Tag Archives: China

     The Department of Health (DH) today (December 19) again urged members of the public to heighten their vigilance against respiratory tract infection in winter. With the weather becoming cool, an increased activity in some respiratory pathogens is expected. The Government’s free COVID-19 vaccination programme currently provides ample time slots to cater to scheduling requirements. Members of the public, especially high-risk groups, should receive vaccination in a timely manner for enhanced personal protection.

     The Government has started to provide XBB mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Those with higher risks, i.e. adult residents of residential care homes and the elderly aged 65 or above, can make a booking at this stage through the Government online booking system at booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp. If necessary, eligible persons can seek assistance for making online bookings from post offices (except mobile post offices). Venues providing XBB mRNA vaccines include 14 private clinics, 10 designated general outpatient clinics under the Hospital Authority (HA), 15 designated specialist outpatient clinics under the HA and clinics under the DH. Please visit the website of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/xbb_venues_dec2023_eng.pdf) for details of the venues.

     Since the rollout of the administration of XBB mRNA vaccines on December 14, as at yesterday (December 18), a total of 8 316 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered. Among them, 5 649 doses were XBB mRNA vaccine.

     There are still ample time slots of free vaccination at private clinic COVID-19 vaccination stations available for booking, with less than 10 per cent capacity being used up in the coming two weeks. Eligible individuals with higher risks can make an appointment at these vaccination stations to receive XBB mRNA vaccine. For available booking time slots of various vaccination outlets, please visit booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/centre/index.html.

     The DH strongly urged members of the public that high-risk groups should receive a COVID-19 booster and seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) as soon as possible. Regardless of the number of COVID-19 vaccines doses received previously, they should receive a booster dose to be given at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later). For convenience sake, the COVID-19 vaccine can be co-administered with SIV. Details of receiving both COVID-19 vaccination and SIV are available online (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106096.html).

     â€‹â€‹For the latest information, please visit the CHP’s COVID-19 & Flu Express and influenza page. As for vaccination, the public may visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website and Vaccination Schemes page. read more

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters in various districts today (December 19) for people in need of the service. The temporary shelters will remain open when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.

     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.

     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department’s hotline 2572 8427 for more information.

     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:
——————–
 
Central and Western:

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
——————
 
Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories:
—————-
 
Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall  
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung

North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung:
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long read more

     The Education Bureau and the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) held the Opening Ceremony for the Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign today (December 19) to start off a series of activities bringing together people from all walks of life for the promotion of biliteracy and trilingualism in various fields in the coming five months.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; and the Chairman of SCOLAR, Dr Anissa Chan, officiated at the event. To echo the theme of “biliteracy and trilingualism”, the three of them delivered speeches in Cantonese, Putonghua and English respectively.

     Mr Chan said in his video speech that biliteracy and trilingualism signifies the unique advantages of the language environment in Hong Kong. Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. Having direct access to the huge Mainland market and strong international connection at the same time, Hong Kong serves as a bridge between the Mainland and the rest of the world. He also pointed out that an effective biliteracy and trilingual environment is the key to the East-meets-West culture in Hong Kong, with around 600 000 people from different countries or regions, races and cultures residing in Hong Kong.

     He looked forward to the concerted effort to be made by the Special Administrative Region Government and all sectors in the community to strengthen the promotion of biliteracy and trilingualism in various fields amid the context of globalisation. This will consolidate and enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong in the international arena and enable Hong Kong to become a more caring and inclusive multicultural community.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Choi said that the Government strives to attract talent and funds from all over the world to Hong Kong for further study, employment and investment through multiple talent admission schemes to drive Hong Kong’s development growth. As a city where international talent gathers, not only does the biliterate and trilingual community help enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economy, but it also promotes integration and multiculturalism.

     She also said that it is an education goal to cultivate students’ biliteracy and trilingual abilities, and the EDB provides a series of resources, support measures and training for schools and teachers. She mentioned that SCOLAR organises and supports activities for the promotion of biliteracy and trilingualism with various stakeholders. She appealed to all sectors for their joint promotion of the Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign to develop Hong Kong’s linguistic capital and demonstrate Hong Kong’s status and appeal as a multicultural international metropolis.

     At the opening ceremony, Dr Chan introduced the work of SCOLAR and the Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign. In addition to the One-minute Video Production Competition, which enables students to explore the importance of biliteracy and trilingualism in their daily lives, SCOLAR also invited community partners to organise a series of activities for people from all walks of life. The programme parade of the Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign also sets out the upcoming activities to be launched by SCOLAR in 2024.

     The opening ceremony that was held at the Lecture Theatre of the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre was rich in content. In addition to showcasing the newly filmed promotional video on biliteracy and trilingualism, the event also features representatives from the Hong Kong Hotels Association, the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, the Hong Kong Association of Registered Tour Co-ordinators and the MTR Corporation. They together shared the importance of biliteracy and trilingualism in different trades.

     In addition, several ambassadors of the Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign, including Minnie Soo who won a bronze medal for Hong Kong in the Women’s Table Tennis Team competition at the last Olympic Games; Vice-principal of Law Ting Pong Secondary School Dr Rizwan Ullah; and Christine Cappio, a French who published Chinese books. They participated in the chit-chat session and exchanged their experiences in learning and using biliteracy and trilingualism. Around 400 other guests from academia, business sector and community groups attended the opening ceremony.

     The EDB will continue to work closely with SCOLAR to create and cultivate an environment conducive to language learning with an aim to enhance the Chinese and English proficiency of the public. For more information, please visit the SCOALR webpage (scolarhk.edb.hkedcity.net/en/home).

