Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government today (May 31) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 6pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Wong Tai Sin (i.e. Pak Suet House, Choi Hung Estate, Wong Tai Sin. See Annex) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 8.30am tomorrow (June 1). The operation may be extended depending on test results.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’. Having reviewed a basket of factors, including the viral load in sewage, the information of relevant positive cases, and other circumstantial factors, and conducted a risk assessment, the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area.”
 
     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 11.30pm today. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will make arrangement to facilitate specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. All persons in the “restricted area” who have tested positive in the past 14 days, including positive cases identified either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests that have been self-declared to the DH, are not required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise.
 
     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 8.30am tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”
 
    If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.
 
     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any persons other than those specified above who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from May 25 to 31, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before June 2, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
 
     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:        According to statistics published today (May 31) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions decreased by… read more

     A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (May 31) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the requirements of the Code of Practice for EAs (CoP) at all times.

     The LD has revoked the EA licences of Manco Employment Agency located in Mong Kok and Many Maids Employment Agency located in Chai Wan. The licence of Manco was revoked as its licensee was earlier convicted of overcharging of commission from a foreign domestic helper. Since the convicted person was also the licensee of Many Maids, the licence of Many Maids was revoked as well. The licensee concerned had appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board against the LD’s decisions to revoke the licences of his two EAs but the appeal was dismissed.

     Under section 53(1)(c)(iv) of the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the licence of an EA if he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO.

     “The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, which came into effect on February 9, 2018, stipulates that the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a licence, or may revoke a licence, if he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee of an EA, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO, such as overcharging job seekers of commission or operating an EA without a licence, or has not complied with the CoP issued under section 62A(1) of the EO,” a spokesman for the LD said.

     The LD has revoked the licences of a total of 10 EAs since 2020, including the above.

     For enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about alleged malpractices, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD at 2115 3667, or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     HKMC Annuity Limited (HKMCA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, announced today (May 31) the launch of enhancement measures and promotional offer for the HKMC Annuity Plan (Plan). 

     The enhancement measures, which will come into effect on June 1, 2022, are applicable to both existing and new customers. Details are as follows:
 

1. Increase in the withdrawal limit of the Special Withdrawal for Medical and Dental Expenses: The aggregate withdrawal limit of the Special Withdrawal for Medical and Dental Expenses per insured will be increased to HK$1 million from HK$300,000 or 50 per cent of the premium paid, whichever is lower, to provide more flexibility to insureds to meet their financial needs (Note 1).
2. Increase in the individual premium cap: The individual premium cap of the Plan will be increased to HK$5 million, while the minimum premium amount per policy will remain at HK$50,000 to meet different customers’ needs. 

 
     Furthermore, the Plan will offer a premium discount to encourage customers to turn their accumulated wealth into a lifelong, guaranteed and stable retirement income (Note 2). Eligible customers (including registered MPF or ORSO scheme members, existing “HKMC Retire 3” (Note 3) customers, as well as AMIGOS By HKMC members) who successfully apply for the Plan during the promotion period between June 1 and December 31, 2022 can enjoy a 1 per cent premium discount (Note 4).
 
     Interested parties can call our customer service hotline at 2512 5000 or visit our website (www.hkmca.hk) to arrange a sales appointment.
 
Note 1: Terms and conditions apply. For details, please refer to the product brochure.

Note 2: The HKMC Annuity Plan is a life insurance product subject to terms and conditions and involves risks. The content is for reference only and does not constitute a product recommendation or invitation.

Note 3: “HKMC Retire 3” refers to the Reverse Mortgage Programme and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme operated by HKMC Insurance Limited (HKMCI) and the HKMC Annuity Plan underwritten by the HKMCA. The HKMCI and the HKMCA are wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited.

Note 4: Terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the relevant promotional leaflet at www.hkmca.hk for details. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:      The Judiciary today (May 31) announced the appointment of Ms Thelma Kwan Tin-man as District Judge. The appointment will take effect on June 1, 2022. &nbs… read more