Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Report of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the year ended 31 March 2019 and Report No. 73 of the Director of Audit on the results of value for money audits were tabled in the Legislative Council this morning (November 27).
 
     The Report on the Government Accounts provides an overall assurance that the financial statements properly present the assets and liabilities of the Government as at March 31, 2019, and the receipts and payments for the year that ended on that date.
 
     Value for money audit is an examination into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which any bureau of the Government Secretariat, department, agency or other public body has discharged its functions. Report No. 73 of the Director of Audit covers a variety of subjects on the administration of government programmes and provision of public services.
 
     Report No. 73 comprises the following 10 chapters:
 

Chapter	Subject
1	Planning, provision and management of public toilets by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2	Provision of consultancy, research and development and training services by the Hong Kong Productivity Council
3	Governance and administrative issues of the Hong Kong Productivity Council
4	Control of wild and stray animal nuisances
5	Special education
6	Judiciary Administration’s work in implementing projects under Information Technology Strategy Plan
7	Statistical services provided by the Census and Statistics Department
8	Procurement of goods and services by the Immigration Department
9	Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A
10	Child Development Fund

 
     The Report of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Government for the year ended 31 March 2019 and Report No. 73 on the results of value for money audits are available on the Audit Commission’s website at www.aud.gov.hk. read more

     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 (December).        Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at… read more

     The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) today (November 27) announced the launch of a subsidy scheme to support the upgrading of Satellite Master Antenna Television (SMATV) systems operating in the 3.4 – 4.2 GHz band and invited applications by eligible applicants.

     On March 28, 2018, the Communications Authority (CA) issued a statement announcing that the radio spectrum in the 3.4 – 3.7 GHz band would be re-allocated from fixed satellite service to mobile service with effect from April 1, 2020, for assignment to the fifth generation (5G) mobile services in Hong Kong. SMATV systems should only be operated in the 3.7 – 4.2 GHz band thereafter. As a result of the frequency re-allocation and as per the outcome of a consultancy study commissioned by OFCA, existing SMATV systems need to be upgraded in order to co-exist with the prospective 5G systems to be rolled out on or after April 1, 2020. The baseline requirements for upgrading SMATV systems are set out in an information note issued by OFCA.

     As promulgated in the joint statement of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and the CA issued on December 13 last year, the CA would implement a subsidy scheme to be funded by the prospective 5G mobile network operators using the 3.4 – 3.6 GHz band. Details of the subsidy scheme are given in the information memorandum for auction of radio spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band for the provision of public mobile services. According to the scheme, SMATV systems covered by existing SMATV licences on or before March 28, 2018, are eligible for receiving the subsidy. Owners of each eligible SMATV system may apply for a subsidy of $20,000 to subsidise the upgrade of the SMATV system concerned.

     OFCA will send out application forms to owners of eligible SMATV systems by post before December 11. Such information can also be downloaded from OFCA’s website (www.ofca.gov.hk/en/industry_focus/broadcasting/television_broadcasting/satellite_tv/index.html) or be obtained by calling 8102 4387. Applications should be submitted to OFCA by post from now to November 26, 2020. Late applications will not be accepted.      read more

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (November 27) welcomed the announcement by the Ministry of Education of the detailed arrangements of the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions (Admission Scheme) for 2020. The number of Mainland higher education institutions participating in the Admission Scheme will increase to 122 (listed in the Annex), coming from 21 provinces/municipalities and one autonomous region of the Mainland. They will accept applications from candidates sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination in 2020.
 
     “There will continue to be enhancements to the Admission Scheme in 2020. Compared with 2019, an additional 11 institutions offering various programmes will be participating in the scheme, namely Beijing Sport University, Beijing Film Academy, Tiangong University, Tianjin Foreign Studies University, Civil Aviation University of China, University of Science and Technology of China, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and Xi’an Polytechnic University. The EDB will continue discussion with the Mainland with a view to recruiting more renowned Mainland institutions to participate in the scheme and providing students with multiple study pathways and opportunities to connect with the country’s development. The Admission Scheme will admit Hong Kong students based on their results in the HKDSE Examination and exempt them from taking the Joint Entrance Examination for Mainland Institutions, hence relieving their pressure,” a spokesperson for the EDB said.
 
     “As in previous years, there is the School Principal Nomination Scheme under the Admission Scheme and each secondary school can nominate up to eight students. The minimum entrance requirement adopted by the participating Mainland institutions remains unchanged, that is, attainment in the HKDSE Examination of a total score of 10 or above in the four core subjects (i.e. Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies), and among which none of them is below 2.”
 
     The enrolment process of the Admission Scheme in 2020 will follow the practice of previous years, which consists of both online application and subsequent on-site confirmation of application. According to the admission procedure, students can apply online from March 1 to 20, 2020, and perform on-site confirmation as well as make payment of the enrolment fee from March 10 to 28 (except Sundays and public holidays) at the China Education Exchange (HK) Centre. Mainland institutions participating in the Admission Scheme may thereafter arrange interviews based on the application information submitted by candidates. Institutions will announce admission results in late July 2020 and arrange for supplementary enrolment according to the enrolment situation.
 
     Details of the Admission Scheme are available at the EDB’s website (edb.gov.hk/admissionscheme20).
 
     In addition, the EDB, the China Education Exchange (HK) Centre and Hok Yau Club have jointly compiled the Handbook on the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions, which provides comprehensive information on the Admission Scheme and further studies in the Mainland, including information on all participating institutions and the programmes offered, strategy on programme choices and sharing by graduates of Mainland universities. The handbook will be distributed to all Secondary Six students in Hong Kong via their respective secondary schools in due course. It will also be available for download from the above website of the EDB.
 
     Eligible Hong Kong students enrolled in undergraduate programmes of designated Mainland institutions can apply for means-tested subsidy or non-means-tested subsidy under the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme. Application details for the 2020/21 academic year will be announced in mid-2020. read more

     Hong Kong residents intending to travel abroad during Christmas and New Year holidays are reminded to apply early for travel documents.      An Immigration Department (ImmD) spokesperson said al… read more