Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (December 30) the launch of a series of support measures for the self-financing post-secondary education sector, including a new round of the Land Grant Scheme, the Start-up Loan Scheme and the Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education, to support the sustainable development of the self-financing sector and provide quality articulation opportunities for students.

     An EDB spokesman said, “It has long been the Government’s policy to support the parallel development of the publicly funded and self-financing post-secondary education sectors. Adopting a self-financing mode of operation, self-financing institutions enjoy greater flexibility in programme development to respond to the ever-evolving manpower needs of different sectors of society, complementing publicly funded institutions in providing diversified articulation pathways for young people and nurturing talent needed by the market, thereby playing an important role in Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub. To further support the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of the self-financing sector, the Government has launched a series of support measures for self-financing institutions in developing and enhancing their campuses, and developing their niche areas.”

Land Grant Scheme (LGS) and Start-up Loan Scheme (SLS)

     A new round of the LGS and SLS is open for applications from today to March 31, 2025. A land site located on Man Lai Road, Tai Wai, is available for applications under the LGS for operating locally accredited self-financing post-secondary programmes at the sub-degree level or above by non-profit-making post-secondary institutions.

     The site will be granted to the successful applicant at a nominal premium through a Private Treaty Grant. Since the site will be handed over on an “as-is” basis, the successful applicant will be responsible for conducting any preliminary studies and carrying out all necessary works at its own expense. Institutions may also apply for interest-free start-up loans to develop campuses and/or student hostels for the operation of self-financing full-time locally accredited post-secondary programmes at the abovementioned site or other readily available sites.  

Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education (ESGS)

     A new round of the ESGS is open for applications from today to April 23, 2025. The ESGS aims to provide financial support for eligible self-financing post-secondary institutions to develop and enhance programmes that meet market needs but require high start-up costs, and help alleviate the institutions’ need to fully recover the set-up costs from tuition fees, thus relieving the financial burden on students. It also supports institutions to better develop their own strengths and niche areas, strengthening strategic co-ordination among institutions. Funding for each proposal will generally be subject to a cap of $42 million. 

     In the 2023/24 round of applications of the ESGS, three out of 11 applications were approved with a total grant of about $92 million. They cover the allied health, engineering and forensic psychology sectors, which are conducive to catering for the keen manpower demands of the relevant industries. Details of the projects are as follows:
 

Institution	Project	Approved grant (in million dollars)
Hong Kong Metropolitan University	Establishment of Bachelor of Science with Honours in Diagnostic Radiography Programme	38.2
Hong Kong Metropolitan University	Establishment of Applied Degree in Robotics and Automation Engineering	38.9
Hong Kong Shue Yan University	Development of Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Forensic and Investigative Psychology Degree Programme	14.6

     The Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education will give advice to the Secretary for Education regarding the comparative merits of the applications received under the abovementioned schemes. Details of the abovementioned schemes and previously approved applications are available on the website of the Concourse for Self-financing Post-secondary Education (www.cspe.edu.hk/en/Overview-Measures.html). read more

     The Government announced today (December 30) the reappointments of Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu and Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun as the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman respectively of the Vetting Committee of the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS).
 
     The Government has also appointed Professor Raymond Choy Hon-sing, Dr Janice Ho Yuen-shan and Ms Juliana Lam Hiu-ying as new members of the Vetting Committee and reappointed 12 incumbent members.
 
     All the above appointments will take effect on January 1, 2025, for a term of two years.
 
     PASS provides financial support for non-profit-distributing organisations to carry out industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong’s professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong’s professional services. In order to step up the promotion of Hong Kong’s competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets after the pandemic situation has stabilised, $50 million has also been set aside under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
 
     The Vetting Committee considers individual project proposals under PASS, recommends on the level of funding support, monitors the implementation of the approved projects and advises the Government on the assessment criteria adopted for PASS.
 
