The Housing Bureau (HB) today (February 17) announced that the Light Public Housing (LPH) will be open for the Phase 2 application from February 24. The Phase 2 application will cover four projects, including Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak (Phase 1); Tsing Fuk Lane, Tuen Mun (i.e. Tuen Mun Area 3A); Shun On Road, Kwun Tong (renovated from school premises), and Choi Yuen Road, Sheung Shui (renovated from school premises), which will provide a total of about 5 060 units for gradual intake anticipated from the fourth quarter of this year onwards.

　　Eligible applicants will receive the application forms by post on or before February 24 sent by the HB in batches. Application forms submitted between February 24 and March 17 will be handled with priority. Those who have submitted an application form during the Phase 1 application do not need to submit another application.

　　A spokesman for the HB said, "The LPH Phase 1 application has received an overwhelming response, with about 14 200 applications received as of mid-February. Under the leadership of the HB, the operating organisations responsible for the operation and management of the LPH projects at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long and Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok have been taking forward the pre-management works, including publicity, conducting eligibility verification and preparing intake arrangements. We anticipate that the LPH project at Yau Pok Road will be the first to start intake by batches within March, and applicants who successfully pass the eligibility verification will gradually receive their offer letters."
　　
     The spokesman added, "The Phase 2 LPH projects are located in various districts with different scales and merits. We believe that they can cater for the needs of different applicants. More importantly, the living environment, ancillary facilities and services of all LPH projects are far better than any inadequate housing, such as substandard sub-divided units. Additionally, the LPH projects offer a highly affordable rent, which is only about 90 per cent of that of traditional public rental housing (PRH) in the same district. There will also be a removal allowance on top of various services and supports offered to residents by the operating organisations."

     Details of the LPH Phase 2 application are as follows:

(1) Eligibility for priority application: General applicants who have been on the waiting list for traditional PRH for three years or more are eligible, with priority given to family applicants. Those meeting the eligibility criteria will receive by post the application forms sent by the HB in batches.

(2) Application period: Applicants who submit duly completed application forms between February 24 and March 17 will be handled with priority. From March 18 onwards, the HB will continue to accept applications.

(3) Submission methods: Interested applicants may submit their duly completed application forms by post to P.O. Box of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing of the Housing Bureau (P.O. Box 28222, Gloucester Road Post Office, Wan Chai, Hong Kong); or by depositing them into drop-in boxes during office hours (from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) at the following locations: 

• Light Public Housing Information Counter at Podium Level 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Customer Service Centre, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon
• Office of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing at Room 801, 8/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong 

　　In addition, if the applicant and all family members have registered for "iAM Smart+", they may opt to complete, sign and submit the e-Form by scanning the exclusive QR code pre-printed on the application form.

　　The HB will process the application forms received as soon as possible and make arrangements for the allocation. To give priority to those families in need to move into LPH, if the applicants are currently living in inadequate housing; having special medical conditions; or having minor children, newborn babies, elderly persons, etc, in the family, they will be given a higher priority for LPH allocation.

     Information of the projects in the Phase 2 application is as follows:

(1) Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak (Phase 1): Providing about 2 970 units (including units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons), adjacent to Kai Tak MTR Station, and with a number of franchised bus and minibus routes in the vicinity travelling to/from various places in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $1,310 to $2,990 (Note 1).

(2) Tsing Fuk Lane, Tuen Mun (i.e. Tuen Mun Area 3A): Providing about 1 850 units (including units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons), adjacent to the Light Rail Ching Chung Stop, with a number of franchised bus, MTR bus and minibus routes in the vicinity to/from various places in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $860 to $1,990 (Note 1).

(3) Shun On Road, Kwun Tong (renovated from school premises) (Note 2): Providing about 130 units (including units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons), about a five-minute walk to the Shun Tin Bus Terminus, which provides a number of franchised bus and minibus routes to/from Choi Hung MTR Station and various places in Hong Kong and Kowloon. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $1,360 to $3,270 (Note 1).

(4) Choi Yuen Road, Sheung Shui (renovated from school premises) (Note 2): Providing about 110 units (including units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons), adjacent to Sheung Shui MTR Station, about a 10 to 12-minute walk to different bus/minibus terminuses and San Wan Road Sheung Shui Bus-Bus Interchange, which provide a number of franchised bus and minibus routes to/from Fanling and various places in Hong Kong and Kowloon. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $1,020 to $2,320 (Note 1).

