Effective Exchange Rate Index
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 is 102.9 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 is 102.9 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Professor John Leong, welcomed the 2019-20 Budget announced by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan today (February 27) at the Legislative Council, which will increase the recurrent financial provision for the HA by $5.3 billion to $68.8 billion, representing a rise of over 8 per cent.
“Apart from the increased financial provision for the HA, we are delighted by the Government’s commitment to sustain the development of public healthcare with the establishment of the $10 billion public healthcare stablisation fund,” said Professor Leong.
Professor Leong also expressed gratitude for the Government’s substantial increase in financial provision for 2019-20, in particular the additional recurrent funding allocation of more than $700 million on staff retention measures. The HA plans to deploy the funding to improve the remuneration and promotion opportunities of frontline staff to boost their morale and retain staff serving in public hospitals.
“We are mindful of the heavy workload that our doctors are facing amid the manpower shortfall. We plan to adjust the rate of Fixed Rate Honorarium for doctors to boost the morale of medical staff. To encourage professional development of nursing staff, we propose to grant an increment to nurses who have attained specialty qualifications. We will also upgrade more Advanced Practice Nurse posts to enhance night shift supervision. Promotion posts will also be added for pharmacists,” said Professor Leong.
“Facing a high turnover of supporting staff, we are currently reviewing their remuneration package so as to retain staff and attract more people to work in public hospitals. We will expedite our review with a view to enabling subsequent pay enhancements as soon as practicable, subject to the Board’s approval,” Professor Leong added.
Other measures to relieve the work pressure of frontline staff include, inter alia, the Special Retired and Rehire Scheme and recruiting more Executive Assistants (Ward).
The HA Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin, also expressed appreciation for the Government’s additional resources to support the HA in improving the working environment and patient services.
“We are especially thankful that $5 billion has been earmarked by the Government to expedite the upgrading and acquisition of medical equipment to enhance the healthcare quality and efficiency amid the advancement in medical technology,” said Dr Leung.
Dr Leung added that the HA plans to open about 500 new hospital beds in 2019-20 to meet service needs. With the Government’s strong support, new medical services will continuously be introduced in phases at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, Tin Shui Wai Hospital and North Lantau Hospital in the coming years.
“The coverage of the HA Drug Formulary will be widened, complemented by the new measures to relax the means test mechanisms of the Samaritan Fund and the Community Care Fund. We will also enhance services in the treatment of cancer, diabetes mellitus, renal diseases, stroke and cardiac diseases. Mental health services will be strengthened for patients with common mental disorders, children and adolescents with mental health needs as well as psychogeriatric outreach services for elderly homes.
“The HA will continue to enhance patients’ access to general outpatient and specialist outpatient services, while accident and emergency, operating theatre, diagnostic imaging, endoscopic and pharmacy services will also be enhanced to meet the increasing service demand,” said Dr Leung. read more
Following is a question by the Hon Ma Fung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, in the Legislative Council today (February 27):
Question:
Several months ago, the Legislative Council Secretariat conducted, at my request, a study on the visa requirements for overseas individuals’ entry into eight selected places for participating in local cultural, arts and sports (CAS) activities. The study report points out that all of the selected places allow the entry of overseas individuals for participating in CAS activities by using visitor visas, and the maximum permitted length of stay is three months. The study report points out, however, that currently, the Hong Kong Government has not adopted any flexible and fast-track visa policy for overseas individuals to come to Hong Kong for participating in CAS activities. Besides, the Government has not issued any specific guidelines on the circumstances under which such people may enter Hong Kong by using visitor visas and the other circumstances under which they are required to apply for employment visas, which have more demanding requirements than visitor visas, for entry into Hong Kong. It is learnt that at present, non-local people mainly apply for employment visas under the General Employment Policy (GEP) or the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) for coming to Hong Kong to participate in CAS activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of non-local people who were granted permission in the past three years to come to Hong Kong to take up employment relating to (a) arts/culture and (b) recreation and sports under GEP and ASMTP, with a breakdown by employment period (i.e. (i) less than one month, (ii) one to three months and (iii) more than three months) in a table of the same format as the table below;
Table 1: General Employment Policy
Nature of employment | (a) | (b) | ||||||
Employment period | (i) | (ii) | (iii) | Overall | (i) | (ii) | (iii) | Overall |
2016 | ||||||||
2017 | ||||||||
2018 |
Industry / Sector | Arts/Culture | Recreation and Sports | ||||
Employment period | Less than 1 year |
1 year or above | Total | Less than 1 year |
1 year or above | Total |
2016 | 4 385 | 51 | 4 436 | 5 317 | 288 | 5 605 |
2017 | 3 115 | 56 | 3 171 | 4 962 | 330 | 5 292 |
2018 | 3 390 | 49 | 3 439 | 4 857 | 323 | 5 180 |
Industry / Sector | Arts/Culture | Recreation and Sports | ||||
Employment period | Less than 1 year |
1 year or above | Total | Less than 1 year |
1 year or above | Total |
2016 | 2 819 | 52 | 2 871 | 289 | 28 | 317 |
2017 | 3 892 | 26 | 3 918 | 435 | 33 | 468 |
2018 | 4 560 | 47 | 4 607 | 371 | 41 | 412 |
The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a restaurant in Wong Tai Sin to suspend business for 14 days as the operator repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally.
The restaurant, located on the ground floor at 4 Po King Lane in Tsz Wan Shan, Wong Tai Sin, was ordered to suspend business from today (February 27) to March 12.
“In April and November last year, two convictions for the above-mentioned breaches were recorded against the restaurant. A total fine of $10,000 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
The licensee of the restaurant had a record of two convictions for extending the business area illegally in October in 2017. A total fine of $6,500 was levied and 30 demerit points were registered. The breaches led to licence suspension for seven days in January last year.
The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises has been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD’s website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html). read more
Following is a question by the Hon Tony Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, in the Legislative Council today (February 27): Question: It has been r… read more