     The full membership of the Vetting Committee with effect from January 1, 2025, is as follows:
 
Chairman
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Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu
 
Vice-Chairman
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Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
 
Members
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Mr Chan Chak-bun
Professor Juliana Chan Chung-ngor
Professor Raymond Choy Hon-sing
Dr Janice Ho Yuen-shan
Mr Geoffrey Kao
Ms Juliana Lam Hiu-ying
Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen
Professor Phyllis Mo Lai-lan
Mr Ronald Sum Kwan-ngai
Ms Pearl Tse Pui-pui
Professor Wong Kam-fai
Professor Yuen Pak-leung
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council or his/her representative
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or his/her representative
Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development read more

     A new phase of the Arts Corner will be launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in Hong Kong Park starting from January 1, 2025. Visitors can stroll around a wide array of traditional and trendy handicrafts and arts services stalls while enjoying their leisure in the park.
 
     The 25th phase of the Arts Corner in Hong Kong Park will run from January 1 till December 31 next year, and will be open from noon to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at the outdoor area near the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware in the park. The Arts Corner comprises 10 handicrafts and arts services stalls, displaying and selling various kinds of handicrafts and artistic works such as fabric crafts and ornaments, as well as providing cultural and arts services including painting, portrait sketching and calligraphy.
 
     “The Arts Corner aims to enhance public interest in arts and enrich the arts atmosphere in Hong Kong. It will also make the park a more appealing and enjoyable place for visitors,” a spokesman for the department said.
 
     Apart from Hong Kong Park, an Arts Fun Fair and another Arts Corner are being held at Kowloon Park and Victoria Park respectively.
 
     The 26th phase of the Arts Fun Fair at Kowloon Park is now open between 1pm and 7pm every Sunday and on public holidays. It will continue until May 31 next year at the park’s Loggia. There are 18 stalls displaying and selling craftworks including floral artworks and ornaments, as well as arts services including painting and calligraphy.
 
     The 23rd phase of the Arts Corner in Victoria Park is also open now, from 10am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays, until September 28 next year at South Pavilion Plaza in the park. There are eight stalls displaying and selling craftworks such as fabric crafts, leather goods and ornaments, as well as providing photography services.
 
     “The Arts Corner has been well received in past years. Apart from stopping at the Arts Corner, park-goers can also visit other facilities in the parks and spend some pleasant time there,” a spokesman for the department said.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2521 5041 (Hong Kong Park), 2724 3344 (Kowloon Park) or 2890 5824 (Victoria Park).

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     The Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (Amendment Regulation) comes into effect today (December 30), updating food safety standards in relation to preservatives and antioxidants in food. 

     A Government spokesman said that the Amendment Regulation has updated the definitions of “preservative” and “antioxidant” with reference to the corresponding definitions adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The list of permitted preservatives/antioxidants has also been updated, and comprises 58 preservatives/antioxidants after the legislative amendments. The number of “additive-food” pairs with specified maximum permitted levels has increased from around 900 to around 2 000.

     The spokesman added that to allow sufficient time for the relevant stakeholders to adjust to the new food safety standards and for local testing laboratories to establish the capability for performing relevant tests, as well as considering the longer shelf life of processed and pre-packaged foods that may contain preservatives or antioxidants, the commencement of the Amendment Regulation will be followed by a 24-month transitional period, which will end on December 29, 2026. During this period, it will be legal for any single food item to comply wholly with the requirements of either Cap. 132BD as it was in force immediately before the commencement date or Cap. 132BD as amended by the Amendment Regulation.

     For details of the Amendment Regulation, please refer to www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fstr/whatsnew_fstr_Proposed_Amendments_Preservatives_Food_Regulation.html. The Centre for Food Safety under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has issued updated user guidelines to facilitate the trade’s compliance.  read more

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled “Prevention of Lower Limb Disorders and Guidance Notes on Standing at Work” on January 6 (Monday). The talk will introduce symptoms of common lower limb disorders such as plantar fasciitis, varicose veins of lower limbs and osteoarthritis of the knee, as well as their treatment and preventive measures. Demonstrations and practice of workplace exercises will be included. Participants will also be briefed on the content of the LD’s publication “Guidance Notes on Standing at Work and Service Counter Design”.
 
     The talk will be given by the LD’s occupational hygienist and occupational health nurse at 3.30pm in the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
 
     The LD will hold another talk, entitled “Happy Workplace” on January 10 (Friday). The talk will explain the importance and essential elements of creating a happy workplace.
      
     The talk will be given by the occupational health nurse at 3.30pm in the Health Education Room, Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the LD, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong.

     Both talks will be given in Cantonese. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Interested participants can register online (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en). For enquiries, please call 2852 4040. read more