The Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (May 15) that the Scheme on Relief Grants for Interest Class Instructors Hired by Organisations Subvented by the Social Welfare Department is open for application from today for one month, with June 15 as the closing date. Application details have been uploaded to the SWD website. Completed application forms are to be submitted to the SWD through the subvented welfare service units concerned.

     As one of the measures of the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, the Scheme aims at providing relief grants to eligible interest class instructors hired by subvented welfare service units of SWD-subvented organisations such as youth centres, elderly centres, community centres and rehabilitation centres, where the units' services have been suspended and the instructors' income affected owing to coronavirus disease 2019, so as to help lessen the impact of the pandemic on them.

     A one-off relief grant of $7,500 will be provided for each of the eligible interest class instructors engaged or planned to be engaged by subvented welfare service units of SWD-subvented organisations for providing training in arts, dancing, handicraft work and sports, etc, for service users during the period from February to August 2020. For those instructors who have submitted applications to the Education Bureau for relief grants for school instructors of learning/interest classes or to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for relief grants for registered sports coaches, further submission to the SWD is not required.

     To reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the community, the Transport Department (TD) said today (May 15) that special arrangements will continue to be implemented at the seven government car parks under the management of the TD for the sale of monthly tickets for June. 
 
     "The existing holders of a monthly ticket for private car/van, motorcycle or taxi for May can purchase a monthly ticket for the same vehicle type for June with priority. These eligible monthly ticket holders have to complete the procedures for purchasing the monthly ticket for June by 9pm on May 22 at the shroff office of the car park concerned. Any such person who fails to purchase the monthly ticket before the above deadline will be regarded as having given up his or her right to purchase the monthly ticket for June. The unsold monthly tickets for private car/van for June will be sold at the shroff offices of the car parks concerned on a first-come, first-served basis from 7.30am on May 23, while the unsold monthly tickets for motorcycle and taxi for June will be sold at the shroff offices from 7.30am on May 24," a spokesman for the TD said.
 
     The seven government car parks are Star Ferry Car Park, City Hall Car Park, Tin Hau Car Park, Shau Kei Wan Car Park, Aberdeen Car Park, Kwai Fong Car Park and Tsuen Wan Car Park.
 
     The car park operators will put up notices in the car parks in advance to inform motorists of the above special arrangements.
 
     The spokesman particularly reminded car park users that subject to the latest situation of COVID-19, the TD will consider reverting to the sale of monthly tickets on a first-come first-served basis at an appropriate juncture, or adopting balloting temporarily for the sale of monthly tickets, having regard to the physical conditions and parking situations of the car parks concerned. Car park users are advised to pay attention to the announcement of the TD.

     The Government gazetted today (May 15) the proposed road works at Wan On Street, Wan Lok Street, Wan Hing Street, Wan Fat Street, Wan Tat Street, Wing Kwong Street, Bailey Street, Kai Ming Street, Hung Fook Street and Ngan Hon Street in To Kwa Wan, which are required to serve the redevelopment project of the Urban Renewal Authority.
 
     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan 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
 
Kowloon City Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
LG/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon
 
District Lands Office, Kowloon East and Kowloon West,
4/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices,
11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan will be 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 July 14, 2020.

     The Government intends to deploy a few sets of artificial reefs within an area of approximately 0.35 hectare of foreshore and seabed in the waters between Tai A Chau and Siu A Chau to provide artificial marine habitats for marine and fisheries resources enhancement. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (May 15).

     The proposed works are tentatively scheduled to commence in 2021 for completion in 2022.

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong), where copies can be purchased on order;

* Islands District Office (20/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong); and

* Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before July 15. The notice of such an objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.

     Legislative amendments to enhance the regulatory regime for Class IV vessels (i.e. local pleasure vessels) and to improve the survey regime in respect of prevention and control of pollution for certain local vessels were gazetted today (May 15).

     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "Under the enhanced regulatory regime, Class IV vessels licensed after the legislative amendments come into effect will have to meet more stringent structural requirements in respect of water tightness, stability and structural fire protection. As for existing Class IV vessels and open cruisers, they will be required to provide adequate lifebuoys for use by passengers to facilitate speedy escape in case the vessels are in distress.

     "In addition, we propose to require certain Class IV vessels to enhance navigational and communications equipment on board, including installing and operating the Very High Frequency Radiotelephone, the Automatic Identification System and radar. To step up monitoring, Class IV vessels will be required to obtain prior approval from the Marine Department before they are let for hire or reward."

     On the survey regime in respect of prevention and control of pollution, the Government proposes to empower the Director of Marine to issue a Hong Kong Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate or a Hong Kong Air Pollution Prevention Certificate upon receiving a declaration of survey with satisfactory results from the recognised organisations. This will provide the trade with greater flexibility in the means in complying with the survey requirements.

     The Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee and relevant trade associations have been consulted on the legislative proposals. Members and the stakeholders supported the proposals.

     The amendments are made via the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Certification and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulation 2020, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) Regulation 2020, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2020, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Fees) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2020, the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution) (Amendment) Regulation 2020. The Regulations will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 20 for negative vetting.