The Transport Department today (June 30) reminded members of the public that the 30th round of computer ballot registration for submitting applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the scheme) will be open from 10am tomorrow (July 1) to 11.59pm on July 4, and the ballot result will be announced on July 5.
 
     Eligible applicants for the scheme can register for computer balloting through the designated website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk). Successful balloting applicants are required to submit applications for the scheme within the designated date and time randomly allocated by the computer system.

     To ensure the sustained development of the Elder Academy Scheme, the 2023 Policy Address proposed a two-phase allocation of $80 million to it, with the aim of giving more elderly citizens the chance to learn new skills, grow and interact with younger students. With the injection of $40 million to the scheme in the current fiscal year, the number of learning places will be increased to 15 000.
 
     News.gov.hk interviewed two elderly participants to learn about their experiences as Elder Academy students and instructors, while a representative of the scheme expounded on its objectives. 
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (June 30) in text and video format.

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 30) will be cancelled.

     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) has partnered with Focus Hong Kong to showcase a selection of Hong Kong films at the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank, London, United Kingdom, June 27 to 30 (London time).

     Addressing the audience before the screening of "In Broad Daylight" on June 28, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, highlighted Hong Kong's vision of developing into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges as underpinned by the National 14th Five-Year Plan. 

     "Hong Kong has one of the largest and most dynamic film and entertainment industries in the world. The creativity exhibited by our directors and artists in exploring diverse themes and presenting impactful stories underscores Hong Kong's open and progressive environment, making it a beacon for creativity and innovation," he said.

     The Focus Hong Kong summer offerings presented four films at the BFI, namely "The Wild, Wild Rose (4K Restored Version)", "In Broad Daylight", "The Sword (2K Restored Version)" and "Winter Chants". An online Q&A session with Director Tsang Tsui-shan of "Winter Chants" will be held after the screening on June 30 (London time). 

          

     The 2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination (GBA Examination) was held today (June 29).

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said, "The GBA Examination held this year is the first examination held after the period of the pilot scheme for Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners to practise in the nine Mainland municipalities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) was extended, and the practice experience threshold for enrolling in the GBA Examination was lowered, in September last year.
 
     "As more Hong Kong legal practitioners pass the GBA Examination and obtain practice qualifications to provide legal services in the nine Mainland municipalities in the GBA, this can help these Hong Kong legal practitioners with dual qualifications to integrate into the national development and utilise their abundant experience in handling cross-jurisdictional legal matters, contributing to the building of a pool of foreign-related legal talent in the GBA for the country."
 
     The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) decided in August 2020 to authorise the State Council to conduct a pilot scheme for eligible Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners to provide legal services in the nine Mainland municipalities in the GBA on certain civil and commercial matters to which Mainland laws apply, after passing the GBA Examination and having obtained the Lawyer's License (GBA). The pilot scheme was for a period of three years, and would have originally expired on October 4 last year. The NPCSC passed a decision in September last year to extend the period of the pilot scheme until October 4, 2026. The General Office of the State Council also published the revised pilot measures in September last year, which lowered the practice experience threshold for Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners to enrol in the GBA Examination from five years to three years.