Police today (May 13) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

     Ho Hiu-pang, aged 28, went missing after he left his residence in Wang Tau Hom Estate yesterday (May 12) morning. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 70 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round-shaped face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue short-sleeved T-shirt, dark green trousers, white sports shoes and carrying a black rucksack.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.    

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (May 13) that the red flag at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted earlier due to big waves.

     The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) conducted the second phase of a trial flight inspection by small unmanned aircraft (SUA) on May 9, 10 and 13. 

     According to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), regular flight inspections on ground navigational aids, such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS), are mandatory to ensure related operations are in compliance with ICAO requirements. The flight inspections for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) have been conducted with results certified by the internationally recognised flight inspection aircraft and professional crew from the Flight Inspection Center (FIC) of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). To enhance efficiency in flight inspections, the first phase of trial flight inspection by SUA, spearheaded by the CAD, was conducted successfully last August to testify to the feasibility of using SUA to carry out part of the flight inspection on the ILS and Airfield Ground Lighting at HKIA. 

     Upon the successful completion of the first phase of the trial, the CAD conducted the second phase of the trial over the past few days. In addition to conducting more flight inspections by SUA on the ILS of the northern runway at HKIA, part of the flight inspection was also conducted by SUA on the Doppler Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Range and Distance Measuring Equipment (DVOR/DME) located on Tung Lung Island. This equipment provides bearing and distance information to assist aircraft in navigating along flight routes. The trial confirmed that carrying out part of the flight inspection by SUA on navigation equipment at remote outstations offers greater flexibility in flight manipulation, more efficiency in deployment and can achieve zero carbon emissions as compared to traditional flight inspection aircraft. Most importantly, the inspection results also align with those obtained from traditional flight inspection aircraft.    

     Drawing on the successful experience of the two trials, the CAD will continue to collaborate with the CAAC FIC and relevant stakeholders to conduct further studies on the utilisation of SUA to carry out part of the flight inspection. The CAD will also monitor closely the development of relevant ICAO standards and guidelines to leverage the benefits of SUA in conducting flight inspections with greater efficiency and flexibility.

    

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on the governance of the Social Workers Registration Board at a media session this afternoon (May 13) after attending a meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services:

Reporter: Secretary, are there any plans to change the composition of the Social Workers Registration Board, by increasing the ratio of appointed members? Also, how would you respond to the Board Chairperson's comments that existing mechanism has been effective enough in handling registration regarding offenders of serious offences?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I pointed out very clearly in the article I published earlier about my serious concerns that the Social Workers Registration Board is deviating from what it should be doing under the law and what it has been doing right now undermines public interest and also the credibility and professionalism of social workers. There is no misunderstanding. I have complete information about what is going on in the Board. Based on my clear understanding and my serious concerns about what is going on there, I have pointed out very clearly that we have to improve the governance of the Board, so that the Board will in future deal with issues concerning registration of social workers as well as disciplinary matters concerning social workers in a manner that is commensurate with the need to ensure that public interest is given priority and also the professionalism and credibility of social workers is being upheld.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 13) that 1 000 regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to Macao (Hong Kong quotas) are now allocated through open application.

     "The 1 000 quotas allocated from July 2021 will expire on June 30, 2024. The 1 000 quotas are reopened for application, half of which are for company applicants and half are for individual applicants. The quotas are valid for no more than three years until June 30, 2027. All eligible parties, including existing quota holders of the batch, may submit applications. Quota holders are expected to be able to travel between Hong Kong and Macao via the HZMB starting from July 1, 2024, at the earliest," a TD spokesman said.

     The eligibility criteria for quota applications remain unchanged. Company quotas are open for companies registered in both Hong Kong and Macao, or companies registered in Hong Kong that are associated with another company registered in Macao, while individual quotas are open to permanent residents of Hong Kong employed with remunerations in Macao or have established a registered company in Macao. Details of the application criteria and licensing requirements are available in the Annex and on the TD's website. Private cars allocated with Hong Kong quotas will be permitted to access the city of Macao multiple times via the HZMB. Quotas will be reallocated upon expiry through open applications such that more could benefit from the scheme. The reallocation exercise will not affect the validity of Hong Kong quotas in other batches.

     Eligible parties may apply for the Hong Kong quotas through the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/regularquotahktomacao) from today until 5.15pm on May 25, 2024.

     To enhance the application process, the TD will simplify some of the application documents for the Hong Kong quotas, which include waivers of documentary proof of the relationship between the applicants and the designated drivers and the taxation proof for applicants of company quotas. For application procedures and details, please visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/licences_and_permits/closed_road_permit_for_cross_boundary_vehicles/rq_hk_private_cars_to_macao_access_city_centre/index.html) or call 2804 2600.