The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, announced the launch of the "Early Vaccination for All" campaign by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (May 31). The campaign aims to help build an immune barrier in Hong Kong as soon as possible by significantly raising the vaccination rate during the three-month-long critical period from now until the end of August, thereby restoring normality to society sooner rather than later and allowing more than a million students to go back to school safely in the new school year. She also pointed out that vaccination is expected to be an indispensable requirement for trips to the Mainland and overseas places for travel and work in the future.
      
     "The most important – if not the only – way for Hong Kong to get through the epidemic is large-scale vaccination of the public to build an immune barrier for the entire community. In fact, there has been an obvious decrease in the number of confirmed cases and the death toll in a number of countries or cities with high vaccination rates and the relevant social distancing measures are being relaxed gradually," Mrs Lam said.
      
     "In Hong Kong, today is the 95th day since the launch of the vaccination programme on February 26. As at yesterday, about 2.36 million doses of vaccines had been administered and about 1.36 million of them were the first dose, accounting for 21 per cent of the population aged 16 or above in Hong Kong. About 1 million people have also received the second vaccine dose.
      
     "To further encourage members of the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to express gratitude to those who have been vaccinated for their support in fighting the virus, the Government and different sectors in the community will roll out various measures and reward programmes. I have also sent letters to more than 100 developers, retailer associations, employer federations and associations of Chinese fellow townsmen to appeal for their support for the campaign. Other public institutions will also join and details will be announced in due course," she said.
 
Facilitating vaccination
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     From June 1 to August 31, government employees will be entitled to a day of vaccination leave for each vaccination dose received so that they can have sufficient time to recuperate after getting vaccinated. Moreover, all government employees who were vaccinated on or before May 31 this year will be allowed to apply for one day of authorised absence that may be taken by March 31, 2022, for each dose already received.
      
     The Government appeals to statutory bodies/public organisations, as well as employers of enterprises, to encourage their staff to get vaccinated, and to arrange vaccination leave or other facilitation measures for them.
      
     In addition, the Government has conducted the outreach vaccination programme since mid-May to provide vaccination services to staff of enterprises and groups in a more effective and convenient manner. In the coming three months, the Government will be more proactive in promoting and making the best use of the outreach vaccination service. Interested parties can call the hotline (3904 1490) for enquiries and arrangements.
 
Facilitating gatherings
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     The Government will further relax social distancing measures with the vaccine bubble concept as the basis, including relaxation of the maximum number of persons allowed at premises and group gatherings, the maximum capacity of premises and operation hours, the types of activities allowed, the distance among groups, and the mask-wearing requirement. Among them, the Government is considering allowing vaccinated persons to bring children and elderly persons who are not vaccinated to dine together at Type D catering businesses, and raising the number of persons allowed to be seated at the same table in bars/pubs, clubs/nightclubs and karaoke establishments.
 
Vaccination in lieu of regular testing 
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     Starting from today, the vaccination in lieu of regular testing approach is being implemented for front-line government employees to safeguard their health. Front-line employees who have received the first dose of a vaccine and provided their vaccination record could be exempted from regular testing. Those who are not vaccinated are required to undergo COVID-19 testing using combined nasal and throat swabs on a biweekly basis.
 
Vaccination promotion activities
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     The Government welcomes the incentives actively provided by the commercial sector and organisations to encourage members of the public to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. It understands that the commercial sector and many organisations are considering to organise lucky draw activities for this. In order to facilitate their applications for the relevant licence(s) (including the Trade Promotion Competition Licence and Lottery Licence), the Office of the Licensing Authority of the Home Affairs Department has set up the COVID-19 Vaccination Promotion Lucky Draw Hotline (2117 2783), to provide one-stop consultation services for licence applications, and will expedite the processing of the relevant applications.
 
Facilitating the keeping and showing of vaccination records
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     Apart from bringing along paper vaccination records, members of the public can currently download their electronic vaccination records via the "iAM Smart" mobile app, take a photo or use the screen capture function to save the QR code of their vaccination records in the photo album of their smartphones. Starting later this week, members of the public can also save their vaccination records and QR codes in the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app version 2.0 and display their vaccination records for verification when necessary. "iAM Smart" iPhone users can also save their QR codes in Apple Wallet when downloading their electronic vaccination records.
      