　　For more information about the LPH Phase 2 application, please refer to the enclosed LPH Promotional Pamphlet, or browse the LPH website of the HB (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/lph). For enquiries, please call 3464 0700, or send email to lphapp@hb.gov.hk.

     Note 1: Rents vary depending on the unit size and the district. The rental level is set at around 90 per cent of the rent of newly completed traditional PRH in the same district. Having regard to the biennial rent review of the traditional PRH, the rent of LPH will be adjusted accordingly.

     Note 2: For the LPH converted from school premises, the internal floor area of some of the units may vary due to limitations posed by the existing structural partitioning.

        

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 (February 17) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Health Bureau and the Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (February 17) that, under the strong support and efforts of various Mainland authorities and medical institutions, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has once again received a cross-boundary organ donation from the Mainland and a heart transplant has successfully been completed for an 8-month-old baby girl, Whitney, at the Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) yesterday evening (February 16).
 
     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "I sincerely thank the country for its care and support for the lives and health of Hong Kong citizens. After a then 4-month-old baby girl, Tsz-hei, successfully received a heart donation from the Mainland in December 2022 to extend her life, Hong Kong and the Mainland has established a close communication channel and procedures for cross-boundary organ transplant co-operation based on that successful experience. The second cross-boundary organ donation case this time has demonstrated a more effective co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Upon the approval of the Central Government, more than 100 personnel from 18 Mainland authorities including the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the National Health Commission; the General Administration of Customs; the Ministry of Public Security; the Ministry of Transport; the Exit and Entry Administration; the Traffic Control Centre of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department; the different levels of customs, border control and hospitals of the Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipal; as well as the Centre for the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS), worked together and raced against time to ensure the safe and smooth transportation of the organ across multiple locations. This once again exemplified that both the Mainland and Hong Kong share the principle and mission in protecting and saving lives, which is of great significance. The HKSAR Government once again thanks the various Mainland authorities for their strong support to providing emergency assistance to Hong Kong citizens."
  
     The parents of the baby girl, Whitney, would like to express their gratitude for the assistance from different Mainland authorities and the HKSAR Government in finding a suitable heart for Whitney. They are also thankful to the medical teams of both the Mainland and Hong Kong for their unwavering effort in saving Whitney's life. Moreover, they are very thankful for the altruistic decision made by the donor's family during their time of difficulty and consider that their selflessness has given Whitney the chance for a new life.
 
     Consultant in-charge of the Cardiothoracic Surgery of HKCH, Dr Nicholson Yam, who was in charge of the transplant operation, said the heart procurement operation was performed in the Mainland earlier yesterday by the heart transplant experts sent by the National Quality Control Centre for Health Transplantation in Beijing, while HKCH performed the transplant operation immediately upon receiving the heart in the afternoon on the same day. The operation lasted approximately 6.5 hours. Whitney is now under close monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit and the following 24 hours will still be a critical period.
 
     The Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang, said that all efforts have been made through different networks to identify a suitable heart for Whitney amid the difficulties involved. The HA once again expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the related Mainland authorities, the HKSAR Government and the medical teams of the two sides for their active co-ordination, which has led to the successful heart transplant operation for Whitney. "Since there was no suitable recipient in the Mainland, the Mainland decided to send the donor heart to Hong Kong for transplanting to Whitney upon confirmation by experts from the two places that the heart was suitable for Whitney's transplantation. The operation was stringently approved by both the Mainland and Hong Kong regulatory bodies and all procedures were in accordance with the laws of the two places," Dr Tang added.
 
     The Health Bureau and the HA are very grateful to the donor's family for their selfless act in donating the heart of the deceased patient to Whitney, whose life can now be continued, and wish Whitney a speedy recovery. The clinical team will strive to provide the optimal care to Whitney according to her clinical condition and medical needs.

     The Health Bureau and the Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (February 17) that, under the strong support and efforts of various Mainland authorities and medical institutions, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has once again received a cross-boundary organ donation from the Mainland and a heart transplant has successfully been completed for an 8-month-old baby girl, Whitney, at the Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) yesterday evening (February 16).
 
