The Government announced today (June 26) that the payment rates (including working-hour linked household allowance and Child Allowance) under the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme will be raised from the claim month of July 2020. The raised payment rates are in the Annex. Taking a four-person household with two children as an example, its maximum allowance receivable will increase by more than 30 per cent from $3,200 to $4,200 per month.

     The implementation of raising WFA payment rates is in tandem with a series of improvement measures for the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme announced in the Chief Executive's 2019 Policy Address. This is to maintain the relativity between WFA and CSSA and encourage WFA households to become self-reliant, so that they will not be discouraged to remain in employment and resort to CSSA. The CSSA improvement measures were approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on May 29, 2020, and the Social Welfare Department has announced that the increase in CSSA maximum rent allowance will take effect on July 1.

     For enquiries on WFA, applicants and beneficiaries may call the hotline (2558 3000) of the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency; visit the WFAO's enquiry counters at 9/F, 181 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong; or visit the WFAO's website (www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/wfao).

     A subsidy programme for graduates under the Green Employment Scheme of the Environment Bureau (ENB) is open for applications from today (June 26). The programme aims to subsidise private companies and suitable organisations to employ 2019 or 2020 graduates working in areas related to environmental protection, ecological conservation, green energy and energy conservation, climate change, sustainable development and more, with a view to providing job opportunities for graduates interested in environment-related fields and to nurturing talents for meeting needs on various environmental fronts.

     The subsidy programme, which is expected to cover more than 200 jobs, will be implemented from 2020-21. It will provide employers of eligible graduates with a monthly subsidy of $5,610 to form part of the monthly salary paid to each eligible graduate for a period of 18 months.
　　
     The Environmental Academy of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will collaborate with various professional societies and organisations (including the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals Limited as well as other societies and organisations) to provide graduates under the programme with environment-related professional training to help the employed graduates become better equipped with different areas of expertise in the field.
 
     The EPD has commissioned the Hong Kong Productivity Council to implement the subsidy programme. Details about the subsidy programme are available at the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk) and the application form can also be downloaded from the website. Eligible companies and organisations wishing to apply for the subsidy should submit their applications from June 26 to August 28. For more information, please call 2835 1870 or email graduates_subsidy@epd.gov.hk.

     The Government announced today (June 26) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed the Chairperson and five members of the Harbourfront Commission (HC) for a two-year term commencing on July 1, 2020.
      
     The re-appointed members are the Chairperson, Mr Vincent Ng Wing-shun, and individual members Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau, Ms Janice Lai Wai-man, Ms Christina Maisenne Lee, Mr Alan Lo Yeung-kit and Mr Ngan Man-yu.
      
     Welcoming the re-appointments, the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said, "Since his appointment as the HC Chairperson in 2018, Mr Ng has demonstrated superb leadership and dedication in leading the HC to advise and work with the Government on various harbourfront enhancement projects with the $6.5 billion earmarked funding in a constructive and pragmatic manner. The results have proven to be highly popular among members of the public. I am confident that his re-appointment will continue to help achieve the shared vision of the Government and the HC in building an attractive, vibrant, accessible and sustainable harbourfront. On the other hand, we look forward to continuing to work with the re-appointed and existing members whose diversified backgrounds and expertise have brought innovations and creativity to the HC."
      
     The HC was established in July 2010 to advise the Government on harbourfront planning, design, management and other related matters with the objective of fostering and facilitating the development of Victoria Harbour's harbourfront.
      
     Following is the membership of the HC commencing July 1, 2020:

Chairperson
————–
Mr Vincent Ng Wing-shun

Vice-Chairperson
——————-
Secretary for Development

Non-official Members (Organisations)
——————————————
Business Environment Council
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong
Friends of the Earth (HK) Charity Limited
Hong Kong Institute of Architects
Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects
Hong Kong Institute of Planners
Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design
Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong
Society for Protection of the Harbour
The Conservancy Association

Non-official Members (Individuals)
—————————————
Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting
Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau
Mr Hans Joachim Isler
Mr Karl Kwok Chi-leung
Ms Janice Lai Wai-man
Ms Christina Maisenne Lee
Ms Vivian Lee Ying-shih
Mr Alan Lo Yeung-kit
Mr Ngan Man-yu
Ms Angela So Wing-kwan
Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen

Official Members
——————-
Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) or representative
Commissioner for Tourism or representative
Commissioner for Transport or representative
Director of Civil Engineering and Development or representative
Director of Leisure and Cultural Services or representative
Director of Marine or representative
Director of Planning or representative

Secretary
———–
Principal Assistant Secretary for Development (Harbour)

     The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (the Amendment Ordinance) was gazetted and came into operation today (June 26). The Amendment Ordinance enhances the copyright exceptions relating to persons with a print disability in the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) in order to meet the standards under the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakesh Treaty).

     The Amendment Ordinance enhances the exceptions or permitted acts in the existing Copyright Ordinance that allow the production of specially adapted copies (accessible copies) for the personal use by persons with a print disability, including:

(a) expanding the definition of "print disability" in the Copyright Ordinance to enable persons with a perceptual or reading disability, including dyslexia, to use the copyright exceptions provided for persons with a print disability;
 
(b) making it clear that audio forms of certain copyright works (such as audiobooks) may be used in the production of accessible copies for the personal use by persons with a print disability; and
 
(c) allowing cross-border exchange of accessible copies of copyright works for the personal use by persons with a print disability, subject to certain conditions being met.

     The Amendment Ordinance also introduces other amendments to the existing copyright exceptions relating to persons with a print disability, including amending certain formulations in the Ordinance to better align with those used in the Marrakesh Treaty.

     "Enhancing the copyright exceptions in the Copyright Ordinance for persons with a print disability will benefit a wider print-disabled population, enabling them to enjoy better access to accessible copies of copyright works," a Commerce and Economic Development Bureau spokesman said.

     The Marrakesh Treaty is an international agreement concluded under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Its main goal is to facilitate and enhance access to copyright works in accessible formats for persons with a print disability. As at early June 2020, 67 countries have ratified or acceded to the Treaty. China is a signatory to the Treaty but has yet to ratify it. Although Hong Kong has no obligation to comply with the Marrakesh Treaty at present, the Amendment Ordinance will enhance the existing copyright exceptions to bring them in line with the international standards set out in the Treaty, benefiting persons with a print disability as soon as possible.

     The Financial Secretary, with the authority delegated by the Chief Executive, has re-appointed Ms Helen Zee as a member of the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board for a term of three years with effect from July 1, 2020.
 
     Announcing the appointment which was gazetted today (June 26), a Government spokesman said, "Ms Zee possesses rich experience in the financial investment field. We look forward to having her expert advice and continued support to the work of the Board."
 
     The Board is a statutory body established in 2004 under the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance. It oversees the operation of the deposit protection scheme with a view to protecting depositors and contributing to the stability of the banking system.