Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session with the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui after inspecting the compulsory testing in the specified "restricted area" in Jordan this morning (January 24):
 
Reporter: So, we know that some residents left among other reasons they didn't have legal residency in Hong Kong, could this been have avoided if the testing is not linked to legal residency? And can you clarify how testing has anything to do with immigration and residency status?
 
     And also the lockdown is extended, will the government compensate workers who have to work on Monday morning? And are you providing hot meals to the elderly?
 
Chief Secretary for Administration: First of all, on the question on whether we are confident of lifting the restrictions by 6 o'clock in the morning tomorrow, on the basis of what is happening now, we have confidence that we should be able to do it because we have already done screening for 7 000 people yesterday in terms of testing. I think the number coming out today will be relatively small, so the left can handle them, before close of play tonight, so we are pretty certain that given this development, we can lift the restrictions as it were by 6 o'clock tomorrow. Now, the screening and the testing apply to everybody, everyone is welcome to do it. Health comes first.
 
Secretary for Home Affairs: I just want to supplement the other point earlier you enquired about meal delivery service. As you know in Hong Kong, we do have meal services for the needy, special needs and the elderly. During this operation, we do provide such service and also, we do have service hotlines including one for the ethnic minorities as well. For special cases, we would be on the ground to handle them. So basically we try to accommodate them as best as we can. We try to shorten as well the operation so we can allow people to go back to their normal lives as soon as possible. Thank you.

              

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:
 
     The Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will meet on Tuesday (January 26) to consider five applications for new issue and renewal of liquor licences.
 
     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
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NACASA CAFE & BAR in Sheung Wan
GROTTO in Quarry Bay
 
Kowloon:
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"Clam House" in Hung Hom
LE REVEUR in Mong Kok
 
New Territories:
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Fu Ah in Sai Kung
 
     The board will also consider revocation of the liquor licence of SOMITHON LIMITED in Sha Tin.
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. In response to the latest developments of coronavirus disease 2019, to avoid the gathering of people in an enclosed environment and to safeguard the health of all participants, public seats will not be available for all open hearings of the LLB in the interim.

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 Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will launch two internship programmes, namely the Future International Talent (FIT) programme and the Telecommunications Opportunities Programme (TOP) in collaboration with six international chambers of commerce in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) respectively. The programmes will create some 200 full-time entry-level job opportunities for young people in the creative industries and telecommunications sectors.
      
     "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the six participating international chambers and the HKFYG. Their partnership in these two meaningful programmes fully demonstrates their commitment towards the nurturing of talents in Hong Kong. I am confident that with their respective comprehensive networks and knowledge of the trade and young people, the two programmes will be launched successfully," the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said today (January 24).
      
     "The two programmes will also provide much-needed job opportunities for our young people at this difficult time. FIT will offer global perspectives and wider exposure to young people through work, in particular those who aspire to pursue careers in the creative industries. For TOP, working and training opportunities in the promising telecommunications sector in the 5G era will also broaden the horizons of young people and equip them with lifelong skill sets for career development," Mr Yau added.
      
     Under FIT, the six participating chambers will help recruit their member companies to offer over 100 internship or job opportunities to young people. Priority will be accorded to creative industries, which are popular among young people and a new economic driver of Hong Kong, and creative roles in other industries.
      
     The six chambers are the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong; the German Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong; the Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry; and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
      
     As for TOP, it will provide about 100 internship placements offered by various telecommunications-related companies to young people through the HKFYG's strong networks. Vacancies include positions for software programmers, assistant engineers, and sales and marketing trainees.
      
     For the two internship programmes, the Government will provide monthly salary subsidies under the Job Creation Scheme funded by the Anti-epidemic Fund at $5,610 per fresh graduate or to-be graduate with no work experience and $10,000 for one with no more than five years of work experience, for a maximum of 12 months. Candidates must be a Hong Kong identity card holder over 18 years old and a holder of an accredited certificate, diploma or degree obtained in a programme of a post-secondary or tertiary institute with no more than five years of work experience or a to-be graduate.
      
     The intern recruitment exercises will commence within the first quarter of 2021. Details will be announced in due course.     

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will meet the media at 9am today (January 24) at Yau Tsim Mong Multicultural Activity Centre, 59 Battery Street, Jordan.

     Media coverage is invited.