The Central and Western District Office together with the Central District of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health and the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) conducted an enforcement operation today (April 1) at two buildings in Sheung Wan, which were included in a compulsory testing notice earlier. The operation started at around 7am and ended at around 10.30am today.      

     Starting from around 7am today, persons subject to compulsory testing of Cherry Crest, 3 Kui In Fong and View Villa, 38 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan, were requested to provide the SMS notification received through a mobile phone or related certification containing the results of COVID-19 tests, to show that they had taken such tests as required pursuant to the compulsory testing notice of the two buildings within the specified period issued by the Government earlier on. The Government arranged for staff to verify the testing certifications of the persons subject to compulsory testing at the entrances/exits of the two buildings, and conducted checks in the buildings to verify whether persons subject to compulsory testing had undergone testing in compliance with the requirements.

     During the operation conducted at the Cherry Crest, test records of around 90 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Among them, three persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. As for the operation conducted at View Villa, test records of around 70 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Among them, two persons were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice. The Government has issued compulsory testing orders to them, requiring them to undergo testing within a specified period. Non-compliance with a compulsory testing order is an offence, and offenders are liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     The Government reiterates that the aim of issuing a compulsory testing notice is to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community as soon as possible to protect overall public health and safety. Persons subject to testing under a compulsory testing notice should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.

     The Government wishes to thank the many persons subject to compulsory testing who had complied with the compulsory testing notice for their co-operation to fight against the virus together. The Government will continue to enforce the law strictly. All persons subject to compulsory testing should comply with the compulsory testing notice. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notice may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Non-compliance with the order is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     The Central and Western District Office is grateful for the support and co-operation of the Police, the CHP and the AMS to enable the enforcement action to be carried out smoothly. The Government understands that the enforcement process may cause some inconvenience to the residents, but hopes that the residents can understand.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, today (April 1) briefed representatives of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries on the amended Annex I to the Basic Law on Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Annex II to the Basic Law on Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and its Voting Procedures as approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

     At the meeting, Mr Yau reiterated the necessity and urgency of improving the electoral system, highlighting its importance on creating a stable business environment and ensuring Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. He called on different sectors of the community, including the industrial sector, to fully support the relevant amendments.

     Mr Yau stressed that establishing a political structure that upholds the "one country, two systems" principle, reflects the actual situation of Hong Kong and ensures "patriots administering Hong Kong" is the only way to fully safeguard the HKSAR's constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law, restore order from chaos, ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems" and achieve the long-term stability and safety of Hong Kong.

     He said that by improving the electoral system, the excessive politicisation in society and the internal rifts that have torn Hong Kong apart can be effectively mitigated, thereby enhancing the governance capability of the HKSAR. The HKSAR will then be able to focus on addressing economic and livelihood issues, and developing the economy to achieve long-term prosperity and stability through leveraging its unique advantages and the staunch support of the Central Authorities.

     Mr Yau will conduct a number of such briefing sessions next week to brief various sectors on the relevant amendments, including small and medium enterprises, tourism, hotel, wholesale and retail, textiles and garment, telecommunications, broadcasting, film and performing arts, and publishing.

    

     â€‹The Inland Revenue Department today (April 1) issued about 210,000 profits tax returns, 120,000 property tax returns and 320,000 employer's returns for the year of assessment 2020-21. About 2.6 million tax returns for individuals will be issued on May 3. Taxpayers and employers are generally required to file their returns within one month from the date of issue of the relevant returns. For cases with tax representatives appointed, the deadlines for filing returns are set out in the Block Extension Letter posted on the department's website.

     In this year's Budget, the Financial Secretary proposed a one-off reduction of 100 per cent of profits tax, salaries tax and tax under personal assessment for 2020-21, subject to a ceiling of $10,000. Upon enactment of the relevant legislation, the department will effect the tax reduction in this year's tax bills.

     "Individuals with rental income, if eligible, can enjoy the reduction by electing personal assessment. They can make the choice when completing their 2020-21 tax returns for individuals," a spokesman for the department said.

     Members of the public can visit the department's website (www.ird.gov.hk) for common questions and answers on how to complete tax returns. The department encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns through eTAX electronic services, details of which can be found in the webpage (www.gov.hk/en/residents/taxes/etax/services/index.htm). Guidance on electronic filing of employer's returns is also available on the department's website (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/err.htm). The eTAX services permit individuals to use the Government's "iAM Smart" digital services to login and sign the tax returns (signing is only applicable to holders of "iAM Smart" accounts with digital signing function). For information about the "iAM Smart" services, please visit the website at www.iamsmart.gov.hk.

     The department reminds taxpayers and employers to pay sufficient postage for returns to be posted to the department to ensure timely delivery. Postage rates can be found on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk. Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the department.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for two separate three-year tenancies of the government properties at (i) Room No. 1 and (ii) Room No. 2 on the first floor of Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, for the installation and operation of two automated teller machines belonging to the tenant only.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (April 1) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6775 on or before April 15 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on April 26 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (April 1) announced that the Reimbursement of Maternity Leave Pay Scheme is now open for applications from employers.

     The statutory maternity leave (ML) under the Employment Ordinance (EO) (Cap. 57) has been extended from 10 weeks to 14 weeks effective from December 11, 2020. Through the scheme, employers can apply for reimbursement of the statutory maternity leave pay (MLP) paid to employees in respect of the 11th to 14th weeks, subject to a cap of $80,000 per employee. The LD has appointed a processing agent to assist with the implementation of the scheme.

     An LD spokesman said, "We expect that the extension of statutory ML, in conjunction with the implementation of the scheme, will benefit 27 000 pregnant employees and their employers every year."

     An application for reimbursement of MLP must meet the following requirements:
 

1. the employee relevant to the application has been employed by the applicant and entitled to ML and MLP under the EO;
2. the employee has taken her ML and the applicant has paid MLP for all of the 14 weeks to the employee;
3. the employee's confinement occurred on or after December 11, 2020; and
4. the MLP paid to the employee for the additional four weeks has not been and will not be covered or subsidised by other government funding.

     Employers, after paying employees all of the statutory MLP according to the EO on the normal pay day, may directly submit online applications through the Reimbursement Easy Portal at www.rmlps.gov.hk. Employers may also download the application form from the portal or obtain it from the LD's Labour Relations Division offices (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/tele/lr1.htm) or the scheme's service centre (address: Unit 204, 2/F, South Island Place, 8 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong), and return it by email (enquiry@rmlps.hk), fax (2178 0328), or post/in person to the scheme's service centre.

     As regards the details of the scheme and information needed for submitting an application, please visit the portal or call the scheme's service hotline on 2636 6353 during service hours (9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6.15pm) from Monday to Friday, except public holidays.