The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (January 26) the extension of the effective period of the relaxation of waiver application requirement for existing industrial buildings (IBs) to January 31, 2025.

     With a view to revitalising and optimising the use of existing IBs, on February 1, 2019, the DEVB relaxed the waiver application requirement for an initial period of five years, to permit the following five specific non-industrial uses to operate in individual units of existing IBs without the need for the owner to make a temporary waiver application to the Lands Department (LandsD) and pay any fee, provided that such uses are permitted under the land use zoning of the sites concerned on the relevant Outline Zoning Plans as "Column 1" (i.e. always permitted) uses: 

– Art Studio; 
– Office (Audio-visual Recording Studio); 
– Office (Design and Media Production); 
– Office (used by "specified creative industries" only (i.e. design and media production firms, printing and publishing industries, film companies, and film-related trade organisations)); and 
– Research, Design and Development Centre.
     
     â€‹With public safety as a prime concern, the permitted uses above are covered on the premise that they do not involve uses/activities that attract visiting members of the general public by providing direct services or goods, such as conducting hobby classes, exhibitions and sales activities, or providing rehearsal facilities for any party other than the operator, owner and tenant(s) of the premises.

     A spokesperson for the DEVB said, "The waiver relaxation arrangement facilitates the provision of needed floor space within existing IBs in a pragmatic manner to meet persistent demand from various industries without compromising public safety, and the market feedback has been generally positive."  

     The extension of the effective period to January 31, 2025, will continue to enable many existing IB units (especially those under multiple ownership hence not ready for redevelopment or wholesale conversion in the near future) to be used for both industrial and certain non-industrial uses in a controlled and pragmatic manner. The Government will review the need for further extension in due course.

     The terms and conditions of the relaxation of waiver application for existing IBs will remain unchanged. For details about the arrangement, please visit the DEVB website (www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/index.html) or the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/reIntBuild/index.htm). For enquiries about the application to individual IBs, please contact relevant District Lands Offices of the LandsD.

     The Lands Department (LandsD) today (January 26) announced the proposal for resumption of land for developments at San Hing Road and Hong Po Road in Tuen Mun under the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124).  
      
     The proposal involves the resumption of 316 private lots with an area of about 169 000 square metres. Details were published in the notice gazetted today. The notice is affixed in a conspicuous place on or near the land proposed to be resumed. A copy of the notice and resumption plan are also available on LandsD's website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/gov-notices/acq.html). Members of the public may also inspect the above-mentioned documents at the following government offices during office hours:
 

• Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, G/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong;
• Tuen Mun Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, 2/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories; and
• District Lands Office, Tuen Mun, 6/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories.

     The owner, occupier of the land or any person having any right in relation to the land to be resumed, who wishes to object to the proposed resumption, is required to submit a written objection to the Director of Lands. The written objection must sufficiently identify the aforementioned identity of the objector and describe how the objector will be affected by the proposal. Objectors are requested to provide contact details and deliver written objections to the Director of Lands on or before March 26 via one of the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the District Lands Office, Tuen Mun, 6/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories;
• By fax to 2459 0795; or
• By email to gendlotm@landsd.gov.hk.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, met with a delegation led by the Secretary of the Party Committee of Huaqiao University, Professor Xu Xipeng, at the Central Government Offices this morning (January 26) to exchange views on strengthening the publicising of information related to civil service recruitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to Hong Kong students studying at the university.
 
     Mrs Yeung said that as more and more Hong Kong students opt for the Mainland to further their studies, government departments have stepped up their publicity and recruitment drives on the Mainland targeting Hong Kong students, and have organised recruitment talks to introduce the work of different grades in the HKSAR Government.
 
     At the meeting, the Director of General Grades of the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), Mr Hermes Chan, introduced the CSB's General Grades Office Recruitment Centre which commenced operation in October last year, and gave an account of the progress on the year-round recruitment for three grades – Clerical Officer, Clerical Assistant and Personal Secretary.
 
     Mrs Yeung visited a number of universities on the Mainland last September, including the Xiamen campus of Huaqiao University. She met and exchanged views with university staff and organised recruitment talks for Hong Kong students to brief them on the different job opportunities provided by the HKSAR Government to young people.

    

     Mobile Libraries 4, 7 and 8 will suspend services during designated periods in February and March for routine maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 26).

     Mobile Library 8 will suspend services from February 3 to 9. The affected service points are Laguna City in Lam Tin, On Tai Estate on Anderson Road, Tai Hang Tung Estate on Tai Hang Tung Road, Laguna Verde in Hung Hom and Choi Fook Estate in Kowloon Bay. For enquiries about Mobile Library 8 services, please call 2926 3055.

     Mobile Library 7 will suspend services from February 16 to 22. The affected service points are Hoi Fu Court in Mong Kok West, Sceneway Garden in Lam Tin, Chuk Yuen (South) Estate and Fung Tak Estate in Wong Tai Sin and Kai Yip Estate in Kowloon Bay. For enquiries about Mobile Library 7 services, please call 2926 3056.

     Mobile Library 4 will suspend services from February 19 to March 2. The affected service points are Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung, Discovery Bay, Pui O, Shui Hau and Tong Fuk. For enquiries about Mobile Library 4 services, please call 2984 9417.

     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website and a social media page, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or social media page concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.