The following list of general holidays for 2019 was gazetted today (May 11) for public information:
 

     "As the Birthday of the Buddha in 2019 falls on a Sunday, the day following it is designated as a general holiday in substitution," a Government spokesman said.

     The Government announced today (May 11) the re-appointment of a serving member, Professor Maurice Yap Keng-hung, to the Hospital Authority (HA) for the period from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, or until the new Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHSS) of Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is in post, whichever is the earlier.

     Professor Yap was appointed as an HA member in his capacity as the Dean of FHSS of PolyU from April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2017. He retired from the Deanship on July 1, 2017 and thereafter continued to serve as an HA member in his capacity of a representative of PolyU.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, welcomed the re-appointment of Professor Yap, and said she believes that he will continue to give valuable advice and contributions to the HA.

     The HA comprises a Chairman, 23 non-official members, three public officers and one principal officer from the HA. The membership list is as follows:

Chairman:
Professor John Leong Chi-yan

Non-official Members:
Mr William Chan Fu-keung
Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung
Ms Anita Cheng Wai-ching
Mr David Fong Man-hung
Mr Andrew Fung Hau-chung
Mr Lester Garson Huang
Dr Kam Pok-man
Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi
Mr Daniel Lam Chun
Mr Quinton Lam Chun-ki
Mr Franklin Lam Fan-keung
Ms Lisa Lau Man-man
Mr Stephen Lee Hoi-yin
Professor Diana Lee Tze-fan
Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung
Professor Raymond Liang Hin-suen
Dr Lo Wai-kwok
Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang
Mr Albert Wong Kwai-huen
Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze
Professor Maurice Yap Keng-hung
Mr Jason Yeung Chi-wai
Mr Charlie Yip Wing-tong

Public Officers:
Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse
Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan
Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), Ms Carol Yuen

HA Principal Officer:
Chief Executive, HA, Dr Leung Pak-yin

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 (May 11) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Turtle Cove Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     Owing to road closure in Wan Chai, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square at 8am today (May 11) will be cancelled.

     The Government announced today (May 10) proposed enhancements to the general ex-gratia compensation and rehousing arrangements for eligible domestic occupants in squatters and business undertakings affected by Government's development clearance exercises.
 
     The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said that in the course of development clearance exercises, affected clearees and local stakeholders had expressed their views about the compensation and rehousing arrangements. He remarked that the Government understood the concerns of affected clearees and their worries over relocation, while also being mindful of societal expectations for the Government to uphold principles of fairness and proper use of resources to take care of the needs of different sectors, especially the grassroots, in taking forward development projects.
 
     "In line with the people-oriented philosophy of the current-term Government, we hope the enhanced ex-gratia compensation and rehousing arrangements could pragmatically address the needs of different groups of people, while balancing the use of public money and public housing resources, principles of fairness, and expectations of affected clearees as well as the wider community," he said.
 
     The relevant arrangements comprise the following key directions:
 
(1) From "project specific" packages to a unified as well as enhanced general ex-gratia compensation and rehousing package which will be applicable to all future Government's development clearance exercises (irrespective of project scale);

(2) To offer non-means tested rehousing for affected eligible squatter households in dedicated rehousing estates (Dedicated Estates) to be developed and managed by the Hong Kong Housing Society;

(3) To suitably relax the eligibility criteria and increase the amount of cash ex-gratia allowances;
 
(4) To enable eligible households residing in 1982-surveyed/licenced non-domestic structures to benefit from non-means tested rehousing and ex-gratia compensation, subject to them meeting the specified prescribed requirements of the one-off voluntary registration exercise to be implemented by the Lands Department; and
 
(5) To relax the eligibility criteria of applicable ex-gratia allowance for business undertakings on brownfields and in squatters.
 
     Please refer to Annex for details.
 
     "Our proposals aim to fairly and suitably respond to the expectations of the community and affected clearees.  We also hope that the proposal could help remove hurdles to land resumption and clearance exercises for timely increase in land supply to address housing and economic needs," Mr Wong said.
 
     The Development Bureau and relevant departments will brief local stakeholders and affected clearees on the relevant measures from mid-May to July. In end-May, the Government will brief the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Development. Thereafter, approval of the LegCo Finance Committee (FC) will be sought on the enhancements involving ex-gratia allowances with a view to addressing the needs of affected clearees as soon as possible. The proposed enhancements to ex-gratia allowances and the enhanced rehousing arrangements will take effect at the same time. Subject to FC's approval, implementation of the enhanced general compensation and rehousing package for domestic occupants in squatters and cases of businesses operating from squatters will be backdated to the date of announcement (i.e. today, May 10, 2018), while for business undertakings on brownfields will be backdated to April 11, 2017 (i.e. the date on which the Government announced the introduction of an ex-gratia allowance arrangement for open-air/outdoor business undertakings last year).