â€‹The Transport Department today (December 31) reminded members of the public that the monthly public transport expenses threshold of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme will continue to be relaxed from $400 to $200 till June 30 next year.
                
     To alleviate commuters' fare burden during the epidemic, the Government introduced a special measure to temporarily relax the monthly threshold of public transport expenses from $400 to $200 between July and December this year. "The Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address" announced that the measure will be extended for six months. From January 1 to June 30, 2021, the Government will continue to provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the monthly public transport expenses in excess of $200, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each Octopus.
      
     For details of the Scheme, please visit the website (www.ptfss.gov.hk). Commuters can also check their record of public transport expenses and subsidy amounts through the Octopus App or the Scheme hotline 2969 5500.

     The Government gazetted today (December 31) the proposed provision of a boardwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC), serving as a pedestrian walkway and a cycleway, to enhance the connectivity along the North Point waterfront by linking the harbourfront in Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay.
 
     The proposed boardwalk comprises the western and eastern sections. The western section will run from Oil Street to Tong Shui Road (approximately 0.7 kilometre long), while the eastern section will run from Tin Chiu Street to Hoi Yu Street (approximately 1.1km long). The alignment works to utilise the shelter of the IEC as far as possible, so as to minimise the impact of the boardwalk on the Victoria Harbour. The boardwalk will maintain a width of at least 10 metres to allow sufficient space for the safe and conflict-free shared use among different users including pedestrians, joggers, cyclists and other user groups.
 
     On top of the four access points at both ends of the two boardwalk sections, five access points will also be provided to enhance the connectivity with the hinterland. The proposal also includes three movable bridges to allow vessels to access the coastal waters bounded by the proposed boardwalk when required. The gradient of the boardwalk will also be lowered, thereby a more pleasant experience will be created and water-friendliness enhanced. 
 
     In addition, water supply, drainage and utilities will also be provided to facilitate the provision of ancillary facilities such as toilets, drinking fountains and kiosks, etc. Six viewing platforms will be constructed by utilising the space above the existing IEC piled dolphins, for public enjoyment of the panoramic views of Victoria Harbour. A fishing platform will also be constructed to benefit anglers.

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

Eastern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Eastern Law Courts Building,
29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong

District Lands Office, Hong Kong East,
19/F, Southorn Centre,
130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

     The gazette notice, scheme, plans, resumption plan, plan for Creation of Easements and Other Permanent Rights, plan for Creation of Rights of Temporary Occupation of Land 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 1, 2021.

     The Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Serbia signed in August this year came into force on December 30, 2020, after the completion of the relevant ratification procedures. The CDTA will have effect in respect of Hong Kong tax for any year of assessment beginning on or after April 1, 2021, a Government spokesman said today (December 31).
      
     Serbia participates in the Belt and Road initiative, and was the 89th largest trading partner of Hong Kong in 2019. The CDTA will bring a greater degree of certainty on tax liabilities for those who engage in cross-border business activities, and help promote bilateral trade and investment activities.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (December 31) again reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to comply with social distancing measures announced by the Government.
 
     An LD spokesman said, "The Government had amended the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) to prohibit group gatherings of more than two persons in public places. A person who participates in a prohibited group gathering may be charged a fixed penalty, the amount of which has been raised to $5,000. At the same time, the fixed penalty charged against a person who fails to wear a mask in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) has also been raised to $5,000. The Government will conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages and joint operations for three consecutive days at popular FDH gathering places starting tomorrow (January 1, 2021) across the territory to call upon FDHs to comply with the relevant requirements, exercise self-discipline and abide by the law. Relevant departments will take enforcement action against those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.
 
     "We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and stay at home for rest as far as possible to safeguard their personal health. We also encourage employers and FDHs to discuss rest day arrangements, so as to minimise the health risk of participating in social activities."
 
     At the same time, employers are reminded that they must not compel their FDHs to work on a rest day. An employer who compels his or her FDH to work on a rest day without the agreement of the FDH or fails to grant rest days to the FDH is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000.
 
     Should FDHs and their employers have any enquiries on employment matters, they may contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk). 

The following is issued on behalf of the Law Reform Commission:

     The Law Reform Commission (LRC) today (December 31) announced that Professor Fu Hualing, Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun and Mrs Janice Choi Kwan Wing-kum have been appointed by the Chief Executive as new members of the LRC for three years. The appointments of Professor Fu and Mr Hung will take effect on January 1, 2021, while Mrs Choi's appointment will commence on March 1, 2021.

     Professor Fu is the Dean of Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong and his research interests include human rights and public law. The LRC believes that the expertise of the legal scholar will benefit the LRC in law reform.

     Mr Hung was the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong from 2014 to 2016. Specialising in criminal law, he is a current member of the LRC Sub-committee on Causing or Allowing the Death of a Child or Vulnerable Adult. His professional standing and substantial expertise in criminal law will certainly be conducive to the LRC's future studies in this regard.

     Mrs Choi is the Advisor and Legal Director of Sunwah Group and a current Standing Committee Member of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong. The LRC believes that Mrs Choi's legal background and extensive experience in the commercial sector will sustain the LRC's broad expertise in delivering effective law reform.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, who is also the Chairman of the LRC, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the outgoing members, namely Professor Michael Hor, Mr Robert Pang, SC, and Mr Allan Leung, for their valuable contributions and advice to the LRC during their two consecutive terms.

     With these latest appointments, the LRC will comprise the following members:

The Secretary for Justice (Chairman)
The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (ex-officio member)
The Law Draftsman (ex-officio member)
Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung
Ms Alexandra Lo
Ms Melissa Wu
Ms Winnie Tam, SC
Ms May Chan Suk-mei
Professor Tan Cheng-han
Professor Lutz-Christian Wolff
Professor Fu Hualing
Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
Mrs Janice Choi Kwan Wing-kum