     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "I sincerely thank the country for its care and support for the lives and health of Hong Kong citizens. After a then 4-month-old baby girl, Tsz-hei, successfully received a heart donation from the Mainland in December 2022 to extend her life, Hong Kong and the Mainland has established a close communication channel and procedures for cross-boundary organ transplant co-operation based on that successful experience. The second cross-boundary organ donation case this time has demonstrated a more effective co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Upon the approval of the Central Government, more than 100 personnel from 18 Mainland authorities including the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the National Health Commission; the General Administration of Customs; the Ministry of Public Security; the Ministry of Transport; the Exit and Entry Administration; the Traffic Control Centre of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department; the different levels of customs, border control and hospitals of the Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipal; as well as the Centre for the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS), worked together and raced against time to ensure the safe and smooth transportation of the organ across multiple locations. This once again exemplified that both the Mainland and Hong Kong share the principle and mission in protecting and saving lives, which is of great significance. The HKSAR Government once again thanks the various Mainland authorities for their strong support to providing emergency assistance to Hong Kong citizens."
  
     The parents of the baby girl, Whitney, would like to express their gratitude for the assistance from different Mainland authorities and the HKSAR Government in finding a suitable heart for Whitney. They are also thankful to the medical teams of both the Mainland and Hong Kong for their unwavering effort in saving Whitney's life. Moreover, they are very thankful for the altruistic decision made by the donor's family during their time of difficulty and consider that their selflessness has given Whitney the chance for a new life.
 
     Consultant in-charge of the Cardiothoracic Surgery of HKCH, Dr Nicholson Yam, who was in charge of the transplant operation, said the heart procurement operation was performed in the Mainland earlier yesterday by the heart transplant experts sent by the National Quality Control Centre for Health Transplantation in Beijing, while HKCH performed the transplant operation immediately upon receiving the heart in the afternoon on the same day. The operation lasted approximately 6.5 hours. Whitney is now under close monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit and the following 24 hours will still be a critical period.
 
     The Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang, said that all efforts have been made through different networks to identify a suitable heart for Whitney amid the difficulties involved. The HA once again expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the related Mainland authorities, the HKSAR Government and the medical teams of the two sides for their active co-ordination, which has led to the successful heart transplant operation for Whitney. "Since there was no suitable recipient in the Mainland, the Mainland decided to send the donor heart to Hong Kong for transplanting to Whitney upon confirmation by experts from the two places that the heart was suitable for Whitney's transplantation. The operation was stringently approved by both the Mainland and Hong Kong regulatory bodies and all procedures were in accordance with the laws of the two places," Dr Tang added.
 
     The Health Bureau and the HA are very grateful to the donor's family for their selfless act in donating the heart of the deceased patient to Whitney, whose life can now be continued, and wish Whitney a speedy recovery. The clinical team will strive to provide the optimal care to Whitney according to her clinical condition and medical needs.

     â€‹The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) supported the participation of Hong Kong films and filmmakers in the 31st Vésoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema taking place in Vésoul, France, from February 11 to 18 (Vésoul time). 

     Supporting the festival for the first time, HKETO, Brussels is delighted to bring 18 Hong Kong films to the Festival. Six of them were screened on the specially curated Hong Kong Day on February 15, and "All Shall Be Well" was the closing film. In addition, a roundtable discussion on Hong Kong cinema was held featuring Hong Kong and French movie practitioners. It was followed by a Hong Kong Night reception, where about 100 guests, including Hong Kong film producer Teresa Kwong and actress Patra Au, attended.

     Speaking at the reception, Assistant Representative of HKETO, Brussels Mr Paul Leung highlighted the unique position of Hong Kong as a leading force in the Asian film industry. "To enhance the development of the film industry, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been supporting the film industry through the Film Development Fund in four strategic directions, namely nurturing talent, enhancing local production, expanding markets and building audiences," added Mr Leung.

     He highlighted the recently launched Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme, which subsidises film projects co-produced by filmmakers from European and Asian countries to produce films featuring Hong Kong, European and Asian cultures. The scheme aims to support Hong Kong films in expanding into overseas markets.

     The Vésoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema focuses on promoting Asian cinematography in France and Europe. It is one of the most important festivals of this kind in the region.