The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (January 22) announced the performance ratings of registered lift and escalator contractors for the past 12 months (from January 2020 to December 2020) for public reference.
 
     According to the rating results, 34 registered lift contractors and 26 registered escalator contractors were awarded the Safety Star. Among these contractors, 21 registered lift contractors and 17 registered escalator contractors had not been found non-compliant with the safety and maintenance requirements as reported in the last two consecutive announcements of performance results, and were therefore given the highest rating of five Quality Stars. The EMSD conducted 28 528 inspections of lifts and escalators during the period.
 
     The rating results, conviction records, summaries of warning letters and equipment failure records are available on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/le_pub_mpr.shtml).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 22) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming (see Note).      
  
     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:  

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that all gazetted beaches were closed from December 10, 2020, until further notice.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, January 22, 2021 is 100.6 (up 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The application period for the Catering Business Subsidy Scheme, the Commercial Bathhouse Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme and the Places of Public Entertainment Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme under the fourth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) will end at 5pm on January 28 (Thursday). A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 22) reminded eligible food licence, liquor licence, karaoke establishment permit, commercial bathhouse licence and places of public entertainment licence holders wishing to apply for the subsidy to submit their applications before the deadline.

     The schemes opened for application on December 29 last year. As of January 20, over 16 700 (including 15 895 catering premises and 824 cooked food/light refreshment stall tenants in FEHD markets, as well as cooked food stall tenants holding a hawker licence and operating in a public housing development), 40 and 330 applications for the Catering Business Subsidy Scheme, the Commercial Bathhouse Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme and the Places of Public Entertainment Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme have been received respectively. A total of 5 810 (including 5 287 catering premises and 523 cooked food/light refreshment stall tenants in FEHD markets, as well as cooked food stall tenants holding a hawker licence and operating in a public housing development), six and 133 applications have been approved respectively with a sum of over $490 million disbursed. The FEHD will process the applications as soon as possible so as to provide assistance to eligible licence holders promptly.

     The application form and guidelines can be downloaded from the website of the FEHD (www.fehd.gov.hk) or obtained from District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the department. The applicants can submit their applications to corresponding District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD (to the corresponding Licensing Offices for liquor licences) in person or by mail. The applicants for the Catering Business Subsidy Scheme can also submit their applications through the FEHD website. For approved applications, the FEHD will disburse the subsidies by crossed cheques to the correspondence addresses of the licensed food premises registered in the FEHD.

     â€‹For details of the schemes, please visit the website of the FEHD.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee will hold a meeting today (January 22) at 2.30pm in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex.