The Government announced today (October 26) appointments to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Advisory Committee (MPFSAC) and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Appeal Board (MPFSAB).
 
     The Chief Executive, in exercise of her authority under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (MPFSO), has appointed Mr Ip Kwok-him as Chairman of the MPFSAC for a term of two years, from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2020, both dates inclusive.
 
     At the same time, the Financial Secretary, in exercise of the authority under the MPFSO delegated to him by the Chief Executive, has reappointed Mr Stewart Wong Kai-ming, SC, as Chairman of the MPFSAB. He has also appointed three new members, namely Mr Chow Luen-kiu, Ms Tam Kam-lin and Ms Lily Wong, and an incumbent member, Ms Belinda Luk Kwai-sim, to the MPFSAB. All appointments will take effect from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2020 for a term of two years, both dates inclusive.
 
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, welcomed the appointment of Mr Ip to the MPFSAC. "Mr Ip was a member of the Management Board of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) between 2011 and 2017. He has a wealth of experience and expertise in the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System. We believe that the MPFSAC, under his leadership, will offer valuable advice to the MPFA and contribute to the continuous improvement of the MPF System," he said.
 
     Welcoming the appointments to the MPFSAB, Mr Lau said, “The MPFSAB is made up of distinguished members from various sectors. I believe the MPFSAB will continue to uphold its impartiality under Mr Wong's chairmanship. I am also confident that the newly appointed and re-appointed members will contribute to the ongoing, effective operation of the MPFSAB.”
 
     He also thanked the outgoing MPFSAC Chairman, Mr Wong Ting-kwong, and the MPFSAB members, Mr Ng Chau-pei, Ms Ng Wai-yee and Mr Jeff Wong Kwan-kit, for their valuable contributions.
 
     The MPFSAC is a statutory body established under section 6R of the MPFSO, which advises the MPFA with respect to the operation of the MPFSO as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of the MPFA.
 
     Following is the membership list of the MPFSAC with effect from November 1, 2018 :
 
Chairman
————
Mr Ip Kwok-him
 
Deputy Chairlady
———————-
Ms Alice Law Shing-mui
 
Members
————
Mr Karson Choi Ka-tsan
Ms Chow Yuen-yee
Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping
Mr Lam Chun-sing
Mr Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong
Dr Pan Pey-chyou
Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung
Ms Winnie Wong Chi-shun
 
     The MPFSAB is established in accordance with section 35 of the MPFSO to determine appeals against the decisions of the MPFA as specified in Schedule 6 to the MPFSO.
 
     The membership of the MPFSAB with effect from November 1, 2018 is as follows:
 
Chairman
————
Mr Stewart Wong Kai-ming
 
Deputy Chairlady
———————-
Ms Giovanna Kwong Fung-ping
 
Members
————
Mr Kenny Chan Ngai-sang
Mr Chow Luen-kiu
Mr Dennis Ho Chiu-ping
Ms Lau Yuk-kuen
Ms Cecilia Lee Sau-wai
Ms Belinda Luk Kwai-sim
Mr Gerry Ng Joo-yeow
Ms Miranda So Man-wah
Ms Tam Kam-lin
Ms Lily Wong
 
     The appointments and re-appointments were published in the Government Gazette today.

     The Government today (October 26) announced the appointment of Ms Joyce Tam Joy-yee as a new member, and the re-appointments of Ms Belinda Yeung Bik-yiu, Mr Jason Wong Chun-tat, Mr Jason Shum Jiu-sang and Ms Margaret Fong Shun-man as members of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). The Commissioner for Tourism is also re-appointed as a member and Deputy Chairman of the HKTB. Their terms will run for two years from November 1, 2018, to October 31, 2020.

     "We welcome Ms Tam in joining the Board and are grateful to the other members of the Board for their dedicated support. With their expertise and experience in different areas, we are confident that they will help the HKTB in enhancing Hong Kong's position as a premier tourist destination," a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said.

     "We would also like to thank Ms Yip Wing-sie, the outgoing member, for her contribution to the work of the Board in the past six years," the spokesman added.

     Appointments to the HKTB are made by the Financial Secretary under section 9 of the Hong Kong Tourism Board Ordinance (Chapter 302), under authority delegated by the Chief Executive.

     The Government published in the Gazette today (October 26) the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 to adjust eight fees and three economic costs payable as specified under the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Cap 28A).

     The adjustments cover the following categories:

(a) fees relating to excavation permits (XP) for excavations in unleased Government land including streets maintained by Highways Department and those other than streets maintained by Highways Department ; and

(b) economic costs for extension of XP for excavations in streets maintained by the Highways Department.

     A spokesman for the Development Bureau said, "In line with the 'user-pays' principle, it is the Government's policy that fees and charges should in general be set at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of providing the services.

     "In order to achieve full cost recovery gradually and avoid a steep fee increase, eight existing fees relating to administration of the XP system will be increased by about 10 per cent to 15 per cent. In addition, three economic costs for extension of XP for excavations in streets maintained by the Highways Department will be increased by about 8 per cent to maintain sufficient incentive for the excavation permittees to complete their works as soon as possible."

     The Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 31. Subject to approval by negative vetting, the revised fees and economic costs will come into effect on December 28 this year.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year licence of the car park on portions of the ground floor, basement 1, basement 2 and basement 3 of Sha Tin Government Offices, No. 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories.

     The premises should be used for the purpose of a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars and motor cycles only.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (October 26) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk.  Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 31/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, during office hours (8.30am to 5.45pm from Mondays to Fridays). The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to inspect the site should make prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 2594 7654 on or before November 8.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box at the ground floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, before noon on November 21 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted.

     The Government announced today (October 26) that the Chief Executive has appointed/re-appointed the following individuals to the Estate Agents Authority (EAA) for a period of two-year with effect from November 1, 2018:
 
Chairman
Professor William Leung Wing-cheung
 
Vice-Chairman
Ms Elaine Liu Yuk-ling
 
Persons of Category A (the estate agency sector)
Mr Calvin Tse Shun-lai
Dr Lawrance Wong Dun-king
Mr Addy Wong Wai-hung
 
Persons of Category B (related fields)
Professor Eddie Hui Chi-man (new appointment)
Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong (new appointment)
Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han
Mr Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu
 
Persons of Category C (others)
Mrs Peggy Cheung Po-yee
Ms Meena Datwani (new appointment)
Mr Douglas Lam Tak-yip
Ms Lo Jane Curzon
Mr Simon Siu Chak-yu
Ms Phoebe Tse Siu-ling
Ms Avon Yue Nga-fong
Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) or his representative

      "We are most grateful to the four outgoing Members, namely Professor Chau Kwong-wing, Mr Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, Ms Anna Seto Wai-ching and Mr Yu Wai-wai for their invaluable advice and support to the work of the EAA over the years, particularly in enhancing the service standard of the estate agency trade," the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, said.
 
     The EAA is a statutory body established on November 1, 1997 under the Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap 511) with a view to enhancing the standard of service of estate agents and the protection of buyers and sellers of property.