The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, started her visit to Beijing today (September 9). 
 
     She attended the Tsinghua World Forum on the Rule of Law, where she delivered a speech in the session on "Regional Economic Integration, Trade Disputes and the Construction of the Rule of Law" and participated in the panel discussion. 
 
     In the speech, Ms Cheng said that Asia has become an active player in the development of international rule of law, especially in the field of international trade and investment.  Using Hong Kong as an example of special economic zone, she highlighted the continuation of the common law system in Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" policy.
 
     Under the theme "Global Economic Transition and Construction of the Rule of Law", the forum discussed issues including regional economic integration, trade disputes and construction of the rule of law, international investment opportunities and legal risk management, as well as legal responses to the advancements of information technologies.
 
     Ms Cheng will fly to Incheon, Korea this evening to attend the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Inter-sessional Regional Meeting on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Reform. She will speak on third party funding of arbitration and mediation and join the roundtable discussion.
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 9) that Sheung Shui Swimming Pool in North District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 8.30pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (Septmeber 9) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, will depart for Astana, Kazakhstan, in the morning on September 11 (Tuesday). He will then commence his visit to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where he will meet with officials responsible for cultural and sports policy.
     
     During his visit in Kazakhstan, Mr Lau will attend a concert presented by Hong Kong and Kazakhstan, in which young Hong Kong musicians who play Chinese and Western music will perform with a renowned Kazakhstan orchestra.

     Mr Lau will leave Kazakhstan in the evening on September 16 and arrive in Hong Kong in the morning on September 17. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will invite employers of persons with disabilities to submit applications for the 22nd batch of the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED) from tomorrow (September 10) until October 19.
      
     To support the employment of persons with disabilities, the SWD launched the SPED in June 2013 to provide employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications. The programme seeks to assist employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhance their work efficiency.
      
     The subsidy is capped at a maximum support level of $20,000 for each employee with disabilities. Starting from 2014-15, a grant of up to $40,000 may be considered for deserving cases for which the price of a single item of assistive device and its essential accessories exceeds $20,000.
      
     A wide range of assistive devices and workplace modifications which cater to the special needs of employees with disabilities in the workplace will be considered. Examples include computer accessories or adaptive equipment, optical magnifying devices, hearing and assistive devices, Braille products and handrails.

     The Po Leung Kuk has been commissioned to serve as the SPED Administrator. It will assist in administering and promoting the SPED, provide advisory services and follow up on the progress of the subsidised programmes, prepare assessments on the applications and make recommendations to the Committee on the SPED set up by the SWD for consideration.
      
     Employers may apply for a subsidy under the SPED through nomination of the following referring organisations:
 

1. non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating SWD-subvented vocational rehabilitation services;
2. NGOs running training courses for persons with disabilities or persons recovering from work injuries with the funding support of the Employees Retraining Board;
3. the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department;
4. the Vocational Training Council; or
5. the SPED Administrator (the Po Leung Kuk).

             
     Employers may submit their completed application forms together with the required documents by mail or by hand to the SWD through the referring organisations. No application fee is required and each applicant may submit more than one application.
      
     For enquiries, please contact the Po Leung Kuk SPED Office by phone at 3980 9677, by email at sped@poleungkuk.org.hk or by fax at 3980 9633.
      
     For more details, the information note and SPED application form, people may visit and download from the SWD homepage www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_rehab/sub_listofserv/id_vocational/id_sped.