Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹A spokesman for the Environment Bureau (ENB) announced today (May 26) the launch of a special allowance scheme for drivers and assistants of drivers of municipal solid waste and domestic sewage collection vehicles under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF). The scheme is open for application from today.
      
     The spokesman said, “Since the outbreak of the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, drivers and assistants of drivers of waste collection vehicles have been providing uninterrupted services to maintain the environmental hygiene of the community while serving in settings with exposure to higher health risks. The Government will disburse a one-off allowance to eligible staff with a monthly allowance of $2,000 per person for five months, making a total subsidy of $10,000 per person, in recognition of their efforts and contributions to society during the fifth wave of the epidemic.”
      
     Applications should be submitted, on behalf of the eligible staff, by companies that are mainly engaged in the business of collecting municipal solid waste and domestic sewage and own the business-related vehicles. Staff concerned are not required to submit applications separately. Upon the approval of the applications, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will disburse the subsidy to the staff through their companies.
      
     Eligible companies can make online applications through the EPD’s website (www.epd.gov.hk/wastecollection_subsidy.html) from today till June 27. Details of the scheme are available on the EPD’s website. For enquiries, please email wastecollection_subsidy@epd.gov.hk or call 3690 7772.
      
     In addition to drivers and assistants of drivers of waste collection vehicles, cleaning and security workers engaged by the two power companies, as well as the laundry trade, also benefit from the sixth round of the AEF. The ENB has launched the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in the Power Companies under the AEF, disbursing to around 580 cleaning and security staff in the two power companies an allowance of $2,000 per month for five months, making a total subsidy of $10,000 per person.
      
     The ENB has also launched the Anti-epidemic Subsidy Scheme for the Laundry Trade (Second Round) under the AEF to disburse a one-off operating cost subsidy to operators providing laundry and dry cleaning services. Depending on the scale of operation, each eligible laundry shop or workshop will receive a subsidy ranging from $10,000 to $150,000. Over 1 300 applications have been received. The application vetting is nearing completion and subsidies are being disbursed in batches to offer timely assistance to the laundry trade.
      
     In addition, the EPD launched the One-off Frontline Recycling Staff Support Scheme (OFRSS) under the Recycling Fund in mid-March, disbursing a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months per person, making a total subsidy of $10,000 per person. The application period of the OFRSS ended on April 30. Over 760 applications have been received, involving around 4 100 frontline recycling staff and subsidies totalling around $41 million. Disbursement of subsidies to eligible frontline recycling staff by the Recycling Fund is in progress. read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Vision 2030 for Rule of Law International Symposium today (May 26):
 
Commissioner Liu (Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Liu Guangyuan), Judge Xue (Judge of International Court of Justice, Mr Xue Hanqin), Professor Surakiart (Chairman of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council, Professor Surakiart Sathirathai), Chief Justice (Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung Kui-nung), Dr Neoh (Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Dr Anthony Neoh), ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. I am delighted to welcome you to the “Vision 2030 for Rule of Law International Symposium”. Several hundreds of you on-site and thousands more online are taking part in this all-day gathering of senior legal and law-related professionals, government leaders and other high-profile individuals from common law, civil law and sharia law jurisdictions. You come from Hong Kong, from Mainland China and from all over the world, united by an unwavering belief in the rule of law and its primacy.
      
     Indeed, today’s Symposium has its roots in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This blueprint for achieving a more sustainable future for us all was adopted in 2015. The rule of law is among the Agenda’s 17 goals, a pillar in providing universal access to justice and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Hong Kong’s resolute response to the UN Agenda in this aspect was the creation of “Vision 2030 for Rule of Law” in 2020, announced in my 2020 Policy Address. This 10-year initiative is designed to promote widespread understanding and recognition of the rule of law and its importance through intensive research, collaboration and capacity building.
      
     In less than two years’ time, Vision 2030, together with a dedicated task force chaired by Ms Teresa Cheng, our Secretary for Justice, has made excellent progress, taking forward a number of projects, locally and internationally, to advance and promote the rule of law in Hong Kong, throughout the region and beyond. The results of its dedication are now available in the “Vision 2030 Task Force Report”, which is officially launched at today’s Symposium.
      
