The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
   
     Regarding the announcement yesterday (February 12) on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a female ward for severe intellectual disability, the spokesperson for Siu Lam Hospital gave the following update today (February 13):
 
     One more 66-year-old patient and two staff members in the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. An appropriate viral test was arranged for the patient and the test result was positive for Influenza A. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The two staff members are currently on leave.
 
     Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Judiciary today (February 13) to learn more about the work of civil servants in the Judiciary Administration and meet civil service colleagues of various grades.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law visited the West Kowloon Law Courts Building (WKLCB), where he met with the Judiciary Administrator, Miss Emma Lau, and the directorate staff to get an update on their work in supporting the Judiciary Administration and the challenges confronting them.

     Later, Mr Law received a briefing from colleagues on their daily duties and learnt about the support services provided to judges and court users by Judicial Clerks, Court Interpreters, Bailiffs, Bailiff's Assistants and other staff. He also toured the courtroom facilities of the WKLCB and observed the work of court clerks and Court Interpreters in court proceedings.

     Mr Law then visited colleagues of the Accounts Office to better understand how they process the payments and refunds of courts and tribunals in an efficient manner. He also toured the facilities at the Small Claims Tribunal, including its new Information Centre, which serves to provide enquiry services to court users including litigants.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various civil service grades in the Judiciary Administration at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concerned them. He expressed appreciation for colleagues' dedication in supporting the operation of the Judiciary, and encouraged them to continue to provide professional court support services to the public.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 is 103.6 (down 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (February 13) that in the Second School Allocation Exercise (SAE) 2019, one school premises under planning and one vacant school premises, both in Sha Tin District, are open for application by eligible school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) for reprovisioning of existing public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) primary schools.
      
     The new school premises under planning is located at Au Pui Wan Street at Fo Tan, Sha Tin, New Territories. The vacant school premises is the ex-Sung Lan Middle School at Mei Lam Estate, Sha Tin, New Territories. Details of the two premises are set out in the Annex.
      
     "Infrastructure improvements to existing schools built to previous planning standards and designs may be infeasible due to the lack of space and other physical constraints. In this light, the EDB has identified one new school premises under planning and one vacant school premises in Sha Tin District for allocation for reprovisioning of existing primary schools. This exercise is open to applications by existing public sector and DSS primary schools which are in need of infrastructure upgrade," an EDB spokesman said.
      
     "Allocation of the school premises will be conducted on a competitive basis. Quality of education will be the prime consideration in assessing the applications. Factors to be considered include the operation track record of the school proposed to be reprovisioned, the quality of the school plan after reprovisioning and the physical condition of the school's existing premises. In general, we believe that schools with site area less than 3 000 square metres and premises over 30 years old which have not benefited or have only marginally benefited from the School Improvement Programme will warrant our serious consideration. The location of the applicant schools, i.e. whether they are currently operating in the same district as the location of the new school premises, will also be taken into account, though these are not prerequisites for the submission of applications since each case has to be assessed on its own merits.
      
     "In line with the established arrangement for reprovisioning, the successful SSB will be required, upon allocation of the new premises for reprovisioning, to return its existing school premises. For those schools currently located within a private lot under the ownership of the SSB, the school or a third party related to the SSB/school, the relevant private land owner will be required to surrender the existing school premises and site to the Government," he added.
      
     All applications will be considered by the School Allocation Committee comprising official and non-official members. SSBs are required to complete an application form and submit it together with the required supporting documents, a proposed school plan (of not more than 10 pages including all annexes plus a two-page executive summary) and a list of operating schools. The proposed school plan should cover the vision and mission, management and organisation, learning and teaching, school ethos and support for students, students' performance targets, self-evaluation indicators, etc. The SSB may also make reference to the school(s) that it is operating and the respective performance to substantiate its case.
      
     In line with the EDB's established policy for school allocation, when submitting the application, the SSB should be exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, and be:
      
(1) incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (the successful SSB would be required to ensure that its articles of association contain all the standard clauses and articles required for allocation of a school premises); or
 
(2) incorporated under other ordinances, with its constitution satisfying the Permanent Secretary for Education as being fit to be considered for allocation of a school premises.
 
     In addition, the SSB must be running one or more public sector or DSS primary schools in Hong Kong and must be the registered SSB of the applicant school.
      
     The application form for the Second SAE 2019 and other reference materials can be downloaded from the EDB homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/sch-premises-info/allocation-of-sch/index.html). More information on this SAE can also be found on the homepage.
      
     The duly completed application form and supporting documents, together with 22 copies of the proposed school plan with an executive summary and the list of operating schools, if any, should reach the Infrastructure and Research Support Division of the EDB (6/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong) by 5pm on March 13, 2019. Late or incomplete applications, as well as applications via email, will not be processed.
      
     For enquiries, please call 3509 8413 or 3509 8411.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (February 13) that in the First School Allocation Exercise (SAE) 2019, a new school premises under planning in Tai Po District is open for application by eligible applicant bodies for operating a new aided primary school.
 
     The new school premises under planning is located at Area 9, Tai Po. Details of the school premises are set out in the Annex.
 
     "Allocation of the school premises will be conducted on a competitive basis. Quality of education will be the prime consideration in assessing the applications submitted. Factors to be considered include the quality of the proposed school plan for running the new primary school and the track records of the applicant bodies in operating schools (where applicable), particularly primary schools," an EDB spokesman said.
 
     All applications will be considered by the School Allocation Committee comprising official and non-official members. Applicant bodies are required to complete an application form and submit it together with the required supporting documents, a proposed school plan (of not more than 10 pages including all annexes plus a two-page executive summary), and a list of operating schools, if any. The proposed school plan should cover the vision and mission, management and organisation, learning and teaching, school ethos and support for students, students' performance targets, self-evaluation indicators, etc. The applicant body may also make reference to the school(s) that it is operating and the respective performance to substantiate its case.
      
     In line with the EDB's established policy for school allocation, when submitting the application, the applicant body should be exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, and be:
      
(1) incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (the successful applicant body would be required to ensure that its articles of association contain all the standard clauses and articles required for allocation of a school premises); or
 
(2) incorporated under other ordinances, with its constitution satisfying the Permanent Secretary for Education as being fit to be considered for allocation of a school premises.
 
     Applicant bodies not possessing the incorporation status and not exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance are not eligible for application and their applications will not be processed.
 
     The application form for the First SAE 2019 and other reference materials can be downloaded from the EDB homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/sch-premises-info/allocation-of-sch/index.html). More information on this SAE can also be found on the homepage.
      
     â€‹The duly completed application form and supporting documents, together with 22 copies of the proposed school plan with an executive summary, and the list of operating schools, if any, should reach the Infrastructure and Research Support Division of the EDB (6/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong) by 5pm on March 13, 2019. Late or incomplete applications, as well as applications via email, will not be processed.
      
     For enquiries, please call 3509 8413 or 3509 8411.