Following is a question by the Hon Leung Che-cheung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, in the Legislative Council today (January 9):
 
Question:

     Regarding the receipt of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) by elderly persons (i.e. persons aged 60 or above) and their residing in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of elderly CSSA recipients residing in private RCHEs in each of the past three years;
 
(2) of the respective average monthly amounts of special grants and supplements currently received, on top of the standard rates, by elderly CSSA recipients, broken down by level of their disabilities (i.e. in need of constant attendance, 100 per cent disabled and able-bodied/50 per cent disabled);
 
(3) whether the authorities will consider raising the amount of Residential Care Supplement disbursed to elderly CSSA recipients so as to enable them to receive residential care services of a higher quality; if so, of the details; and
 
(4) of the number of eligible RCHEs under the Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service Voucher for the Elderly and the number of elderly persons participating in the Scheme as at the end of last month, with a tabulated breakdown of the number of such elderly persons by the co-payment level to which they belonged?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     My reply to Hon Leung's question is as follows:
 
(1) In the past three financial years, the number of elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients residing in non-subsidised places of residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities is as follows:
 

 
     The above number of recipients reflects the position as at the end of the respective financial year (i.e. end-March).
 
(2) The average monthly CSSA payments received by elderly singletons residing in non-subsidised care places according to their levels of disabilities are as follows:
 

 
Note: The payments are calculated in accordance with the CSSA payment rates effective from February 1, 2018.
 
(3) The Government provides a monthly residential care supplement to CSSA recipients who are elderly, disabled or medically certified to be in ill health and residing in non-subsidised residential care places to ease their financial burden.  The supplement is currently $330 and will be adjusted to $340 on February 1, 2019 according to the established mechanism.
 
(4) Launched in March 2017, the Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV) for the Elderly (the Pilot Scheme) is implemented in three phases from 2017 to 2019.  The RCSV value is adjusted annually, with the latest value being $13,287 per month (with effect from October 1, 2018).  Based on their financial means, RCSV holders under the Pilot Scheme are designated under a scale of co-payment at eight levels, ranging from the lowest Level 0 to the highest Level 7.  RCSV holders at Level 0 are not required to pay for RCSV services as they are fully subsidised by the Government.  Meanwhile, RCSV holders from Level 1 to Level 7 are required to pay an amount of co-payment equivalent to 10 per cent, 20 per cent, 30 per cent, 40 per cent, 50 per cent, 62.5 per cent or 75 per cent of the RCSV value respectively.
 
     As at end-December 2018, there were 103 residential care homes for the elderly participating in the Pilot Scheme, with a total of 975 elderly persons issued with the RCSVs.  The co-payment levels at different percentages of the RCSV value and the respective number of RCSV holders are as follows:
 

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that occurred in Diamond Hill this morning (January 9), in which a worker died.

     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

The following is issued on behalf of the Sir David Trench Fund Committee:
 
     The Sir David Trench Fund Committee is inviting eligible organisations to apply for the Main Fund of the Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation (the Fund) for 2019-20.
 
     The Fund is to be used for the provision of facilities and purchase of equipment for projects in the furtherance of the objectives of the Main Fund. In keeping with the donor’s wishes, emphasis is placed on encouraging the purposeful use of leisure by young people.
 
     Three categories of grants are available under the Fund are as follows:
 

     â€‹Each applicant can submit only one application under each type of project within the same year.
 
     The application guidelines and application forms are available on the website of the Home Affairs Bureau (www.hab.gov.hk/en/public_forms/forms.htm) and also obtainable from the Secretariat of the Sir David Trench Fund Committee upon request.
 
     Completed application forms should be submitted before the respective deadlines to the Secretariat of the Sir David Trench Fund Committee at the following address:
 
Secretariat of Sir David Trench Fund Committee
13/F, West Wing
Central Government Offices
2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar
Hong Kong
 
     For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Sir David Trench Fund Committee at 3509 7068 or 3509 8039.

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (January 9). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Vehicles from eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure
     
     The following roads will be closed from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition
     
     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate of medical wards in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.