The Government announced today (December 23) that the subsidy amount of the Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for Self-financing Undergraduate Studies in Hong Kong (NMTSS) in the 2021/22 academic year will be adjusted upwards in accordance with the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index. The annual subsidy amount of the NMTSS will be increased from $32,100 in the current academic year to $33,100.
 
     The adjusted level of subsidy will apply to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Eligible students enrolling in the relevant programmes will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.
 
     The NMTSS was one of the priority measures announced by the Chief Executive in July 2017 to support quality education. Since the 2017/18 academic year, a non-means-tested annual subsidy has been provided to Hong Kong students meeting the following eligibility criteria:
 
(a) attaining "3322" in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (i.e. level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language and level 2 for Mathematics Compulsory Part and Liberal Studies) when enrolling in eligible self-financing first-year-first-degree programmes; or 

(b) attaining sub-degree qualifications (i.e. after completing the locally accredited sub-degree programmes in relevant disciplines) when enrolling in eligible self-financing top-up degree programmes. 

     In the 2021/22 academic year, the NMTSS will cover the eligible full-time self-financing locally accredited local and non-local first-year-first-degree and top-up degree programmes offered by 16 institutions. A list of the relevant institutions and programmes for the 2021/22 cohort is at the Annex. The subsidy applies to all eligible students enrolling in the programmes covered by the NMTSS. Applications for the subsidy need to be made through the institutions concerned. For details, please visit: www.cspe.edu.hk/nmtss.

     The Government today (December 23) announced the appointment of two members to the Education Commission (EC).
      
     The newly appointed members are the Chairman of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Mr Eugene Fong Yick-jin, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council, Mr Lau Chun-hung.
      
     The two members have been appointed in their personal capacity for a two-year term with effect from January 1, 2021.
      
     An Education Bureau spokesman said, "Given their rich experience in the education and professional sectors, we are confident that they will provide valuable advice and contribute to the work of the EC."
      
     The spokesman also thanked the outgoing members, Dr Halina Poon Suk-han and Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, for their valuable contributions to the work of the EC.
      
     The new EC membership list, effective from January 1, 2021, is as follows:

Chairman
————
Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung
 
Ex-officio members
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Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li Mei-sheung
Chairman, Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals, Professor Alvin Leung Seung-ming
Chairman, Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung
Chairman, Curriculum Development Council, Professor Tam Kar-yan
Chairman, Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority Council, Dr Samuel Yung Wing-ki
Chairman, Quality Education Fund Steering Committee, Dr Gordon Tsui Luen-on
Chairman, Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, Mr Lester Garson Huang
Chairman, University Grants Committee, Mr Carlson Tong
Chairman, Vocational Training Council, Mr Tony Tai Chark-tong
 
Non-official members
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Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau
Mr Eugene Fong Yick-jin
Dr Fung Wai-wah
Ms Nancy Ho Lan-sang
Mr Lau Chun-hung
Dr Leung Wing-hung
Mr Joseph Luc Ngai
Ms Vu Im-fan
Mr Wong Kam-leung
Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak
 
Note: Professor Alvin Leung Seung-ming is also one of the non-official members.

     In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) appealed to members of the public today (December 23) to observe regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings at the department's venues during the Christmas holiday in order to reduce the chances of spreading the virus in the community. Furthermore, members of the public should not enter the closed leisure facilities or litter at the LCSD's venues.

     The LCSD appeals to members of the public to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap 599G). The number of people in group gatherings should not be more than that as stipulated by the law. Members of the public should wear masks at all times when being present in any public place in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap 599I). Offenders are liable to prosecution.

     The LCSD will work with other government departments to implement a series of measures over Christmas (December 24 to 26) to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues, especially at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Avenue of Stars, Middle Road Children's Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden and Urban Council Centenary Garden.

     An LCSD spokesman said, "The LCSD will step up patrols at relevant venues and will call upon venue users to comply with the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings of more than the number of people as stipulated by the law and the mask-wearing requirement in public places. Enforcement actions will be taken against offenders. Our staff, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will also step up patrols at our venues in the Tsim Sha Tsui area and take action against littering, illegal hawking and vandalism of public property. Those who litter will be liable to a fine of $1,500."

     The public announcement systems at the HKCC will also broadcast messages on crowd management, regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings and the requirement on wearing masks, and anti-littering in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holidays.

     To support the employment of persons with disabilities, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) launched the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED) in June 2013 to provide employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications. The programme aims to assist employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhance their work efficiency. The SPED has been open for applications all year round since February 2019.
      
     A wide range of assistive devices and workplace modifications which cater for the special needs of employees with disabilities at the workplace may be considered for support. Examples include computer accessories or adaptive equipment, optical magnifying devices, hearing and assistive devices, Braille products and handrails.
      
     The Po Leung Kuk has been commissioned to serve as the SPED Administrator. It assists in administering and promoting the SPED, provides advisory services and follows up on the progress of the subsidised programmes. It also prepares assessments on the applications and makes recommendations to the Committee on the SPED set up by the SWD for consideration.
      
     With a view to enhancing the support for employees with disabilities and their employers, a comprehensive review of the SPED has been conducted by the SWD. The maximum support level for the SPED has been raised from $20,000 to $40,000 with effect from March 2020. A more flexible approach is adopted in processing the applications to facilitate the matching of the needs of the employees with disabilities.
      
     Employers may apply for a subsidy under the SPED through nomination of the following referring organisations:
      
1. non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating SWD-subvented vocational rehabilitation services;
2. NGOs running training courses for persons with disabilities or persons recovering from work injuries with the funding support of the Employees Retraining Board;
3. the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department;
4. the Vocational Training Council; or
5. the SPED Administrator (Po Leung Kuk).
      
     Employers may submit their completed application forms together with the required documents by mail or by hand to the SWD through the referring organisations. No application fee is required and each applicant may submit more than one application.
      
     For enquiries, please contact the Po Leung Kuk SPED Office by phone at 3980 9677, by email at sped@poleungkuk.org.hk or by fax at 3980 9633.
      
     Members of the public may visit the SWD website at www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_rehab/sub_listofserv/id_vocational/id_sped/ for the latest updates and download the information note and SPED application form.
     

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     US Dollar Liquidity Facility tender result: