permitted under the law (hereinafter referred to as “other visitors”).
        
     A Government spokesman said that at present, there are over 2 000 other visitors who are holding valid travel documents and have to continue to stay in Hong Kong owing to the COVID-19 epidemic. On public health considerations, providing vaccination for these other visitors will help prevent the spread of the virus in the community and thus enhance Hong Kong’s overall anti-epidemic capability. 
 
     Other visitors who will be covered by the Vaccination Programme must be holders of valid travel documents who are allowed to stay in Hong Kong as permitted by the law, and can complete two doses of vaccination within their limit of stay without extension. From July 6, they can bring their travel documents and the landing slips or extension of stay labels (applicable to other visitors with extension of stay) issued by the Immigration Department to any post office (except mobile post offices) during office hours and the staff will assist them in making appointments for completing two doses of vaccination in the 29 Community Vaccination Centres within their limit of stay.
     
     In general, all visitors to Hong Kong must depart Hong Kong on or before the expiry date of their limit of stay. If there is a special or urgent need to stay longer, visitors may make an extension of stay application within seven days before their limit of stay expires. Applications will be considered on individual merits, but those made solely for the purpose of getting vaccination will not be considered. read more