Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, at a media session on self-paid designated quarantine hotel taxi service at Hong Kong International Airport today (July 25):
 
Reporter: Mr Lam, what is the purpose of this new taxi service?
 
Secretary for Transport and Logistics: We have to react to the demand from the community on such taxi services and we have heard quite a lot of voices from our community on this service. I am sure that this will meet the demand of some of the landing passengers. We will review the demand and adjust the service level to suit.
 
Reporter: How popular do you think it will be?
 
Secretary for Transport and Logistics: At this moment, I can't predict but at the present moment we have engaged a hundred taxis to provide such service. If required, we can engage more taxis to suit the demand.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Education Bureau today (July 25) reminded parents that the results for Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) 2022 (including results at the discretionary places (DP) and central allocation (CA) stages) will be announced tomorrow (July 26).
 
     "A total of 49 448 students participated in the SSPA System for this allocation cycle. Based on the total number of students allocated DP and the first three choices through CA, the overall satisfaction rate is 94 per cent. According to the number of students allocated DP and the first choice through CA, the satisfaction rate is 83 per cent," a spokesman for the bureau said.
 
     The satisfaction rates for DP and CA are:
 
* Among the students allocated DP, 66 per cent were allocated the first choice; and
 
* For students allocated through CA (including Part A for Unrestricted School Choices and Part B for Restricted School Choices), 89 per cent of students were allocated the first three choices and 71 per cent were allocated the first choice.
 
     "We hope parents and students would accept the allocation results with a positive attitude. The learning effectiveness of students does not rest only on the schools to which they are allocated. It hinges more on whether students are prepared to adopt a proactive approach and to learn with a positive spirit. It is important for parents to continue to support and encourage their children, and avoid letting their expectations become a burden on their children," the spokesman said.
 
     All Primary Six students participating in this year's SSPA System should return to their schools tomorrow to collect the Allocation Slips and Admission Slips. In addition, if parents have provided a mobile phone number on the Secondary One Choice of Schools Form to indicate their consent to receiving the result via that phone number, they will also receive the result of their children via SMS message tomorrow.
 
     All students must report to the allocated secondary schools this Thursday or Friday (July 28 or 29). In case neither the students nor their parents or guardians are able to return to schools and collect the Allocation Slips and Admission Slips in person, the parents or guardians should authorise a representative in writing in advance to collect the documents and complete the registration procedure on their behalf.
 
     The spokesman reminded that, should any parent or guardian have genuine difficulties in collecting the Admission Slip and registering with the allocated school personally or through an authorised representative, he or she should contact the student's primary school in advance, so that the school will return the Admission Slip of the student concerned to the School Places Allocation Section of the Education Bureau, which will inform the allocated school and make appropriate registration arrangements. Failure to do so will be taken as giving up the place allocated. The parent or guardian concerned should also approach the student's allocated secondary school and provide contact information as soon as possible.
 
     "As the Vaccine Pass arrangement has been implemented from February 24, 2022, except for exempted persons, all school staff, persons providing on-campus services and visitors have to present their vaccination record for the purpose of the Vaccine Pass and use the 'LeaveHomeSafe' mobile application to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter schools," the spokesman added.
 
     If a tropical cyclone warning signal or rainstorm warning signal is issued on the day for announcement of the allocation results or on the days for registration, all schools and parents should pay attention to announcements on the radio or television for special arrangements.
 
     For enquiries about the allocation results, students and parents may call the School Places Allocation Section of the Education Bureau on 2832 7740 or 2832 7700 during office hours.

     A Government spokesman announced today (July 25) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (July 24) was sufficient and stable.

     According to the latest information, the quantity of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong yesterday (as of midnight) by land and water transportation was about 2 800 tonnes, comparable to the average daily supply from the Mainland on a normal day. The volume of vegetables sold through the wholesale markets of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Vegetable Marketing Organization was about 634 tonnes. The average wholesale prices of choi sum and pak choi stood at $7.50 and $5.80 per catty respectively yesterday, comparable to their average daily wholesale prices last year. The supply of eggs to the wholesale market remained steady, with the average daily supply standing at about 3.5 million for the past week, comparable to the average daily supply on a normal day last year.

     The total supply of chilled meat from the Mainland yesterday was about 42 tonnes. The supply of live pigs was plentiful.

     The supply of chilled poultry from the Mainland was over 140 000 head yesterday, and about 12 000 live chickens were slaughtered locally. The supply was abundant.

     Regarding the rice supply, in compliance with the requirement by the Government, stockholders of rice have to maintain the reserve stock of rice at a level sufficient for consumption by the local population for 15 days. The trade generally stocks double the required amount, which is sufficient for one month's consumption by Hong Kong citizens. In recent years, the import and consumption of rice in Hong Kong has stood at a steady level of around 320 000 to 330 000 tonnes per year. The import quantity (including reserve stock) as of end-June 2022 was 30 400 tonnes. Suppliers also maintain a reserve for food that can be stored, such as frozen meat, for around three months' stock generally.

     The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities and major food suppliers to ensure a stable food supply.

     The AFCD updates and publishes the fresh food supply information daily. Members of the public may visit the AFCD website for updates on daily supplies and wholesale prices of fresh food (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_fresh/agr_fresh.html).

     Police today (July 25) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

     Lam Chi-yeung, aged 40, went missing after he was last seen in shopping centre on Yuk Wah Street on July 8 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on July 11.
         
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 72 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey short-sleeved T-shirt, black shorts, black sports shoes and a black bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0335 or 9020 2746 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

  

     The Transport Department (TD) today (July 25) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on August 7 (Sunday) in Meeting Room N201, L2, New Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 300 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(5) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

(6) In view of public health concerns, all persons entering the auction venue will have to undergo on-the‑spot body temperature checks arranged by the TD. Any member of the public whose body temperature is higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius or who refuses to undergo a body temperature check will be denied entry to the auction hall and the payment office. The TD also requests all persons entering the auction hall and the payment office to wear masks and clean their hands with alcohol-based sanitiser, and to wear masks throughout the duration of the auction and payment process.

(7) In order to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, the TD will adjust the distance between seats and the number of seats in the auction hall and the payment office, and implement crowd-control measures. The auction venue will be disinfected before the commencement of the morning and afternoon sessions. The TD also appeals to the bidders to reduce the number of accompanying persons as far as possible.

(8)  To align with the Government’s arrangement on the strict enforcement of the use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application when entering government buildings or offices, except for exempted persons, members of the public are required to use the app to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter the auction venue (including the auction hall and the payment office). Persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, and those with disabilities that render use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" app difficult, will be exempted from the requirement of using the app when they enter the auction venue. However, they are required to complete a record form to register their names, the first four digits or letters of their identification documents, their contact numbers and the date and time of their visits. They are also required to present relevant identification documents for verification at the request of the TD staff during registration. TD staff will also verify the contact numbers by making phone calls. As a result of the arrangement, members of the public are advised to remain patient as the waiting time for entering the auction venue may be lengthened. Unwillingness to use the app will not be considered as justification for granting exemption.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk.