The opening hours of the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) students' study rooms will be extended during the period from March 1 to May 31, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 6). People who intend to use the students' study room service during this examination period can apply for admission cards from today.

     Application forms and details of the regulations are available at all public libraries and are also downloadable from the website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/eindex.html under the "Library Notices" section. The deadline for applications is February 4, and the result will be posted on the notice boards of the respective public libraries from February 19 to 29.

     Applicants should be registered borrowers of the HKPL. Priority will be given to candidates sitting for major public exams or professional exams. Applicants can only submit one application and opt for one of the following sessions as detailed below:

March 1 to May 7 (admission card is required)
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Sessions:
Morning session: 8am to 12.30pm

Afternoon session: 12.45pm to 5.15pm

Evening session: 5.30pm to 10pm (Mondays to Fridays)
                         5.30pm to 9.30pm (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

May 8 to 31 (seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and no admission card is required)
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Opening Hours:
8am – 10pm (Mondays to Fridays)
8am – 9.30pm (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

     The arrangement will apply to the students' study room services at Shek Tong Tsui, Chai Wan, Quarry Bay, Aberdeen, Pok Fu Lam, Lockhart Road, Kowloon, To Kwa Wan, Ngau Tau Kok, Shui Wo Street, Lam Tin, Po On Road, Lai Chi Kok, Ngau Chi Wan, San Po Kong, Yau Ma Tei, Fa Yuen Street, Sha Tin, Ma On Shan, Yuen Chau Kok, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, North Kwai Chung, South Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Yuen Long, Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Tai Po, Sai Kung, Tiu Keng Leng, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Chau and Tung Chung Public Libraries.

     For enquiries, please contact the individual libraries or call the Customer Hotline at 2921 0208.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (January 6) that five new kindergarten premises are open for application by eligible applicant bodies under the First School Allocation Exercise (SAE) 2020. Details of the five estate kindergarten premises are set out in the Annex.
 
     "The five new estate kindergarten premises available for applications under this SAE, each with six to 10 classrooms, are located at new public housing estates in Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin and Sai Kung districts and will be available by mid-2020," an EDB spokesman said.
 
     "The EDB is entrusted by the Hong Kong Housing Authority to nominate operators for the kindergarten premises. The proposed allocation is on a competitive basis. Quality of education will be the prime consideration in assessing the applications submitted by applicant bodies. Factors to be considered include the quality of the proposed school plans in running the new kindergartens and the track records of the applicant bodies in operating schools (where applicable), particularly kindergartens."
 
     All applications will be considered by the School Allocation Committee comprising official and non-official members. Applicant bodies are required to complete an application form and submit it together with the required supporting documents, a proposed school plan (of not more than 10 pages including all annexes plus a two-page executive summary) and a list of operating schools (if any). The proposed school plan should cover the vision and mission, management and organisation, learning and teaching, support for children and school culture, children's development targets and self-evaluation indicators. The applicant body may also make reference to the school(s) that it is operating and the respective performance of the school(s) to substantiate its case.
 
     In line with the EDB's established policy for school allocation, when submitting the application, the applicant body should be exempted from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, and be:
 
(1) incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (the successful applicant body would be required to ensure that its articles of association contain all the standard clauses and articles required for allocation of a school premises); or
 
(2) incorporated under other ordinances, with its constitution satisfying the Permanent Secretary for Education as being fit to be considered for allocation of a school premises.
 
     The application form for the First SAE 2020 and other reference materials can be downloaded from the EDB homepage
(www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/sch-premises-info/allocation-of-sch/index.html). More information on this SAE can also be found on the homepage.
 
     The duly completed application form and supporting documents, together with 22 copies of the proposed school plan with the executive summary and the list of operating schools, if any, should reach the Infrastructure and Research Support Division of the EDB (6/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong) by 5pm on February 3, 2020. Late or incomplete applications, as well as applications via email, will not be processed.
 
     For enquiries, please call 3509 8413 or 3509 8411.

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled "First aid in the workplace" on January 13 (Monday) at 3pm. The talk will cover basic knowledge of first aid and explain how to assist and handle injured employees in workplace accidents through case illustrations. It will be given by the LD's occupational health nurse in the Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

    The LD will hold another talk entitled "Manual handling operations and prevention of back injuries" on January 16 (Thursday) at 6.30pm. Given by the LD's occupational health nurse and occupational hygienist, the talk will provide a brief account of the structure and functions of the back, causes and preventive measures of back injuries, and proper manual handling operations. A demonstration and practice of workplace exercise will be included. It will be held in Activity Room 1, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.

     Both talks will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free. For enquiries or registration, please call 2852 4040.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (January 6) invited applications for admission to a two-year full-time Enrolled Nurse (General)/Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) Training Programme for the welfare sector which will provide 200 and 30 places respectively.

     A spokesman for the SWD said that to alleviate the shortage of enrolled nurses in the welfare sector and enhance the quality of care services, the SWD has since 2006 organised Enrolled Nurse Training Programmes for the welfare sector and has commissioned the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) to provide the training programmes in four consecutive years since 2017.

     The training programme aims to equip graduates to become competent and caring professional nurses. It is divided into two streams, namely Enrolled Nurse (General) stream and Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) stream. The former is to be provided through the Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies (General Health Care) (Programme code: HDNGOSF1) organised by the OUHK while the latter will be provided through the Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies (Mental Health Care) (Programme code: HDNMOSF1). The programmes, to commence on September 1, will be conducted in the campus of the OUHK in Ho Man Tin and the university will also be responsible for the arrangement of relevant clinical practices.

     On the qualifications required, the spokesman said, "Applicants must have attained the age of 18 by the time the training programme commences and have attained Level 2 or above in five subjects, including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and any two other subjects in Categories A and B in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination; or completed a Pre-Associate Degree programme, or an equivalent qualification."
      
     The spokesman added, "To encourage youths and front-line staff currently serving the welfare sector to upgrade their skills, priority will be accorded to applicants who have successfully completed the two-year Diploma Programme and obtained the diploma under 'Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services' launched since 2015 (or under the 'First-hire-then-train Pilot Scheme' from 2013 to 2016 ) by the SWD; or those who are currently working full-time in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or private organisations providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, youth or correctional services. Individuals who aspire to start a career as enrolled nurses in the welfare sector are also welcome."

     The SWD will fully subsidise trainees with tuition fees on the condition that the trainees have successfully completed the training programme and attained the graduation requirements within two years. Trainees will also be required to sign an undertaking to indicate their readiness to be employed as Enrolled Nurse (General) or Enrolled Nurse (Psychiatric) in the welfare sector providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, or correctional services operated by the NGOs or private organisations for a continuous period of no less than two years after satisfactory completion of the training. If in breach of this term, trainees will have to repay the SWD the tuition fees.

      Relevant information about the training programme is available on the homepage of the OUHK. Applicants must submit their applications for the programme via the Online Admission Application System of the OUHK (www.ouhk.edu.hk/FTUG_application). Hyperlinks are also provided on the SWD homepage (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew). Application will close on February 22. For enquiries, people may contact the OUHK at 3120 2661 or 3120 2662.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.