The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     The Government published the Securities and Futures and Companies Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2021 (the Bill) in the Gazette today (March 19).

     The Bill seeks to amend the Securities and Futures Ordinance, the Companies Ordinance and other existing legislation to implement a complete uncertificated securities market (USM) regime under a revised operational model, as well as to clarify the scope of regulated activities for the new over-the-counter (OTC) derivative licensing regime. 

     "The Government is committed to taking forward a USM regime in Hong Kong. The Bill provides the legal framework which allows investors to, in addition to the prevailing arrangement of holding beneficial interest in securities through nominees, hold and transfer the legal title to securities under a digitalised environment. This enables investors to enjoy better legal protection while allowing us to elevate our financial market infrastructure and thereby further enhance the market efficiency and competitiveness. Subject to the passage of the Bill by the Legislative Council, we aim to commence the phased implementation of the USM regime by end 2022," a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said. 
 
     "Upon implementation of the USM regime, the Government will no longer charge the $5 fixed stamp duty on securities transferred without instrument of transfer," the spokesman said.

     "We also propose to make technical amendments to the scope of regulated activities under the OTC derivative licensing regime to provide more clarity about the exceptions and to better reflect our policy intent," the spokesman added.

     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for First Reading on March 24.

     The 2021-22 Award Scheme for Learning Experiences under the Qualifications Framework (QF) is open for applications from today (March 19) until May 27. Practitioners from 23 industries implementing the QF (see Annex) are welcome to apply.
 
     A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said that the theme for this year's Award Scheme is "Learning Experiences: Gearing up for Future". The Award Scheme aims to encourage practitioners who have excelled themselves in continuous learning to engage in learning activities held locally or around the world with a view to broadening their horizons, enabling them to keep abreast of the latest developments of the industry, and extending their exposure and networks. Through participating in the Award Scheme, practitioners can achieve their personal and career goals.
 
     Since it was launched in 2013-14, the Award Scheme has attracted more than 1 700 applicants from different industries in these eight years, of whom over 490 were awarded. More than 60 per cent of the awardees participated in overseas learning activities, while some 30 per cent were engaged in local learning activities. The Award Scheme subsidises practitioners to participate in learning activities and helps reinforce their conviction in lifelong learning. Through continuous learning, they are able to upgrade their knowledge and skills, become lifelong learning role models for their respective industries, and help promote the QF.
 
     The spokesman added that the learning activities in which practitioners can participate under the Award Scheme include competitions, seminars, sharing sessions, exhibitions, and study tours. Awardees engaging in local learning activities will receive an award of $10,000 while those engaging in learning activities outside Hong Kong will receive an award of $30,000.
 
     To further promote the Award Scheme, the EDB invited some awardees to share their stories and produced short videos on their experiences and insights gained from learning activities held both locally and outside Hong Kong. Members of the public are welcome to watch the videos uploaded onto the QF website (www.hkqf.gov.hk/en/promotion/videos/index.html) and the Award Scheme Facebook page (www.facebook.com/QFAwardScheme). For more details of the Award Scheme, applicants may visit the website www.hkqf.gov.hk/AwardScheme.

     The Government today (March 19) announced the re-appointment of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 17 incumbent members to the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) Committee for a term of two years with effect from April 1, 2021.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, welcomed the appointments and looked forward to members' continued valuable advice on the development of social capital in Hong Kong.

     The CIIF was established in 2002 to promote social capital development through encouraging mutual support in the neighbourhood, community participation and cross-sectoral partnership. The Committee is tasked to handle applications for funding under the CIIF and advise the Government on the administration of the CIIF as well as the development of social capital.

     The list of non-official members of the Committee in the new term is as follows:

Chairman
———-
Mr Kwan Chuk-fai

Vice-Chairman
—————
Professor Raymond Chan Kwok-hong

Members
———-
Ms Karin Ann
Miss Amy Chan Lim-chee
Mr Dennis Chan Wan-pan
Dr Eliza Cheung Yee-lai
Mr Alan Cheung Yick-lun
Mr Alan Chow Ping-kay
Dr Fan Ning
Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi
Ms Josephine Lee Yuk-chi
Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun
Miss Yanice Mak Wing-yan
Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing
Mr Leo Tam Ka-ming
Mr Teddy Tang Chun-keung
Mr Anthony Wong Kin-wai
Miss Joanna Wong Kwan-chiu
Ms Wong May-kwan
Dr Wong Tak-cheung
Mr Wong Wai-kit
Mr Yuen Sui-see

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (March 19) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at end-February 2021. Banking complaints include cases concerning general banking services and conduct-related issues.
      
     In February 2021, 154 cases were received and the handling of 146 cases was completed. As at end-February, the handling of 633 cases was in progress. 
      
     A table summarising the progress made in the handling of banking complaints by the HKMA is attached.