     In addition, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will assist industries in developing suitable applications and systems for scanning vaccination records to ensure their authenticity in order to enable members of the public to participate in different promotions.
      
     The fourth wave of the local epidemic has basically come to an end. However, the community must stay vigilant amid the current situation and prepare well for a possible fifth wave of the epidemic that could strike at any time. The fifth wave of the epidemic will probably hit with higher transmissibility and more serious infectious mutant strains. Only through the "Early Vaccination for All" campaign can Hong Kong build a barrier for protection with no delay to safeguard every citizen, including the young ones and those who are unfit to get vaccinated.

     â€‹The following is issued on behalf of the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board, Employees' Compensation Insurance Levies Management Board, Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, Occupational Safety and Health Council and Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board:
      
     The Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board, Employees' Compensation Insurance Levies Management Board, Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, Occupational Safety and Health Council and Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board today (May 31) expressed support for the Government's vaccination leave arrangement for government employees receiving COVID-19 vaccination. These bodies will provide facilitation to their staff intending to get vaccinated by granting vaccination leave so as to encourage vaccination as early as possible for protecting themselves and others.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) welcomed the Government's initiatives and the vaccination leave arrangement for government employees to encourage the public to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The HA will make reference to the arrangement to offer authorised leave for vaccination to HA staff who have received vaccination. Meanwhile, to protect oneself and others, the HA appeals to the public to receive vaccination as early as possible.
 
     "To allow sufficient time to recuperate and to encourage staff members to receive vaccination, staff members who have taken a dose of vaccine are entitled to have a day of authorised leave for vaccination. The arrangement also applies to staff members who have already received vaccination earlier," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     The HA is working on the vaccination leave arrangement while ensuring normal operation of public hospital services. The details will be announced to the staff as early as practicable.
 
     All hospital clusters will continue with their arrangements to encourage vaccination, while different hospitals have already set up depots to enable staff members to receive vaccination and hotlines to answer queries.
 
     The HA encouraged members of the public and healthcare workers once again to actively get vaccinated. The significance of vaccination is self-protection and the protection of the people around by preventing transmission of the virus. As an important step in managing the epidemic, receiving vaccination is important for oneself and others.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 2) at 11.30am (or immediately after the Chief Executive's Question Time to be held at 11am) in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Revenue (Stamp Duty) Bill 2021 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Revenue (First Registration Tax and Licence Fees for Motor Vehicles) Bill 2021, the Securities and Futures and Companies Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 will also resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     On Members' motions, Mr Steven Ho will move a motion on fully implementing the interim policies for squatter structures and agricultural structures. The motion is set out in Appendix 1.
 
     Mr Leung Che-cheung will move a motion on enhancing support for carers. The motion is set out in Appendix 2.
 
     During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     The Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021 has been published in the Gazette and came into effect today (May 31). Under the Ordinance, there are major changes to the composition of the Election Committee (EC), EC subsectors (ECSSs) and Legislative Council functional constituencies (FCs). To allow individuals and bodies whose eligibility is affected and those who are newly eligible to handle their voter registration (VR) matters, the special VR arrangements will start tomorrow (June 1) and end on July 5.
 
     The following individuals and bodies should submit VR applications from tomorrow to July 5 (both days inclusive).
 
Ex-officio members of the EC
 
     The following individuals must complete and submit the following specified forms no later than July 5 to register as ex-officio members of the EC:
 

• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC deputies) and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC members) should complete the REO-EC(X1) form and submit their registration forms through the Friends of Hong Kong Association Limited;
• Relevant "specified persons" (i.e., in general, holders of the specified offices of the subsectors) should complete the REO-EC(X2) form; or
• Relevant "designated persons" (i.e. persons who are holding an office in a relevant body and are designated by the "specified persons" under certain circumstances) should complete the REO-EC(X3) form.

     If the relevant individuals have not yet registered as electors of a geographical constituency (GC), they should also complete and submit an application form (REO-GC) at the same time and by the same deadline.
 
ECSSs
 
     All individuals and bodies who are eligible to register as voters for ECSSs, regardless of whether they are currently registered as ECSS voters, must submit applications to register no later than July 5, before they can be included in the 2021 ECSS provisional register.
 
