Missing man in Wong Tai Sin located

     A man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin has been located.

     Tse King-wa, aged 25, went missing after he left his residence at Tsz Hong Estate on January 26. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located at a shopping complex on Yuk Wah Street, Wong Tai Sin on May 11 afternoon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     




Auction of traditional vehicle registration marks to be held on June 5

     The Transport Department (TD) today (May 26) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on June 5 (Sunday) in Meeting Room N101, L1, New Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 240 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 TD also appeals to the bidders to reduce the number of accompanying persons as far as possible. Furthermore, the auctions in the morning and afternoon will each be divided into two sessions so as to shorten the duration of crowd congregation. The first session of the morning auction will commence at 9.25am while the second session will begin no earlier than 10.35am. The first session of the afternoon auction will commence at 2.25pm while the second session will begin no earlier than 3.45pm. The auction venue will be disinfected before the commencement of the second sessions. Interested bidders may arrive at the auction venue in accordance with the time schedule for the auction of vehicle registration marks.

(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 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.




Effective Exchange Rate Index

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, May 26, 2022 is 99.6 (up 0.6 against yesterday's index).




Primary One Central Allocation results to be posted to parents on June 1 or June 2

     The Education Bureau (EDB) reminded parents today (May 26) that the results of the Central Allocation for Primary One Admission (POA) 2022 will be sent to parents by post from next Wednesday to Thursday (June 1 to June 2).

     "A total of 22 898 children took part in Primary One Central Allocation. Among them, 17 843 children were allocated to schools of their first three choices," a spokesman for the bureau said.

     "Taking into account discretionary places and the number of children allocated to schools of their first three choices in the Central Allocation, the overall satisfaction rate is 88.8 per cent."

     The Central Allocation of POA is composed of two parts. Ten per cent of the places for the Central Allocation, which are not restricted by school nets, are under Part A and parents may choose up to three schools in any school net. The remaining 90 per cent of the places for the Central Allocation are under Part B and parents are required to select schools in the school net/Choice of Schools List in respect of the applicant child. Of the places allocated to children in the Central Allocation, 2 511 are under Part A and 20 387 are under Part B.

     Parents who completed a Choice of Schools Form for the Central Allocation on January 22 or January 23 this year will receive the Primary One Registration Form delivered by post from June 1 to June 2 through the Local CourierPost service provided by Hongkong Post. If an attempt of door delivery by Hongkong Post fails, or buildings concerned have residents who have positive test results for COVID-19 in the past 14 days, a Mail Collection Notification Card will be left for parents to collect it from the designated post office starting from the afternoon of the following working day. If parents have not received the Primary One Registration Form or the Mail Collection Notification Card issued by Hongkong Post by June 3, they could collect the Primary One Registration Form at the designated collection centre from June 4 to June 5 (please refer to the EDB's Primary One Admission System webpage for details then). In addition, if parents have provided a mobile phone number on the Choice of Schools Form and indicated their consent to receive the Central Allocation results via the mobile phone number, they will also receive the results of their applicant children via SMS message on June 1.

     In light of the development of the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the EDB will assign timeslots for parents to register with the allocated school on June 7 (Tuesday) or June 8 (Wednesday) according to the last digit of the applicant child's POA application number so as to reduce the gathering of parents. Parents are requested to complete the registration formalities within the specified date and time as listed on the Arrangements on Registration attached to the Primary One Registration Form. Parents who cannot proceed with the registration within the specified date and time can register on June 9 (Thursday) instead, from 9am to noon or 2pm to 4pm.  
 
     "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 said.
 
     The spokesman reminded parents, who cannot register their child with the school on the above dates due to matters of grave importance, that they should notify the person in charge of registration of the school concerned in advance to make alternative arrangements; otherwise, they would be deemed to have given up the school place allocated.

     Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on cross-boundary travel, parents of applicant children in the Mainland or overseas may not be able to register with their respective allocated schools in person. In view of this, the EDB has made special arrangements for these parents. They could register with their allocated school by fax, email or post, or authorise a representative to register with the school on their behalf on the specified registration dates. The EDB has already informed all parents of applicant children concerned about the special arrangements.

