The Government today (December 28) announced that Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai has been re-appointed as Chairman and Professor Nora Tam Fung-yee as Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) for two years from Janu… read more
The Government today (December 28) announced appointments to the new term of the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee (SMEC) for the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.
The new term of the SMEC comprises 24 members, with Mr Michael Hui Wah-kit as the Chairman. Other non-official members mainly include businessmen, professionals and small and medium enterprise (SME) players.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, thanked the new Chairman and members for accepting this important task. Mr Yau said, “SMEs are the backbone of Hong Kong’s economy. Over the years, the SMEC has provided a lot of constructive advice to the Government, and made significant contributions in supporting SMEs. I am confident that the new term of the SMEC, under the chairmanship of Mr Hui, will continue to offer valuable advice and assist the Government in formulating policies conducive to the development of SMEs.
“I would also like to thank Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, the outgoing Chairman, and other outgoing members for their valuable contributions to the Government during their terms of office. Under Dr Choi’s distinguished leadership, the roles and functions of the SMEC have been enhanced to better support and facilitate the development of SMEs.”
The SMEC advises the Chief Executive on issues affecting the development of SMEs in Hong Kong, and suggests measures to support and facilitate their development and growth.
The 2019-2020 membership of the SMEC is as follows:
Mr Michael Hui Wah-kit (Chairman)
Non-official members
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Professor Kevin Au Yuk-fai
Miss Mabel Chan Mei-bo
Ms Cheung Yee-mei
Dr Stephen Kwok Chun-pong
Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan
Mr Theodore Mak Chung-wo
Mr Jimmy Ng Wing-ka
Dr Thomas Su Yu-hong
Mrs Elizabeth Tse Wong Siu-yin
Mr Luther Wong Lok-tak
Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing
Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin
Mr Kenneth Chan Kin-nin (newly appointed)
Mr Joe Chau Kwok-ming (newly appointed)
Mr Stanley Szeto Chi-yan (newly appointed)
Mr Antonio Wong Shek-tung (newly appointed)
Ms Diana Wong (newly appointed)
Mr Brian Wu Pak-hei (newly appointed)
Representative of the Hong Kong Productivity Council
Representative of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Representative of the Vocational Training Council
Official members
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Director-General of Trade and Industry
Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development read more
The Transport Department (TD) today (December 28) reminded members of the public that to facilitate urgent road repair works, the fast lane of the section of East Kowloon Way westbound between Lok Shan Road and Shek Tong Street will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic from 8am to 5pm this Sunday (December 30).
Due to the lane closure, the TD anticipates that the traffic along Kai Tak Tunnel westbound and East Kowloon Way westbound will be relatively busy during the above period. Motorists passing through the road section concerned should exercise tolerance and patience and drive with utmost care. Appropriate traffic signs will be erected on-site to guide motorists.
Motorists are advised to consider using alternative routes to Kowloon Central and Kowloon West. They are also advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow more travelling time to avoid unexpected delay.
The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television.
Details of the temporary traffic arrangement are now available on the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk). read more
The Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged (PFD) (Regular Portion’s 12th Round Application) and the Dedicated Portion of the PFD for Implementing After-school Learning and Support Programmes (Dedicated Portion’s Fifth Round Application) managed by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) opened for application today (December 28). Welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and eligible primary and secondary schools are encouraged to submit proposals.
The Government set up the PFD in 2005 for promoting tripartite partnership among the welfare sector, business corporations and the Government to help the disadvantaged. To date the Government has injected a total of $1.2 billion. Apart from a commitment of $800 million for the Regular Portion of the PFD to help the disadvantaged, a total of $400 million has been earmarked as Dedicated Portion. Since its launch in 2015, the Dedicated Portion has been actively promoting the “Citizens-Business-Government-School” collaboration to implement more after-school learning and support programmes for primary and secondary students from grassroots families to facilitate their whole-person development.
A spokesman for the SWD said that the first 11 rounds of the Regular Portion Applications of the PFD have approved matching grants worth over $437 million for 185 welfare NGOs sponsored by over 1 500 business partners. More than 1 million disadvantaged persons have benefitted from a total of 923 welfare projects. The first four rounds of Dedicated Portion applications attracted a favourable response. Around $180 million matching grants have been approved for 239 after-school learning and support projects so far. Over 300 business organisations participated in the projects, benefitting more than 100 000 primary and secondary students in total.
Summaries of the two applications are as follows:
| The 12th Round Regular Portion Application | The Fifth Round Dedicated Portion Application | |
| Eligible applicants | Bona-fide charitable welfare NGOs having tax-exempted status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112) |
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| Contents of the projects | Social welfare projects for the disadvantaged | After-school learning and support programmes for primary and secondary students from grassroots families |
| Application guides and forms | SWD homepage: www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/ page_supportser/sub_partnership |
SWD homepage: www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/ page_supportser/sub_dedicatedportion |
| Deadlines for applications | June 28, 2019 (First phase) and September 30, 2019 (Second phase) |
March 29, 2019 |
The Government announced today (December 28) that the Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Eugene Fung Ting-sek, SC, as Chairperson of the Banking Review Tribunal, and appointed four persons as members of the Tribunal. All appointments will take effect for a term of three years from January 1, 2019.
Two incumbent members of the Tribunal, namely Mrs Dorothy Sit Kwan Yin-ping and Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak, are reappointed, while Ms Joan Ho Yuk-wai and Professor Tam Kar-yan are newly appointed as members of the Tribunal.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, said, “I welcome the above appointments. I am confident that the appointees’ expertise and experience will continue to contribute to the effective operation of the tribunal.”
Mr Lau also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing members, Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung and Professor Japhet Sebastian Law, for their valuable contributions over the past years.
The Banking Review Tribunal was established under the Banking Ordinance to hear appeals against relevant decisions made by the Monetary Authority in relation to capital, liquidity and disclosure requirements that apply to authorized institutions.
The above appointments made under the Banking Ordinance were gazetted today. read more