â€‹The Government published the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Gazette today (December 27). 
      
     "The Bill seeks to increase the statutory maternity leave (ML) under the Employment Ordinance (EO) (Cap 57) from the current 10 weeks to 14 weeks, and to require employers to pay the maternity leave pay (MLP) in respect of the extension of ML (additional MLP) to their eligible employees on the normal pay day at the existing statutory rate of MLP (viz. four-fifths of the employees' average daily wages) subject to a cap of $36,822 per employee," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.
      
     "Certain technical amendments will also be introduced, including updating the definition of 'miscarriage' from 'before 28 weeks of pregnancy' to 'before 24 weeks of pregnancy' which will entitle a female employee whose child is incapable of survival after being born at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy to ML; and entitling employees who have attended medical examination in relation to pregnancy to sickness allowance if they are able to produce, other than a medical certificate, a certificate of attendance.
      
     "The other arrangements concerning maternity protection under EO shall continue to operate as they currently do," the spokesman added.
      
     The spokesman pointed out that the proposed additional MLP would be funded by the Government on a reimbursement basis by way of an administrative scheme.
      
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on January 8 next year.

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (January).
 
     Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area.
 
     Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in January 2020:
 
San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range
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Tsing Shan Firing Range
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     Members of the public are invited to enrol for the plant exhibit competition, which is one of the major activities of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2020. Application is free of charge and will remain open until January 13, 2020. A quota is set for each section of the competition, and entrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     The flower show will be held in Victoria Park for 10 days from March 6 to 15, 2020, featuring "Bliss in Bloom" as the main theme and with the hydrangea as the theme flower.
 
     The competition is divided into 15 sections, namely orchid, Chinese cymbidium, potted plant, cactus and succulent, foliage and carnivorous plant, African violet, bonsai-type plant, floral arrangement in Western style and Oriental style, floral art by school children, primary and secondary school potted plant growing/nursing, and the school garden plot competition.
 
     Participants can use electronic enrolment through the flower show webpage at www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2020/exhibits.html or download the entry forms and submit the completed forms in person or by post to the Secretariat of the Show Committee of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2020 (11/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin) or by fax (2691 7264) on or before January 13, 2020. For enquiries about the competition, please call 2601 8260 or visit the flower show webpage.
 
     The flower show is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the eighth consecutive year and has been the Major Sponsor of the flower show since 2014.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year tenancy of (i) Shop No. 1 and Shop No. 4 and a space for a promotion trolley on the Departure Level; and (ii) Shop A on Level 4, Arrival Hall, of China Hong Kong City, China Ferry Terminal, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. 

     The premises should only be used for general retail purposes including but not limited to storage, sale and display of duty-free liquor, cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products but excluding any goods or commodities that are prohibited under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), any regulations made thereunder and any amending legislations.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (December 27) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9th Floor, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during office hours (8.30am to 5.45pm from Mondays to Fridays). The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend the site inspection should make prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6777 on or before January 17, 2020.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Secretariat Tender Box situated on the Lobby of the Public Entrance on the Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, before noon on January 31, 2020. Late tenders will not be accepted.

     The Government announced today (December 27) new membership of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board (TIAB) for a period of two years from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021.

     The new members are Mr Ivan Chu Kwok-leung, Dr Dennis Ng Wang-pun, Mr Sunny Tan, Mr Harold Wong Tsu-hing and Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin, and 24 incumbent members are re-appointed.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, thanked the members for accepting the appointments. He said, "The TIAB serves an important function of advising the Government on promoting the development of Hong Kong's trade and industry, in particular on matters concerning how Hong Kong can take part gainfully in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, and how to cope with the changes in the economic situation. With the experience and expertise of the members in their respective sectors, I am confident that they will continue to offer valuable advice on promoting the work.
 
     "I would also like to express my gratitude to the outgoing members, namely Mr Jimmy Kwok Chun-wah, Dr Eddy Li Sau-hung and Mr Andrew Lo Ching-leung for their contributions to the work of the TIAB," he said.

     The TIAB advises the SCED on matters affecting Hong Kong's trade and industry, including trade in textiles and garments, trade relations with the Mainland, the Belt and Road Initiative, the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and related matters.

     The 2020-2021 membership list of the TIAB is as follows:

Chairperson
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Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

Non-official members
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Miss Mabel Chan Mei-bo
Mr Ivan Chu Kwok-leung
Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi
Mrs Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee
Ms Miranda Kwan Ching-yi
Dr Stephen Kwok Chun-pong
Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung
Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok
Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok, SC
Mr Lau Chun-kong
Mr Steve Leung Chi-tien
Mr Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong    
Miss Nisa Bernice Leung Wing-yu
Mr Frank Leung Yat-cheong
Mr Willy Lin Sun-mo
Mr Alan Lui Siu-lun
Dr Ma Jun      
Mr Raymond Mak Ka-chun
Dr Dennis Ng Wang-pun
Dr Pang Yiu-kai
Mr Shiu Ka-fai      
Dr Thomas So Shiu-tsung
Mr Sunny Tan
Mr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung
Mr Wong Ting-kwong
Mr Harold Wong Tsu-hing
Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching
Dr Eric Yip Chee-hang
Dr Daniel Yip Chung-yin

Ex-officio members
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Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (or representative)
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism) (or representative)
Director-General of Trade and Industry (or representative)
Director-General of Investment Promotion (or representative)
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (or representative)