The Government today (December 27) announced the appointment of two members to the Education Commission (EC).
      
     The newly appointed members are the Chairman of the Hong Kong Special Schools Council, Dr Leung Wing-hung, and the Chairman of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council, Ms Vu Im-fan.
      
     The two members have been appointed in their personal capacity for a two-year term, which will take effect on January 1, 2020.
     
     An Education Bureau spokesman said, "Given their rich experience in the education sector, we are confident that these two members will provide valuable advice and contribute to the work of the EC."
      
     The spokesman also thanked the outgoing member, Mr So Ping-fai, for his valuable contribution to the work of the EC.
      
     The new EC membership list, effective from January 1, 2020, is as follows:

Chairman
———-
Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung
 
Ex-officio members
———————
Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan
Chairman, Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals, Dr Carrie Willis
Chairman, Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung
Chairman, Curriculum Development Council, Professor Tam Kar-yan
Chairman, Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority Council, Dr Samuel Yung Wing-ki
Chairman, Quality Education Fund Steering Committee, Dr Gordon Tsui Luen-on
Chairman, Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, Mr Lester Garson Huang
Chairman, University Grants Committee, Mr Carlson Tong
Chairman, Vocational Training Council, Mr Tony Tai Chark-tong
 
Non-official members
———————–
Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau
Dr Fung Wai-wah
Ms Nancy Ho Lan-sang
Professor Alvin Leung Seung-ming
Dr Leung Wing-hung
Mr Joseph Luc Ngai
Dr Halina Poon Suk-han
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Ms Vu Im-fan
Mr Wong Kam-leung
Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak

     â€‹After the opening of Siu Lun Sports Centre of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in early November, remaining facilities including an outdoor sport climbing wall, activity rooms and a multi-purpose arena at the centre will be opened for public use on December 31 (Tuesday), providing a wider range of leisure and sports facilities.

     Siu Lun Sports Centre occupies the second to fifth floors of the Tuen Mun Siu Lun Government Complex at 19 Siu Lun Street, Tuen Mun. Apart from a fitness room, a table-tennis room and a children's play room which have been opened for public use earlier, an outdoor sport climbing wall on the second floor, three multi-purpose activity rooms on the fourth floor and a multi-purpose arena on the fifth floor are to open for use. The arena can be used as a handball court, two basketball courts, two volleyball courts or eight badminton courts according to the need.
 
     Adjacent to Siu Lun Sports Ground and Tsing Sin Playground, the sports centre is easily accessible by Light Rail, bus or minibus. It will be open from 7am to 11pm daily, except on the first and third Wednesday of every month when it will be closed from 7am to 1pm for regular maintenance.

     Members of the public can reserve the activity rooms and the multi-purpose arena of Siu Lun Sports Centre from tomorrow (December 28) via the Leisure Link computerised booking system, booking counters or self-service kiosks in accordance with the LCSD's booking procedure for leisure and sports facilities. For enquiries, please call the venue staff at 2659 2311, or visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/index.html).

      

     The Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (CDTAs) with Cambodia and Estonia signed in June and September this year respectively came into force on December 27 and 18, 2019, respectively, after the completion of the relevant ratification procedures. The CDTAs will have effect in respect of Hong Kong tax for any taxable periods beginning on or after April 1, 2020, a Government spokesman said today (December 27).
 
     Cambodia and Estonia were the 38th and 75th largest trading partners of Hong Kong in 2018 respectively. The CDTAs will bring a greater degree of certainty on tax liabilities for those who engage in cross-border business activities, and help promote bilateral trade and investment activities.

     The Government published in the Gazette today (December 27) the Court Proceedings (Electronic Technology) Bill which seeks to provide an electronic option for handling court-related documents.

     "The Bill aims to make the necessary legislative amendments to implement the Judiciary's Information Technology Strategy Plan (ITSP). Under the ITSP, an integrated court case management system (iCMS) is being implemented to streamline and standardise electronic court processes across different levels of courts as appropriate. This will in the long run improve the efficiency of litigation in Hong Kong and reduce paper use," a Government spokesman said.

     "The ITSP will facilitate active case management throughout the entire litigation/adjudication and ancillary processes to improve access to justice for the benefit of all stakeholders," he added.

     Key proposals of the Bill include:

(a) electronic filing or sending of documents to the court will generally be allowed;
(b) documents between parties may be served electronically if there is mutual consent to serve and accept documents by electronic means;
(c) signatures other than traditional manual signatures, such as digital signature and electronic signature, for court-related documents will generally be allowed; and
(d) provide proper legal status for printouts/copies of printouts for documents issued by the court.

     "Court users are encouraged to transact court businesses by electronic means on a voluntary basis, while they can choose to continue to interact with the Judiciary and the other parties concerned by conventional means," the spokesman said.

     The Bill also provides that the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal may specify by subsidiary legislation or include in practice directions the detailed court and operational procedures for the use of electronic mode, so as to enable the Judiciary to make timely refinements to the detailed procedures and practices to take into account rapid technological developments.

     In formulating the Bill, the Judiciary has carefully balanced the principles and spirit of the administration of justice as set out in the existing legislation against the convenience resulting from the use of technology.

     "The ITSP will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase consisting of two stages for better management. In Stage 1 of Phase I, the iCMS will be implemented in the District Court and the Summons Courts of the Magistrates' Courts (MC). In Stage 2 of Phase I, the iCMS is expected to be extended to the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court, the remaining part of the MC and the Small Claims Tribunal. For the remaining courts and tribunals, the iCMS is planned to be implemented under Phase II,” the spokesman added.

     The Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services were consulted and supported the Bill.

     The Bill will be introduced into the LegCo for first reading on January 8, 2020.

     The Marine Department (MD) met the local maritime trade today (December 27) to remind members about the implementation of new amendment regulations on the strengthened requirements for the provision of lifejackets on local vessels and enhanced marine safety during major events at sea. The trade was advised to comply with the regulations to ensure the safety of all persons on board as well as marine safety.
 
     The new amendment regulations include the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2019.
 
     A spokesman for the MD said, "The purpose of the meeting with the trade today is to reiterate that the new amendment regulations have already come into effect since December 23. The operation and the provision of lifejackets of the vessels concerned must comply with the requirements of the regulations. The trade agreed that the regulations could enhance marine safety and they all pledged to observe the rules, including during major events at sea."
 
     According to the new regulations, all local vessels are required to carry on board suitable lifejackets, the quantity of which must be not less than the total number of persons which the vessel is licensed to carry. Furthermore, all commercial passenger-carrying local vessels licensed to carry more than 12 passengers must carry on board infant lifejackets, the quantity of which must not be less than 2.5 per cent of the number of passengers that the vessel is licensed to carry.
 
     In addition, to enhance marine safety during major events at sea, the new regulations require children on board to wear lifejackets at all times during the events. A list of passengers and crew must also be kept by the coxswain of the vessel for emergency purposes.
 
     Today, some 40 representatives from the local maritime trade attended the meeting.
 
     The MD has started publicity work and will continue to enhance awareness of the new regulations by both the trade and the public.