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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 China CITIC Bank International Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, 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 login screen 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. read more

     The Development Bureau today (December 19) announced that three more Land Sharing Pilot Scheme (LSPS) applications have obtained in-principle endorsements for the commencement of detailed design and technical assessments in the next stage.
      
     Having considered the advice of the LSPS Panel of Advisors (Panel), which comprises members of various sectors, the Steering Committee on Land and Housing Supply chaired by the Financial Secretary has, under the delegated authority from the Chief Executive-in-Council, given in-principle endorsements to three projects.
      
     The three applications concern sites in Tai Po and Kwai Tsing Districts, and propose to provide a total of about 8 100 housing units, including about 6 100 public housing units, as summarised below. Details of their proposed development parameters and progress have been uploaded to the LSPS webpage: www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/land_sharing_pilot_scheme/land_sharing_pilot_scheme_applications/application_received/index.html
​ 

• Application No. LSPS/001 – Made by Kam Luk Investment Company Limited (parent company: Nan Fung Development Limited), the application concerns a site at Lo Fai Road and Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, seeking to rezone the current “Green Belt” zone and “Road” area into residential uses with supporting facilities. Of the additional domestic gross floor area (GFA) of about 77 000 square metres generated under the proposed scheme, 70 per cent (about 54 000 sq m) will be set aside for public housing/Starter Homes (SH) development, whereas the remaining 30 per cent (about 23 000 sq m) will be set aside for private housing development. It is anticipated that the domestic GFA of about 54 000 sq m to be set aside for public housing/SH development, together with that of about 11 000 sq m proposed to be generated through inclusion of more government land, will provide about 1 200 public housing/SH units; whereas that set aside for private housing development will provide about 500 private housing units. The Panel supported the proposed scheme, and considered that the proposed housing development has taken due consideration of the surrounding built and natural environment.

 

• Application No. LSPS/004 – Jointly made by Asia Light Development Limited, Clover Success Limited and Gettenwood Company Limited (parent company: Wheelock Properties Limited), the application concerns a site at Tin Wo Road and south of She Shan Road, Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, seeking to rezone the current “Agriculture” zone into residential uses with supporting facilities. Of the additional domestic GFA of about 206 000 sq m generated under the proposed scheme, 70 per cent (about 144 000 sq m) will be set aside for public housing/SH development, whereas the remaining 30 per cent (about 62 000 sq m) will be set aside for private housing development. It is anticipated that the domestic GFA of about 144 000 sq m to be set aside for public housing/SH development, together with that of about 79 000 sq m proposed to be generated through inclusion of more government land and the Government’s land resumption, will provide about 4 100 public housing/SH units; whereas that set aside for private housing development will provide about 1 200 private housing units. The Panel supported the proposed scheme, and considered that, based on the existing ownership pattern of the land, the scheme had optimised the development potential of the land with more emphasis on the production of public housing. The Government might also benefit from, through synergy with the adjacent LSPS proposal which in-principle endorsement had already been obtained earlier, a more holistic planning and cost effective provision of infrastructures and government institution or community facilities. 

 

• Application No. LSPS/006 – Made by Gainful Sky Hong Kong Limited (parent company: Southeast Asia Properties and Finance Limited), the application concerns a site at Lei Muk Road, Kwai Chung, seeking to rezone the current “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Buildings with Historical and Architectural Interests Preserved for Social Welfare Facility Use” and “Open Space” into residential uses with supporting facilities. Of the additional domestic GFA of about 50 000 sq m generated under the proposed scheme, 70 per cent (about 35 000 sq m) will be set aside for public housing/SH development, whereas the remaining 30 per cent (about 15 000 sq m) will be set aside for private housing development. It is anticipated that the domestic GFA of about 35 000 sq m to be set aside for public housing/SH development, together with that of about 11 000 sq m proposed to be generated through inclusion of more government land, will provide about 800 public housing/SH units; whereas that set aside for private housing development will provide about 300 private housing units. The existing Grade 2 historic buildings outside the public housing portion are also proposed for adaptive reuse of residential care homes for the elderly for serving the community. The Panel supported the scheme as it could optimise existing land use for increasing the housing supply in urban areas. 

     With preliminary studies conducted, no insurmountable technical problems have been identified in the three applications at this stage. The infrastructures proposed are considered proportionate to the scale of the housing developments. Also, the government land proposed to be included is considered appropriate and would provide more public housing units and help rationalise the layouts of the developments, enhancing land use efficiency.
      
     Having obtained the in-principle endorsement, the applicants will conduct more detailed technical assessments in order to finalise the development parameters, and to ascertain that the proposed developments would not entail any unacceptable impacts in terms of traffic, environment and infrastructure, etc. These are to facilitate the subsequent statutory and administrative procedures, such as those for town planning, road gazettal and lease modification, scheduled for 2024 at the earliest, prior to the commencement of works.
      
     A spokesperson of the Development Bureau said that the LSPS aims to unlock the development potential of private land in areas not covered by the Government’s planning studies or conservation areas, and serves to complement government-led land supply initiatives. Under the LSPS, the additional domestic GFA of a site generated by infrastructural enhancement will be allocated to public and private housing on a 70:30 ratio. As with other lease modifications, applicants will be charged with a full land premium.  
      
     The LSPS was launched in May 2020 with the application period until May 5, 2024. To date, six applications (including the three mentioned in this press release) have been received and obtained in-principle endorsements. read more