     Individual applicants should complete the REO-SS(I) form, while body applicants should complete the REO-SS(B) form. When submitting the application form, the governing authority of the relevant body must appoint an authorised representative (AR) on the form to cast the vote on behalf of the body (if successfully registered) at an election.
 
     If the aforementioned individual applicants or ARs to be appointed by body applicants have not yet registered as electors of a GC, they should also complete and submit the application form (REO-GC) at the same time and by the same deadline.

FCs
 
     For currently registered individual and corporate electors of FCs, if they are no longer eligible to register in their original FC or if their original FC has been deleted after the Ordinance came into effect, and if they are eligible to register in another FC, the individuals and bodies concerned may submit an application to register in any other FC for which they are eligible no later than the deadline of July 5.
 
     On the other hand, generally speaking, for currently registered individual and corporate FC electors whose registration eligibility is not affected by the Ordinance, they may not apply to change to register in another FC within the special VR arrangements. Nevertheless, any individual or body who is eligible to register as an elector in the following nine FCs (regardless of whether he/she/it is currently registered as an FC elector) may choose to submit an application to register in any one of these nine FCs no later than July 5:
 

1. Commercial (third) FC (corporate electors only);
2. Technology and innovation FC (corporate electors only);
3. HKSAR NPC deputies, HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC, and representatives of relevant national organisations FC (individual electors only);
4. Agriculture and fisheries FC (corporate electors only);
5. Transport FC (corporate electors only);
6. Tourism FC (corporate electors only);
7. Catering FC (corporate electors only);
8. Sports, performing arts, culture and publication FC (corporate electors only); or
9. Medical and health services FC (individual electors only).

 
     Individuals who wish to apply for registration in the FCs should complete the REO-FC(I) form, while bodies should complete the REO-FC(B) form. When submitting the application form, the governing authority of the relevant body must appoint an AR on the form to cast the vote on behalf of the body (if successfully registered) at an election.
 
     If an aforementioned individual applicant or AR to be appointed by a body applicant has not yet registered as a GC elector, he/she should also complete and submit the application form (REO-GC) at the same time and by the same deadline.
 
GCs
 
     Currently registered GC electors need not submit VR applications again within the special VR period.
 
     Nevertheless, individuals who meet any of the following registration eligibility criteria but have not yet registered as GC electors must submit the application form (REO-GC) to register as GC electors no later than July 5, before they can be registered as ex-officio members of the EC/ECSS voters/FC electors (as the case may be):
 

1. Individuals who are eligible to register as ex-officio members of the EC;
2. Individuals who are eligible to register as voters in any of the ECSSs;
3. Individuals who are eligible to register as electors in any of the two FCs, namely (a) HKSAR NPC deputies, HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC and representatives of relevant national organisations FC; or (b) Medical and health services FC;
4. Individuals appointed by eligible corporate voters/electors/body applicants as their ARs; or
5. Individuals who are eligible to be nominated as EC members in the four ECSSs: (a) Accountancy subsector; (b) Chinese medicine subsector; (c) Legal subsector; or (d) Technology and innovation subsector.

Obtaining and submitting application forms
 
     The specified VR application forms can be downloaded from the VR webpage of the REO (www.reo.gov.hk) or obtained from the offices of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO). When submitting their VR application forms, individual and body applicants should also provide their telephone numbers and email addresses, so that the REO can contact them more promptly and efficiently when needed.
 
     Completed application forms may be submitted no later than July 5 via the following channels:
 

• By post to the REO office, 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay;
• By email to (form@reo.gov.hk) – please do not attach a large number of VR application forms to a single email and send it to the REO's email account, as the large file size may cause delivery failure. Also, submitting application forms through email by providing a hyperlink of cloud storage is not accepted;
• By fax to 2891 1180; or
• Through the REO e-Form Upload Platform (www.reo-form.gov.hk) – if submitting via this channel, please take note of the application number generated by the system so that the application status may be checked afterwards when needed.

     For enquiries on VR matters, please visit the "Improve Electoral System" thematic website (www.cmab.gov.hk/improvement/en/home/index.html) or the VR webpage of the REO (www.reo.gov.hk), or call the REO hotline at 2891 1001.