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.

     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.

     The Land Registry today (July 5) released its statistics for June 2021.

Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in June was 9,381 (+4.6 per cent compared with May 2021 and +13.7 per cent compared with June 2020)

* The 12-month moving average for June was 7,576 (1.3 per cent above the 12-month moving average for May 2021 and 41.9 per cent above that for June 2020)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in June was $92.6 billion (+5.7 per cent compared with May 2021 and +31.7 per cent compared with June 2020)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 7,591 were for residential units (+7.2 per cent compared with May 2021 and +8.6 per cent compared with June 2020)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $80.9 billion (+5.3 per cent compared with May 2021 and +24.8 per cent compared with June 2020)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in June was 518,795 (+0.6 per cent compared with May 2021 and +8.7 per cent compared with June 2020)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     A Pakistani illegal worker holding a recognisance form was jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts on July 2.

     During operation "Twilight" conducted on April 19, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a wet market in Yuen Long. A Pakistani male, aged 32, was arrested while working as a porter. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant. An employer suspected of employing the illegal worker was also arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

     The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on July 2 with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening on vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

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 (July 5) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.