     The rule of law is a core value and the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success. It underpins the economic development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Hong Kong’s enviable way of life. The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, who is with us today, said during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2021, “Regardless of whether one subscribes to the thin or thick version of the rule of law, it can be confidently asserted that Hong Kong is a society which is governed by the rule of law”. I fully agree with him. With the staunch support of the Central People’s Government and the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, Hong Kong has come a long way as a leading international financial hub. We are, as well, the only common law jurisdiction within China. Hong Kong boasts an independent judiciary and fundamental rights and freedoms fully protected under the Basic Law. That is why Hong Kong is often the preferred choice for multinational co-operation when it comes to legal and dispute resolution services.
      
     I am proud to say that Hong Kong is internationally recognised to be underpinned by the rule of law. According to the Rule of Law Index 2021 by the World Justice Project, Hong Kong maintained its fifth overall ranking in the East Asia and Pacific Region and 19th standing globally. Looking at a longer time horizon, according to the World Bank Group, Hong Kong’s percentile rank in respect of the rule of law was only 69.85 in 1996; upon China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kong’s score reached 82.5 in 1998 and, since 2003, has remained consistently above 90, clearly underscoring the significant advancement of the rule of law here since the establishment of the HKSAR in 1997. By and large, these results enunciate the recognition of the city’s perseverance in upholding the rule of law.
      
     This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. We are determined that Hong Kong’s solid foundation in the rule of law, and our legal system in general, will continue to grow and serve as a guiding principle for Hong Kong, and a model for the region, in the many more years to come.
      
     My sincere thanks go to the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council and the Asian Academy of International Law for their much appreciated organisational efforts in concert with the Department of Justice. I am grateful to the Department not only for today’s global gathering, but also for bringing Vision 2030 for Rule of Law and its attendant task force to bright life.
      
     Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a rewarding conference and a prosperous and sustainable future built squarely on the rule of law. Thank you very much.

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     â€‹A Government spokesman announced today (May 26) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (May 25) 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 2 600 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 797 tonnes. The average wholesale prices of choi sum and pak choi stood at $5.40 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 30 tonnes. The supply of live pigs was plentiful.

     The supply of chilled poultry from the Mainland was about 180 000 head yesterday, and over 7 000 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-April 2022 was 28 800 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). read more

     The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 75 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (May 26).        This publication contains key findings on Internet and personal compu… read more

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department today (May 26) announced an adjustment to the auto-LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations from June 1 to 30, 2022, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contracts of the dedicated LPG filling stations.
 
     A department spokesman said that the adjustment on June 1, 2022, reflects the movement of the LPG international price in May 2022. The adjusted auto-LPG ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations will range from $4.84 to $5.41 per litre, representing a decrease of $0.40 to $0.41 per litre.
 
     The spokesman said that the auto-LPG ceiling prices were adjusted according to a specified pricing formula. The formula comprises two elements – the LPG international price and the LPG operating price. The LPG international price is the LPG international price of the preceding month. The LPG operating price is adjusted on the first day of February every year according to the movement in the Composite Consumer Price Index in the previous year.
 
     The auto-LPG ceiling prices for respective dedicated LPG filling stations in June 2022 are as follows:
 

Location of Dedicated LPG Filling Station	Auto-LPG Ceiling Price in June 2022 (HK$/litre)	Auto-LPG Ceiling Price in May 2022 ​(HK$/litre)
Fung Yip Street, Chai Wan	5.41	5.82
Ngo Cheung Road, West Kowloon	5.41	5.82
Sham Mong Road, Mei Foo	5.06	5.47
Yip Wong Road, Tuen Mun	5.06	5.47
Marsh Road, Wan Chai	5.05	5.46
Fung Mat Road, Sheung Wan	4.98	5.39
Wai Lok Street, Kwun Tong	4.98	5.39
Yuen Chau Tsai, Tai Po	4.98	5.39
Cheung Yip Street, Kowloon Bay	5.03	5.44
Kwai On Road, Kwai Chung	5.03	5.44
Hang Yiu Street, Ma On Shan	4.84	5.24
Tak Yip Street, Yuen Long	4.84	5.24

     The spokesman said that the details of the LPG international price and the auto-LPG ceiling price of each dedicated LPG filling station have been uploaded to the department website at www.emsd.gov.hk. They are also posted at dedicated LPG filling stations to enable the trades to monitor the price adjustment.
 
     Details of the pricing adjustment mechanism for dedicated LPG filling stations can also be viewed under the “What’s New” section of the department website at www.emsd.gov.hk/en/what_s_new/current/index.html.
 
     The dedicated LPG filling stations at Fung Yip Street in Chai Wan, Yuen Chau Tsai in Tai Po and Ngo Cheung Road in West Kowloon are closed for renovation. For details, please refer to the announcement in the webpage of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. read more