     Should parents decide to give up the place allocated because of special circumstances, such as moving to another school net far from the school allocated, they should not register their child with the school allocated. Under such circumstances, they are advised to go to the EDB's School Places Allocation Section, Office 2, 2/F, Manulife Financial Centre, 223 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, to make necessary arrangements. They should bring along the Primary One Registration Form, the original and copies of documents showing proof of the new address, such as a rental contract, rates demand notes, or water or electricity bills bearing the name of the parent or the guardian of the child.

     Any parent who finds it necessary to transfer his/her child to another school after registration is strongly advised to obtain an assurance of acceptance from that school before retrieving the Primary One Registration Form from the original school because retrieval of the registration form means cancellation of the allocated school place.
 
     Should the territory be affected by adverse weather or other special circumstances during the period for the announcement of results or on any day(s) designated for registration, parents should pay attention to announcements on radio and television for special arrangements for Central Allocation or registration.

     Parents wishing to obtain general information regarding POA procedures can call the 24-hour enquiry service of the EDB at 2891 0088. Further enquiries can be made to the School Places Allocation Section at 2832 7610 (for Hong Kong Island and Islands), 2832 7620 (for Kowloon), 2832 7635 (for New Territories West), 2832 7659 (for New Territories East) and 2832 7700/2832 7740 (for general enquiries) during office hours, as well as from 9am to 4.30pm on June 4 and June 5.




Joint guidebook by InvestHK and PwC highlights business opportunities for foreign companies in GBA and winning strategies via Hong Kong

     Invest Hong Kong (​InvestHK) today (May 26) launched a comprehensive investment guidebook in collaboration with PwC aimed at foreign companies setting up or planning to set up in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) via Hong Kong, as part of the department's continuous GBA promotion drive.

     The guidebook, "A practical guide for setting up in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong", offers practical advice to foreign companies amid the fast-developing landscape of the GBA, a main economic driver of China with GDP of over US$1.9 trillion and an affluent consumer market of over 86 million people.

     The guide presents the latest developments in the GBA – particularly in the areas of innovation and technology, financial services, business and professional services, lifestyle and creative industries, and aviation. It outlines the dynamic landscape of the GBA and the winning strategies to succeed in the region via setting up in Hong Kong. It sets out tips on government policies and advice on facilitation measures, supported by case studies with insights from Arup, King & Wood Mallesons, Siemens, Standard Chartered Bank, and more.

     The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Stephen Phillips, said, "Hong Kong is well positioned to play a pivotal role as a unique gateway for international businesses to access the GBA and the Mainland market at large. The scale and scope of the opportunities are too significant for business around the world to ignore and Hong Kong is a fantastic entry point to the GBA. Apart from being a renowned international financial, trade and logistics centre, Hong Kong stands out as an international aviation hub, a hotbed for international innovation and technology, a regional intellectual property trading centre, and a destination for cultural and art exchanges." Mr Phillips went on to say, "InvestHK will be collaborating with our counterparts across the GBA to showcase the myriad opportunities to the global business community."

     The PwC South China and Hong Kong Tax Leader, Mr Charles Lee, said, "China's national policies have enabled Hong Kong to become a two-way springboard for international and Mainland businesses looking to raise capital and enter the Mainland and international markets respectively. We advise enterprises to have a 'GBA mindset' to strategically pool and nurture talents in the region to enhance productivity and creativity; develop GBA strategies to tap into new market potential; realise location advantages in the GBA to build a robust supply chain; and make use of institutional policies to expedite market access."

     InvestHK encourages businesses to add this guidebook to their toolbox of winning strategies for the GBA, leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages as a gateway between the international market and the GBA.
                                                                                        
     The full report can be downloaded from the InvestHK website via the following link: gba.investhk.gov.hk/en/resource-centre/booklet-practical-guide-setting-gba-hong-kong.html.