â€‹The Transport Department today (December 31) reminded members of the public that the monthly public transport expenses threshold of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme will continue to be relaxed from $400 to $200 till June 30 next year.
                
     To alleviate commuters' fare burden during the epidemic, the Government introduced a special measure to temporarily relax the monthly threshold of public transport expenses from $400 to $200 between July and December this year. "The Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address" announced that the measure will be extended for six months. From January 1 to June 30, 2021, the Government will continue to provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the monthly public transport expenses in excess of $200, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each Octopus.
      
     For details of the Scheme, please visit the website (www.ptfss.gov.hk). Commuters can also check their record of public transport expenses and subsidy amounts through the Octopus App or the Scheme hotline 2969 5500.

     The Government gazetted today (December 31) the proposed provision of a boardwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC), serving as a pedestrian walkway and a cycleway, to enhance the connectivity along the North Point waterfront by linking the harbourfront in Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay.
 
     The proposed boardwalk comprises the western and eastern sections. The western section will run from Oil Street to Tong Shui Road (approximately 0.7 kilometre long), while the eastern section will run from Tin Chiu Street to Hoi Yu Street (approximately 1.1km long). The alignment works to utilise the shelter of the IEC as far as possible, so as to minimise the impact of the boardwalk on the Victoria Harbour. The boardwalk will maintain a width of at least 10 metres to allow sufficient space for the safe and conflict-free shared use among different users including pedestrians, joggers, cyclists and other user groups.
 
     On top of the four access points at both ends of the two boardwalk sections, five access points will also be provided to enhance the connectivity with the hinterland. The proposal also includes three movable bridges to allow vessels to access the coastal waters bounded by the proposed boardwalk when required. The gradient of the boardwalk will also be lowered, thereby a more pleasant experience will be created and water-friendliness enhanced. 
 
     In addition, water supply, drainage and utilities will also be provided to facilitate the provision of ancillary facilities such as toilets, drinking fountains and kiosks, etc. Six viewing platforms will be constructed by utilising the space above the existing IEC piled dolphins, for public enjoyment of the panoramic views of Victoria Harbour. A fishing platform will also be constructed to benefit anglers.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Eastern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Eastern Law Courts Building,
29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong

District Lands Office, Hong Kong East,
19/F, Southorn Centre,
130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

     The gazette notice, scheme, plans, resumption plan, plan for Creation of Easements and Other Permanent Rights, plan for Creation of Rights of Temporary Occupation of Land and location plan are available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:

     • By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau's drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
     • By fax to 2868 4643; or
     • By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than March 1, 2021.

     The Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) announced today (December 31) the re-appointment of four incumbent members and the appointment of two new members to the Youth Square Management Advisory Committee (MAC) for a two-year term from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.
 
     The Chairperson and non-official members of the MAC are as follows:
 
Chairperson
————-
Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs(1)
 
Ex-officio members
———————
Vice-Chairperson of the Youth Development Commission, or a representative Chairperson of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, or a representative
Representative from the Eastern District Council
Representative from the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries
 
Newly appointed members
—————————–
Miss Debbie Cheung Sui-ki
Dr Wilson Choo Ming-yin
 
Re-appointed members
——————–
Mr Dave Ho
Ms Lo Kam-ping
Mr Poon Siu-chi
Mr Yeung Hok-lam
 
Existing members
——————-
Mr Allen Che Wai-hang
Mr Stefan Chui Kai-hin
Mr Victor Lam Tsz-hung
Mr Jan Noel Shih
 
     The MAC also includes representatives from the HAB, the Education Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department as members.
 
     A spokesman for the HAB thanked the outgoing members, Ms Christina Chan Sye-min and Mr Angus Ho Kwok-lai, for their support since their appointment to the MAC.
 
     The MAC is a non-statutory advisory body to advise the Government on matters pertaining to the operation of Youth Square, including the overall strategy and objectives of Youth Square; themes and contents of youth development programmes; the use, allocation, leasing and charging arrangements of various facilities; the evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of Youth Square in promoting youth development programmes and monitoring the performance of the operator.

     The Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Serbia signed in August this year came into force on December 30, 2020, after the completion of the relevant ratification procedures. The CDTA will have effect in respect of Hong Kong tax for any year of assessment beginning on or after April 1, 2021, a Government spokesman said today (December 31).
      
     Serbia participates in the Belt and Road initiative, and was the 89th largest trading partner of Hong Kong in 2019. The CDTA will bring a greater degree of certainty on tax liabilities for those who engage in cross-border business activities, and help promote bilateral trade and investment activities.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (December 31) again reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to comply with social distancing measures announced by the Government.
 
     An LD spokesman said, "The Government had amended the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) to prohibit group gatherings of more than two persons in public places. A person who participates in a prohibited group gathering may be charged a fixed penalty, the amount of which has been raised to $5,000. At the same time, the fixed penalty charged against a person who fails to wear a mask in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) has also been raised to $5,000. The Government will conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages and joint operations for three consecutive days at popular FDH gathering places starting tomorrow (January 1, 2021) across the territory to call upon FDHs to comply with the relevant requirements, exercise self-discipline and abide by the law. Relevant departments will take enforcement action against those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.
 
     "We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and stay at home for rest as far as possible to safeguard their personal health. We also encourage employers and FDHs to discuss rest day arrangements, so as to minimise the health risk of participating in social activities."
 
     At the same time, employers are reminded that they must not compel their FDHs to work on a rest day. An employer who compels his or her FDH to work on a rest day without the agreement of the FDH or fails to grant rest days to the FDH is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000.
 
     Should FDHs and their employers have any enquiries on employment matters, they may contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).