The Chief Executive has appointed the following persons as members of the Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for a period of two years from January 1, 2021:
 
Mrs Helen Chan (re-appointed)
Mr Nick Ho Lik-ko (re-appointed)
Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang (re-appointed)
 
     Serving members of the Council include:
 
Professor Stephen Chow Chun-kay (Chairman)
Dr Anthony Chow Wing-kin (Deputy Chairman)
Ms Yvonne Shing Mo-han (Treasurer)
Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-ha
Mrs Christine Ip Yeung See-ming
Mr Leon Ko Sai-tseung
Ms Anna Kwong Sum-yee
Ms Sheryl Lee Ming-chi
Ms Cynthia Liu Chiu-fun
Professor Clarence Mak Wai-chu
Mr Douglas So Cheung-tak
Mr Alvin Yiu Cheuk-man
Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (ex-officio)
Secretary for Home Affairs or his representative
Secretary for Education or his representative
 
     The above appointments were published in the Government Gazette today (December 24).

     The Government today (December 24) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Dr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai as Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) for a period of two years from January 1, 2021. The appointment was published in the Government Gazette today.
      
     The HKADC is a statutory body established in 1995 to promote and support the development of the arts in Hong Kong.

     The Labour Department (LD) announced today (December 24) that the free COVID-19 testing service will continue to be provided from January 2 to February 6, 2021, for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) waiting to join their new employers' family.
 
     An LD spokesman said, "From August 25 to December 24, the Government provided three rounds of free COVID-19 testing service for FDHs whose previous employment contracts had expired or had been terminated and who were waiting to join the new employers' family. To benefit more FDHs, the LD will continue to arrange free COVID-19 testing service for these FDHs. We strongly encourage FDHs staying in boarding facilities while waiting to change employers to actively participate in the free testing to safeguard their health. If an FDH needs to stay in a boarding facility for an extended period of time while waiting to change employer, he or she may retake the test as appropriate, especially before joining the new employer's family. We appeal for employment agencies' active assistance in arranging for FDHs to collect specimen collection packs at the temporary distribution/collection point and to return the specimens for testing. We also advise employers to check that their new FDHs have a valid negative test result before joining the family."
 
     Eligible FDHs may, starting from January 2, 2021, collect and return specimen collection packs at the temporary distribution/collection point located at 1/F (footbridge level), Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. No prior appointment is required. The temporary distribution/collection point will be open from 11am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday. The last day for distributing specimen collection packs falls on February 5, 2021, and the last day for returning the specimens is February 6. 
 
     When distributing specimen collection packs, duty officers will ask for simple information regarding the eligibility of the FDH for the testing service, e.g. the Hong Kong identity card number and/or passport number, the reference number and limit of stay as shown on the latest visa issued by the Immigration Department (ImmD), or the reference number/date of application for a visa/extension of stay as a visitor as shown on documents issued by the ImmD. The FDH should bring along the relevant documents for a smooth identity verification process. He or she will be asked to sign a consent form to give consent to taking the test and confirm his or her eligibility for the testing service. After collecting the specimen collection pack, the FDH is required to register his or her personal information at a government website (www.tgptest.gov.hk; please select "Non-Government Staff – Foreign domestic helpers waiting to join new employers' family") in order to receive SMS notification of the testing result. FDHs should record the barcode number of the bottle they collect after registration for reference. If necessary, duty officers can assist the FDH in registration. The FDH should self-collect the deep throat saliva specimen and return it to the temporary collection point on the same day as self-collection.
 
     The testing agency will deliver the specimens to the laboratory for testing. The testing agency will not acquire or retain any personal information of the participants. Participants will be notified of a negative test result via SMS. Positive cases will be referred to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) for follow-up and the DH will contact the participant concerned if it is confirmed to be an infection case.
 
     Separately, the Government is providing one-off free COVID-19 testing service to all FDHs in Hong Kong from December 18 to January 31, 2021. Please refer to the press release (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202012/16/P2020121600777.htm) for details.
 
     For enquiries, please contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823) or by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     In late November, the Judiciary launched a new round of open recruitment exercises for Judges and Judicial Officers (JJOs) at different levels of court. The application period for vacancies of Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court will be closed on December 28. Applications will be invited for vacancies of the District Judge and Permanent Magistrates around mid-2021.

     In light of some media interest in the recruitment process, the Judiciary today (December 24) issued a note to set out the established appointment procedures of JJOs.

Provisions in the Basic Law on appointment of JJOs
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     Since July 1997, all appointments of JJOs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (JORC) in accordance with the Basic Law, the relevant legislative requirements and the established procedure of the Judiciary. This is a well-established mechanism which operates strictly in accordance with the law.

     The professional qualifications for appointment as JJOs at different levels of court are set out in the respective ordinances.
     
Recruitment/selection procedures for JJOs before JORC's deliberation
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     To facilitate the work of JORC in recommending judicial appointments to the Chief Executive for approval, the Judiciary conducts open recruitment exercises on a regular basis for filling vacancies of Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, District Judges and Permanent Magistrates. In each open recruitment exercise, advertisements are placed on the Judiciary's website and newspapers.
      
     All applications will be considered by a Selection Board composed of JJOs appointed by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal. The Selection Board will carefully consider the professional qualifications and experience of each applicant having regard to the relevant requirements under the Basic Law and the respective ordinances. Members of JORC will be invited to attend as observers at the selection interviews and meetings of the Selection Board. The Selection Board's assessment and recommendations on all the applicants' suitability for appointment will then be submitted to JORC for consideration.
      
     As for judicial offices of the appellate courts (i.e. Judges of the Court of Final Appeal and Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court), Court Leaders positions, and other judicial posts with administrative and managerial responsibilities, only serving JJOs with the relevant judicial experience will be considered. The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, having consulted the respective Court Leaders, will recommend suitable candidates from within the Judiciary for filling vacancies of these judicial posts. These nominations will also then be submitted to JORC for consideration.
 
JORC's deliberation and recommendation process on selected/nominated candidates
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     Having considered the Selection Board's assessment and recommendations (or nominations by the Chief Justice for the judicial posts described above), JORC will go through the recommendation procedures in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission Ordinance (JORC Ordinance) (Cap. 92).
      
     When deliberating the proposed judicial appointments, JORC will consider the detailed information of the candidates, including their professional qualifications and experience, judicial experience, the Chief Justice's and the Court Leaders' assessment of their performance and suitability for the specific appointments, as well as the assessment and recommendations from the Selection Board (if applicable). Article 92 of the Basic Law stipulates that judges are chosen on the basis of their judicial and professional qualities. These are the qualities that JORC considers.
 
Avoidance of conflict of interest
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     JORC has in place an established mechanism for avoiding and handling conflict of interest in accordance with the relevant provisions of the JORC Ordinance (Cap. 92) and the general law. In gist, any Member who indicates his/her willingness to accept an appointment in question or who discloses any close relationship with any recommended or nominated candidate for the appointment shall not take part in any deliberation.
      
      
     The relevant articles in the Basic Law and legislative provisions are summarised at the Annex.

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.