The Social Welfare Department (SWD) stated today (December 20) that it noted the further arrests made by the Police recently against fraud cases involving Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA).

     The SWD revealed in March this year that some applicants had submitted false medical certificates for their TAVA applications. Upon making immediate referrals to the Police and conducting a joint investigation, a total of 275 persons were arrested last month. The SWD had earlier referred another batch of suspected cases to the Police. After a thorough investigation, the Police have further arrested 39 persons suspected of obtaining TAVA payments with false information. The SWD will continue to fully assist the Police investigation to combat relevant crimes.

     The SWD verifies every TAVA application in a stringent manner, and has enhanced random checks of medical certificates submitted by applicants. If false medical information, fraudulence or other criminal elements are suspected, the SWD will refer the case to the Police for investigation and recover the overpaid assistance payments from the relevant applicants.

     The TAVA Scheme provides financial assistance to road traffic accident victims or the surviving dependents of deceased traffic accident victims. An applicant must meet the relevant conditions in order to be eligible for an assistance payment, including: (1) the accident must have been reported to the Police and determined by the Police as a road traffic accident; and (2) the victim is injured or killed in the accident. In case of injury, the injured victim must be certified by a registered doctor that such injury requires hospitalisation of no less than three days or is issued with proof of sick leave for no less than three days.

     It is a criminal offence to provide false information to obtain TAVA payments. Offenders may be prosecuted under the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a maximum of 14 years.

     The Government announced today (December 20) the appointment of three new members and the reappointment of four incumbent members to the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2025.
 
     The three new members are Mr Lau Min, Mr Dannuel Leung Po-chung and Dr Woo Chi-wood. Mr Lau is the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Direction Association for the Handicapped. Mr Leung is a certified public accountant and a member of the Guardianship Board. Dr Woo is the Chief Executive Officer of the Fu Hong Society.
 
     The four reappointed incumbent members are Mr Raymond Lai Kwan-ho, Ms Lee Po-chun, Ms Perina Li Siu-fan and Ms Yang Elizabeth Ling.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, welcomed the appointments. He said, "The RAC has been playing an important role in advising the Government on the development of Hong Kong's rehabilitation services. As set out in 'The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address', the number of representatives of persons with disabilities and their carers in the new term of the RAC in 2025 will be increased to 11 to better gauge their needs. I look forward to members' valuable advice on rehabilitation services, with a view to strengthening support for persons with disabilities and building a caring and inclusive community."
 
     In addition, Mr Sun thanked the outgoing members, Mr Edwin Lam Man-wing, Ms Jennifer Liu Wai-fun and Dr William Lo Tak-lam, for their valuable contributions to the RAC during their tenure.
 
     The RAC was set up in 1977 as the principal advisory body of the Government on matters pertaining to the well-being of persons with disabilities as well as the development and implementation of rehabilitation policies and services. The RAC also assists the Government in promoting and monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong.
 
     The membership list of the RAC from January 1, 2025, is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Mr Fung Pak-yan
 
Vice-chairman
—————-
Dr Kevin Lau Kin-wah
 
Non-official Members
———————–
Mr Arthur Cheung Man-to
Mr Thomas Chu Sai-ming
Miss Jody Kwok Fu-yung
Mr Raymond Lai Kwan-ho
Dr Freddy Lam Man-hin
Mr Lam Yiu-kwok
Mr Lau Min
Ms Lee Po-chun
Mr Dannuel Leung Po-chung
Ms Leung Tsui-han
Ms Reginia Leung Wun-kam
Ms Perina Li Siu-fan
Dr Lui Wai-cheung
Professor Ming Wai-kit
Mr Alvin Miu
Ms Ada Ng Ka-lai
Mr So Wing-tung
Mr Eddie Suen Kwok-tung
Mr Sze Yan-kit
Ms Mandy Tang Hoi-man
Professor Frances Wong Kam-yuet
Dr Ryan Wong Man-yeung
Mr Wong Yu-tung
Dr Woo Chi-wood
Ms Julia Yan Yuming
Ms Yang Elizabeth Ling
Mr Nelson Yip Siu-hong
Mr Emil Yu Chen-on

     To encourage recycling and upcycling of yard waste in the community, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 20) called on members of the public and commercial and industrial (C&I) organisations to recycle their natural Christmas trees waste (NCTs) intended for disposal under the 2024-25 NCTs Recycling Programme. The NCTs collected will be processed at Y·PARK and turned into different recycled products, such as mulch and sawdust for planting and gardening, etc. The Programme arrangements are as follows:

Collection period: January 3 to 7, 2025 (five days)
Collection points: The following Central Collection Point and District Collection Points
 

Note: If members of the public and C&I organisations have to recycle NCTs before January 3 or during January 8 to 20, 2025, please deliver them to Y·PARK during its operating hours (9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays).

     An EPD spokesman said that the Programme is limited to the recycling of NCTs, and all lighting, plastic stands, decorations and tape on the NCTs should be removed before delivery to facilitate the subsequent recycling processes. Artificial Christmas trees and other festival decorations can be kept for reuse to help reduce waste and conserve resources, while small potted plants such as poinsettias can be replanted.

     An e-certificate will be issued to the participants who deliver NCTs to the CCP or the Recycling Stations for recycling. Participants will also receive a gift upon delivery of NCTs to the Recycling Stations while stocks last. For details of the NCTs Recycling Programme, please visit the Hong Kong Waste Reduction website at www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/article/2024-25-natural-christmas-trees-recycling-programme.

     The EPD also welcomes other organisations and associations to provide recycling services for NCTs to help the public and C&I organisations to participate and enhance waste reduction efforts for all.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Winter Solstice is a major occasion when every household gathers to celebrate and share delicious food. Different clusters of the Hospital Authority (HA) have arranged festive delicacies for patients, allowing both medical staff and patients to reunite.
           
     The staff of Catering Services at Caritas Medical Centre handmade about 800 Vegetable and Meat Dumplings with Hot Broth as a gesture of care for hospitalised patients who can consume them. The plump dumplings, served with steaming hot chicken soup, add warmth to the cold Winter Solstice.
 
     Additionally, Kowloon Hospital has prepared a special dish – Bean Curd Rolls – for inpatients. For patients with special chewing and swallowing needs, they can enjoy Sweet Steamed Tofu Custard with Red Bean Paste, adding a sense of sweetness to their winter.
 
     After the Winter Solstice, daylight hours will gradually increase, which ancient peoples viewed as the rise of positive energy. The HA wishes all patients a happy Winter Solstice and good health.

        

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (December 20) led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation to attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Macao's Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Mr Lee congratulated Mr Sam Hou-fai on assuming office as the sixth-term Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the inauguration of the sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
      
     "As the country's special administrative regions, both Hong Kong and Macao enjoy the advantages of 'one country, two systems'. The two places share a strong bond with frequent exchanges and years of seamless co-operation in such areas as economy, cross-border infrastructure, tourism, and culture, laying a solid foundation. Hong Kong will continue to work with Macao to achieve complementarity, jointly contributing to and promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and striving to build a world-class bay area," Mr Lee said.
      
     "I wish Mr Sam and the sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region to lead Macao to scale new heights of development. I will work with Mr Sam to further enhance exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao, leveraging the cities' strengths to serve the country's needs, demonstrating the vitality and superiority of 'one country, two systems', and making new and greater contributions to building a great country and moving towards national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation."