The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     Ballots were drawn openly today (November 29) for the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s Sale of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Flats 2018. The Chairman of the HA Subsidised Housing Committee, Mr Stanley Wong, officiated at the ballot drawing.
 
     Under this exercise, 4,431 flats from three new HOS developments, namely Hoi Lok Court in Cheung Sha Wan, Kai Long Court in Kai Tak and Yu Tai Court in Tung Chung, have been put up for sale. The saleable area of the flats ranges from 25.8 to 58.6 square metres. By applying a discount of 48 per cent to assessed market values, flat prices of the three new HOS developments will range from about $1.18 million to $4.68 million, with an average of $2.68 million.
 
     Some 272,000 applications (comprising around 236,000 White Forms and 36,000 Green Forms) were received by the HA during the two application periods in March/April and October. The open ballot conducted today will determine the priority sequence based on the last two digits of the application numbers. The order of the applications under different application categories with the drawn digits from the ballot will be randomly generated by computer. Following this order, the HA will invite White Form applicants to submit supporting documents within a specified period for detailed vetting to determine whether they meet the eligibility criteria and their final priority. The HA will also send notifications in batches to invite eligible applicants to select flats at the office of the HOS Sales Unit in Lok Fu from the end of February 2019 onwards.
 
     Sales brochures covering full details of the developments and price lists will be made available for collection by the public and prospective purchasers at the HA Customer Service Centre (HACSC) in Lok Fu seven days before commencement of flat selection. In addition, electronic copies of these documents will be uploaded to the designated websites for the developments.
 
     Virtual show flat walkthrough videos for the three new HOS developments are now available at the HA/Housing Department (HD) website for viewing. The videos together with building models, doll houses and panels of the three new development projects will also be displayed at the HACSC for viewing by the public from seven days before commencement up to the end of the flat selection period.
 
     The ballot results have been uploaded to the dedicated webpage on the HA/HD website (hos.housingauthority.gov.hk/mini-site/hos2018/en/ballot.html). The randomly generated order of all applicants will be uploaded to the webpage tomorrow (November 30). It will also be displayed from tomorrow onwards at the HACSC in Lok Fu, the estate offices and District Tenancy Management Offices of the HA, the estate offices of the Hong Kong Housing Society, the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department and the Sham Shui Po Housing Information Centre. Applicants may also call the HA sales hotline 2712 8000 for enquiries.

  

     The Department of Health's Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office today (November 29) reminded members of the public and business operators that it will start carrying out new enforcement measures subsequent to the enactment of the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 tomorrow (November 30). The new legislation prohibits the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to minors under 18 years old in the course of business via face-to-face distribution and remote distribution.
      
     A spokesman for the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office said, "The new legislation aims to prevent young people's access to alcohol. Starting tomorrow, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will conduct inspections, investigate complaints and carry out enforcement actions accordingly.

     "The legislation covers all kinds of sale and supply of intoxicating liquor in the course of business irrespective of whether payment is involved. It covers alcoholic beverages sold or supplied for commercial purposes in fairs, celebratory events, exhibitions and the like, but does not apply to family gatherings or social events with no business intentions. The sale of alcoholic beverages in vending machines is also prohibited."
      
     Intoxicating liquor is defined as alcohol that has more than 1.2 per cent ethyl alcohol by volume and is fit for or intended as a beverage. The maximum fine for selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to a minor, or selling intoxicating liquor via vending machines, is $50,000 on summary conviction. Those who obstruct inspectors during enforcement are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 on summary conviction.
      
     If alcohol is sold or supplied via face-to-face distribution such as in premises or stores like supermarkets, liquor stores and convenience stores, a sign containing both the Chinese and English versions of the prescribed notice must be displayed in a prominent location easily seen by the public. The notice must be rectangular in shape with minimum dimensions of 38 centimetres by 20 centimetres, and have legible characters and letters in a font colour that contrasts with the background colour.
      
     If alcohol is sold or supplied via remote distribution such as SMS, group messages, websites and telephone or mail order, the prescribed notice must be displayed in a reasonably legible manner, or its contents must be read out or played as a sound recording.
      
     A sample graphic and sound recording of the prescribed notice can be downloaded from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office website. The maximum fine for non-compliance with the prescribed notice and age declaration requirement is $25,000 on summary conviction.
      
     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office has developed guidelines to assist the industry in complying with the legislative requirements. Detailed guidelines for businesses and other relevant materials have been uploaded to the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office website www.taco.gov.hk. Members of the public and business operators can visit the website to learn more about the provisions of the new legislation. 
      
     For enquiries or complaints, please call the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office's hotline 2961 8823.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
         
     The Judiciary will implement the following adjustments to the civil jurisdictional limits of the District Court (DC) and the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) and the fee schedule of filing of claims at the SCT starting from December 3, 2018:
 
Jurisdictional rise of the DC and the SCT
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Revision of the fee schedule of filing of claims at the SCT
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     Ponten Pie from Spain will perform "Loo", its award-winning play for children, in January next year. The performance won awards for best kids show at Spain's Lleida Puppet Theatre Fair in 2016 and the European Performing Arts Fair for Children in Gijón, Spain, in 2017.
 
     This theatrical performance is tailor-made for children aged 2 to 5. Loo is a hot, dry wind from Asia that comes alive in summer afternoons, and the show poetically explores the activities of this wind: moving the desert sand dunes, drying up wetlands, seas and oceans, and leaving ships paralysed in the sand. The performer and the audience are seated on a boat, listening to inspiring music and observing buried objects and stunning visual effects to enjoy a unique sensorial experience on desertification.
 
     Ponten Pie is a company from Barcelona founded by the actor Sergi Ots. Under his direction, its unusual productions aim to create a unique and authentic world for each stage piece, and directly involve the audience in its stories. Its projects are also characterised by a strong, visually dominated aesthetic, in which different theatre genres are combined.
 
     Details of the performances are as follows:
 
January 4 (Friday): 2.30pm and 7.30pm
January 5 (Saturday): 11am, 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 7.30pm
January 6 (Sunday): 11am and 2.30pm
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Tickets: $240
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Loo" is one of the attractions of the "Cheers!" Series. Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/programs_648.html.

     The Government Secretariat Tender Box (GSTB) located on the ground floor, East Wing of the Central Government Offices at Tamar will be re-opened to receive tenders for the Central Tender Board that close on or after November 30, 2018.
 
     Tenders must be deposited in the tender box as specified in the tender notice (Specified Tender Box) before the specified tender closing time.  Late tenders and tenders not deposited in the Specified Tender Box will not be processed.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2810 2401 between 9am and 6pm from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays).