The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (July 17) endorsed the outcome of the 2018 public rental housing (PRH) rent review in accordance with Section 16A of the Housing Ordinance.
 
     The report compiled by the Commissioner for Census and Statistics (C for C&S) for the 2018 PRH rent review shows that the income index of the second period (i.e. 2017) was higher than that of the first period (i.e. 2015) by 11.59 per cent. According to Section 16A(4)(a) of the Housing Ordinance, the HA shall adjust PRH rent by the rate of change of the income index, with the increase capped at 10 per cent.
 
     "In accordance with the findings of the report and provisions in the Housing Ordinance, a PRH rent adjustment of +10 per cent will be effected from September 1, 2018. The amount of increase will be about $188 per month on average, ranging from $34 to $469. PRH tenants will be notified one month in advance of their new rent levels," a spokesman for the HA said.
 
     The Housing Ordinance stipulates the PRH rent adjustment mechanism, which came into effect in 2008. Under this mechanism, PRH rent is reviewed every two years. Section 16A(7)(b) of the Housing Ordinance provides that the C for C&S shall compute the income index for the first and second periods under a rent review. The income index was compiled by comparing the income data of about 24 000 PRH households in each of the periods. The mechanism provides an objective basis for the HA to determine when and to what extent PRH rent should be adjusted, taking into account tenants' affordability. 
 
     The SHC had a detailed discussion on whether a rent waiver should be granted to PRH tenants in 2018-19. After carefully considering all relevant factors, including the increase in tenants' income, protection offered by the rent adjustment mechanism in maintaining tenants' affordability, and other relief measures under the Government's 2018-19 Budget, the SHC considered that there was no practical need for the HA to grant all tenants an across-the-board rent waiver this time. Instead, targeted assistance should be offered to tenants who were in need, such as through improving the HA's Rent Assistance Scheme (RAS).
 
     Under the RAS, depending on the level of their income, eligible applicants will be granted either 25 per cent or 50 per cent rent reduction. As a result of past enhancement measures, the number of RAS beneficiaries increased substantially by 42 per cent in recent years, from about 12 300 in July 2014 to about 17 500 in May 2018.
 
     Currently, after receiving rent assistance for four consecutive years, non-elderly RAS beneficiaries living in newer block types are required to move to cheaper accommodation, if suitable flats are available. To further enhance the RAS, the SHC endorsed the relaxation of relevant requirements from four consecutive years to five consecutive years.
 
      In addition, under the established policy, tenants living in PRH units exceeding the respective highest PRH allocation standards (including elderly households) are not allowed to apply for the RAS. At the meeting, the SHC also endorsed the relaxation of relevant restrictions to allow elderly households who can meet RAS eligibility, and are residing in units exceeding the highest PRH allocation standards but below the standards under the Under-occupation Policy, to apply for rent assistance.
 
      The HA will continue to review the operation of RAS and consider measures to further enhance the scheme as appropriate.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department held the Food Safety Day 2018 today (July 17) to promote the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) system to the trade and the public as an effective way to ensure food safety by integrating food safety control measures into the food production process.
      
     Speaking at the launch ceremony of Food Safety Day 2018 today, the Controller of the CFS, Dr Ho Yuk-yin, said that the theme of Food Safety Day this year is "Adopt Food Safety System – HACCP". The HACCP system, which focuses on active prevention, can benefit both the food trade and consumers. The system can identify, assess and control possible hazards in the food production process, which is conducive to raising food safety standards.
      
     Dr Ho said that applying this internationally recognised system in every step of the food production process could reduce the risk of food-borne diseases and maintain stable food quality, which would help reduce wastage of food and is a cost-effective way to ensure food safety.
      
     He also urged the public to follow the "Five Keys to Food Safety" recommended by the World Health Organization, namely "Choose wisely", "Keep clean", "Separate raw and cooked food", "Cook thoroughly" and "Keep food at safe temperature" so as to prevent food-borne diseases effectively.
      
     To increase the understanding of the principles and operation of the HACCP system among the public and the food trade, the CFS has uploaded information onto its website and compiled relevant food safety guidelines for the trade. Exhibition panels and game booths were also provided at Food Safety Day 2018, and a series of activities including seminars and workshops will be held between July and December to promote the HACCP system and related information such as antimicrobial resistance and the "Five Keys to Food Safety".
 
     In addition, a signing ceremony was held today at which representatives from food trade associations signed up for the Food Safety Charter to pledge their commitment to taking appropriate measures to safeguard food safety.  
　　
     To promote messages on the reduction of salt and sugar in food, the new Instagram page of Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugar Reduction (www.instagram.com/hkassr/) was also formally launched today.
 
     Other guests attending the launch ceremony of Food Safety Day 2018 included the Executive Administrator (Accreditation) of Innovation and Technology Commission, Ms Bella Ho, Food Safety Charter signatories and representatives of the food trade and the Consumer Liaison Group.

          

     A sick 55-year-old male person in custody at Shek Pik Prison died in a public hospital today (July 17).

     On June 27, the person in custody was referred to a public hospital for examination and treatment due to ascites. Since then, he all along received in-patient treatment in the hospital with the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis. In the morning today, his condition suddenly deteriorated and he was certified dead at 12.54pm.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.

     The person in custody was convicted for the offence of robbery in January 2018.

     The public exhibition of the Government Flying Service (GFS)'s Jetstream 41 fixed-wing aircraft on the lawn of Kai Tak Runway Park commenced today (July 17) after its 17-year service. This is the first public exhibition of a retired aircraft from the GFS.
      
     Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that the exhibition has added an attraction to Kai Tak Runway Park while echoing the aviation theme of the park and deepening public understanding of the work of the GFS. He said he hoped that, through the crossover of history and technology in this installation, the public and visitors would recall the brilliant legacy of Kai Tak Airport and that it would also arouse youngsters' interest in joining the aviation sector. Mr Cheung also expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the Energizing Kowloon East Office, the GFS, the Architectural Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, as well as the support from the local communities of Kowloon City and Kwun Tong and other relevant organisations who had helped foster the realisation of the exhibition.
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     Apart from displaying the physical aircraft, the GFS has set up a new website to boost interest in the exhibition and enhance its educational purpose. The public can scan the QR codes on the poles around the aircraft to enter a virtual reality tour of the interior and exterior of the aircraft to understand the various features and their functions.
      
     The Jetstream 41 fixed-wing aircraft served the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the public from February 1999 to March 2016. The aircraft has good flying altitudes and speed control, and excellent capability for prolonged flight. It carried out various types of duties in Hong Kong and outside Hong Kong, including long-range search and rescue, anti-crime patrols and meteorological measurements. Following the earthquake in Sichuan in May 2008, the Jetstream 41 fixed-wing aircraft frequently flew between Hong Kong and Sichuan to support the Super Puma helicopter and its crew in the rescue and relief mission.   

          

     â€‹A send-off ceremony for the 10th Young Astronaut Training Camp was held at the Hong Kong Science Museum today (July 17). Thirty selected local secondary students will set off for Beijing on July 30 on an eight-day astronaut training programme.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, extended his gratitude to the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce for their continued support for the training camp over the past 10 years. He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has spared no effort in promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. He added that the HKSAR Government will inject more resources into secondary and primary schools and strengthen training for teachers to cultivate future scientific research talents. He encouraged the selected candidates to seize the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the country's developments in aerospace, with a view to preparing for their dream of spaceflight.
        
     Recruitment for this year's Young Astronaut Training Camp started in May. After three selection rounds, which included questions on astronomy and space science, a three-day pre-camp trial and an interview, 30 students were chosen out of more than 160 applicants from around 110 local secondary schools.
      
     The training camp will take place from July 30 to August 6. Participants will visit major space and astronomy facilities and attend lectures on space science and technology. They will also participate in astronaut training, including the wearing of spacesuits, a "space kitchen" experience, psychological training and blood redistribution adaptability training. Upon completion of the training they will undergo an examination and be presented with certificates.
 
     Other officiating guests included the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan; the Deputy Director-General Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhang Qiang; the Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Jonathan Choi; the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ricky Tsang; the Vice President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, Mr Kwok Ming-wa; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li.
 
     The training camp is jointly organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in association with the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre. The training camp is arranged by the Hong Kong Space Museum and sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
 
     For details of the training camp, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Space Museum at www.yatc.hk.space.museum or call 2734 2711.