The Government gazetted today (January 29) the proposed construction of a covered footbridge across Kwun Tong Road near MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A to alleviate congestion at the existing footbridge and provide a convenient and reliable barrier-free access.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan 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

Kwun Tong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, 
G/F, The Grande Building,
398 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

District Lands Office, Kowloon East and Kowloon West,
4/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices,
11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

     The gazette notice, scheme, plan 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 30, 2021.

     The Government today (January 29) announced the re-appointment of four incumbent non-official members and appointment of three new non-official members to the Construction Industry Council (CIC) for a two-year term from February 1, 2021, to January 31, 2023. The appointments were made by the Secretary for Development.
 
     The four re-appointed non-official members are Mr Eddie Lam Kin-wing, Professor Lo Hong-kam, Dr Derrick Pang Yat-bond and Mr Ken Wong Kin-wai. The three new non-official members are Mr Thomas Ho On-sing, Mrs Lo Lee Oi-lin and Mr Mow Tai-hing.
 
     "We welcome the new members and look forward to working closely with all members for the healthy and continuous development of the construction industry. We would also like to express our gratitude to the three outgoing members, Ms Ada Fung Yin-suen, Ms Amy Lee Sau-king and Mr Ringo Yu Shek-man, for their contributions to the CIC in the past years," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.
 
     The CIC was established in February 2007 as a statutory body with the mission to forge consensus on long-term strategic issues concerning the construction industry, convey the needs and aspirations of the industry to the Government, and provide a channel for the Government to solicit advice on all construction-related matters. Since its establishment, the CIC has embarked on a range of initiatives to elevate the quality of construction and to uphold the professionalism of the construction industry in Hong Kong, and has collaborated with the industry to launch various caring schemes for industry practitioners, including the work in enhancing construction site safety and fighting against the pandemic.
 
     The appointments were published in the Government Gazette today.
 
     Membership of the CIC as from February 1, 2021, will be as follows:
 
Chairperson
————-
Mr Chan Ka-kui
 
Members
———-
Mr Chan Chi-chiu
Mr Chan Kim-kwong
Mr Chan Pat-kan
Professor Chung Kwok-fai
Mr Ivan Fu Chin-shing
Mr Thomas Ho Kwok-kwan
Mr Thomas Ho On-sing
Mr Eddie Lam Kin-wing
Mr Ricky Leung Wing-kee
Mr Li Tat-wai
Professor Lo Hong-kam
Mrs Lo Lee Oi-lin
Mr Kenneth Mo Kon-fei
Mr Mow Tai-hing
Mr Pan Shujie
Dr Derrick Pang Yat-bond
Mr Rocky Poon Lock-kee
Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing
Mr Ken Wong Kin-wai
Ms Eliza Wong Yeuk-lan
Mr Yu Sai-yen
Permanent Secretary for Development (Works)
Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)
Director of Buildings

     The Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA) 2021, steered by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), will hold its awards presentation ceremony in the fourth quarter of this year. The OGCIO is inviting proposals from interested non-profit organisations to take part as Leading Organisers.
      
     The HKICTA aims at recognising and promoting outstanding information and communications technology (ICT) inventions and applications, thereby encouraging innovation and excellence among Hong Kong's ICT talent and enterprises. Through concerted efforts of the ICT sector, academia and the Government, this highly regarded Awards has already given some 1,700 recognitions to outstanding local ICT products and solutions since its debut in 2006. Awards winners also have the opportunity to be nominated for international and regional awards. In recent years, the nominees have scooped remarkable prizes in awards such as the World Information Technology and Services Alliance 2020 Global ICT Excellence Awards and the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance Awards 2019, showcasing outstanding achievements of Hong Kong's ICT industry.
      
     The HKICTA 2021 consists of eight award categories. They are:
 
* Digital Entertainment Award
* FinTech Award
* ICT Startup Award
* Smart Business Award
* Smart Living Award
* Smart Mobility Award
* Smart People Award
* Student Innovation Award
 
     The OGCIO welcomes all professional bodies, trade associations or other non-profit organisations to apply for the role of Leading Organisers, which are responsible for recruiting and screening entries, promoting the HKICTA through their networks, planning and managing the adjudication process, and holding individual presentation ceremonies for their categories. The selection of Leading Organisers will be conducted through an open and fair process based on an established assessment mechanism and criteria taking into account the effectiveness of proposals as well as capability and past performance of the applicants.
      
     Organisations interested in becoming a Leading Organiser can contact the OGCIO at 2582 4318 or email to hkictawards@ogcio.gov.hk to obtain a set of the application documents (including a Request for Proposal and a Proposal Form). The deadline for submission is February 24, 2021. Further details are available on the website of HKICTA (www.hkictawards.hk).

     The application period for the fresh round of the Fitness Centre Subsidy Scheme launched under the Government's Anti-epidemic Fund will end on February 8 (Monday). Eligible fitness centres wishing to apply for the subsidy should submit their applications as soon as possible. Application forms and guidelines can be downloaded from the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) website (www.hab.gov.hk/en/policy_responsibilities/fitness/aefv4.htm).
 
     According to the application guidelines of the Scheme, an eligible fitness centre must possess a fixed address and an individually operated premises in Hong Kong where its principal and substantive business is to provide exercise machines or equipment in the premises for use, and/or to give advice and instruction on, training for or assistance in improving physical fitness, including bodybuilding, dancing, yoga, pilates, body stretching and martial arts.
 
     The HAB has commissioned the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China to assist in the implementation of the Scheme. The Scheme has been open for applications since January 8. As of January 28, over 1 300 applications were received, of which 200 applications have been approved. A total of $20 million in subsidies has been disbursed.
 
     For enquiries concerning details and the application procedure of the Scheme, applicants can contact the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China by phone at 2389 3538 or by email at subsidy4.0@hkpfa.org.hk.

     The Government intends to carry out improvement works at Sham Chung Pier within an area of approximately 1.16 hectares of foreshore and seabed to the west of Sham Chung. The extent of the area affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (January 29).

     The proposed works will enhance the safety of pier users while boarding and alighting. During the construction stage, a temporary pier will be provided at the site for public use. The proposed works are scheduled to commence in mid-2022 for completion in mid-2024.              

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);

* Tai Po Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Tai Po District Office (G/F, Tai Po Government Offices Building, 1 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, New Territories); and

* Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before March 29. The notice of such an objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.