The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) received two suspects from the Mainland authorities at the Shenzhen Bay Port today (December 30). They were in suspected connection with a conspiracy to commit arson case; and an attempted arson and possession of offensive weapons case respectively.

     The 18-year-old local male was in suspected connection with a conspiracy to commit arson case in Wan Chai happened on September 30 last year in which someone was found manufacturing petrol bombs inside a unit on Lockhart Road. After investigation, five males were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent. They were released on court bail pending trial and not allowed to leave Hong Kong but the male suspect and two other suspects in the case fled Hong Kong. 

     Moreover, the 17-year-old local male was in suspected connection with an attempted arson and possession of offensive weapons case in Mong Kok happened on October 14 last year in which someone threw petrol bombs and set fire at Mong Kok Police Station. Police arrested two males at scene. The 17-year-old male suspect was charged with attempted arson with intent and possession of offensive weapons and he absconded from Hong Kong afterwards.

     Under the Reciprocal Notification Mechanism, the HKPF received on August 28 a notification from the Mainland law enforcement agencies regarding the detention by the Mainland authorities of the abovementioned two male suspects and 10 other persons who were suspected of illegal crossing of boundary in Mainland waters.

     Two suspects were returned to the HKPF today after legal proceedings by the Mainland authorities were completed.

     The two cases are handled by Commercial Crime Bureau and Crime Kowloon West Region respectively.

     The Government today (December 30) announced the re-appointment of a Vice-chairman and 10 members, and the new appointment of two Vice-chairmen and three members, to the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2021.

     Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming has been re-appointed as Vice-chairman, and Mr Jimmy Ng Wing-ka and Mr Chan Chun-ying have been newly appointed as Vice-chairmen. The re-appointed members are Ms Au Chor-kwan, Mr Alex Chu Wing-yiu, Mr Douglas Lam Tak-yip, SC, Miss Sylvia Lee Hiu-wah, Dr David Lee Ka-yan, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang, Professor Wong Chi-sang, Mr Johnny Yu Wah-yung, Mr Lee Man-bun and Ms Jane Curzon Lo. The newly appointed members are Miss Mabel Chan Mei-bo, Dr Daniel Chan Ching-yan and Mr Randy Yu Hon-kwan.

     â€‹The appointments are made by the Chief Executive according to section 5 of the IPCC Ordinance (Cap. 604). 

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, said, "In the face of different opinions, challenges and increasing public expectations from the society, the Government is most grateful for the invaluable contribution of the IPCC in safeguarding a fair, effective and transparent two-tier police complaints system in Hong Kong. I would also like to thank the Vice-chairmen Mr Christopher Cheung Wah-fung and Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen, and members Dr Cheng Kam-chung, Mr Richard Ho Kam-wing, Mr Herman Hui Chung-shing, Mr Edgar Kwan Chi-ping and Ms Shalini Sujanani, who will leave the IPCC by the end of their term on December 31, 2020. During their tenure, they have actively led and participated in the work of the IPCC and assisted the IPCC in performing its independent monitoring functions with a view to ensuring that complaints from the public were handled fairly and impartially."

     Mr Lee said that the Government would continue to give full support to the IPCC in discharging its statutory monitoring functions and uphold a fair and impartial police complaints system.

     The IPCC, established under the IPCC Ordinance, is an independent statutory body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the investigation of complaints against members of the Police Force. The IPCC Ordinance provides a statutory basis for the IPCC's role and power and the two-tier police complaints system. It also imposes a statutory duty on the Police to comply with the IPCC's requirements. The IPCC comprises a Chairman, three Vice-chairmen and 22 non-official members.

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved from the Disaster Relief Fund two grants totalling $5.63 million to two agencies for providing relief to flood victims in Vietnam.
 
     Announcing the grants today (December 30), a Government spokesman said that there were around 7.7 million people in the flood affected area. The two grants – one of $1.938 million to Plan International Hong Kong and one of $3.692 million to World Vision Hong Kong – will be used to provide food kits, hygiene kits and household kits to benefit around 59 820 victims. As the targeted localities of the relief agencies are different, there will be no overlapping of resources. The Committee hopes the grants would facilitate the provision of timely relief to the victims and help them restore their normal living.
 
     "To ensure that the money is used for the designated purposes, the relief agencies will be asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," the spokesman said.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) is issuing letters/circular memoranda today and tomorrow (December 30 and 31) to inform schools of the details about the provision of relief grants and subsidies under the new round of the Anti-epidemic Fund. The total expenditure is about $600 million.
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said that following the approval of the new round of the Anti-epidemic Fund by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council last Monday (December 21), the EDB has made immediate arrangements for progressively disbursing subsidies related to the areas of education.
 
     To alleviate the financial hardship arising from the suspension of face-to-face classes due to COVID-19, the Anti-epidemic Fund will provide all kindergartens (KGs), private primary and secondary day schools as well as private schools offering non-formal curriculum (PSNFCs) (generally referred to as "tutorial schools") with a one-off grant.
 
     The grant, ranging from $60,000 to $160,000, will be provided to each KG and private primary and secondary day school. The additional expenditure is estimated to be $135 million, benefitting about 1 000 KGs and 180 private primary and secondary day schools. Details are as follows:
 

• Schools joining the kindergarten education scheme (Scheme-KGs) will receive a grant ranging from $60,000 to $160,000, depending on their types (i.e. half-day, whole-day and long whole-day) and sizes;

• For non-Scheme KGs, each KG will receive a grant of $80,000;

• Private primary and secondary day schools (including schools under the English Schools Foundation, international schools, Private Independent Schools and other private primary and secondary day schools offering a formal curriculum) will each receive $80,000.

   
     Regarding PSNFCs, a one-off relief grant of $40,000 will be given to each PSNFC which has been registered under the Education Ordinance and is in operation on the date of invitation of application. The additional expenditure is estimated to be $108 million, benefitting some 2 700 PSNFCs.
 
     Meanwhile, one-off relief grants under the Anti-epidemic Fund will be provided to the following suppliers and service providers as their services and incomes were severely affected during periods of face-to-face class suspension/half-day schooling and cessation of on-campus activities. The additional expenditure is estimated to be $362 million. Details are as follows:
 

• Operators of catering outlets (namely tuck shops, canteens and restaurants) at primary schools, secondary schools and post-secondary education institutions: a one-off relief grant of $80,000 to each outlet;

• Lunchbox providers of primary and secondary schools: a one-off relief grant of $10,000 per school each provider is serving;

• School bus drivers, school private light bus drivers and escorts (commonly called "nannies"): a one-off relief grant of $10,000 for each driver and $10,000 per vehicle for escorts (the subsidy of $10,000 will be shared among nannies based on their proportion of service time if more than one nanny serve in the same vehicle);

• Instructors, coaches, trainers and operators of interest classes engaged by schools: a one-off relief grant of $7,500 to each operator/service provider.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 is 100.9 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).