The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (March 20) that in the First School Allocation Exercise (SAE) 2024, two vacant school premises in Sha Tin District are open for application by eligible school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) in Hong Kong for reprovisioning existing aided or Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) primary schools, with a view to improving the learning and teaching environment. The application deadline is 5pm on May 22.
      
     The two vacant school premises are the former Hong Kong and Kowloon Chiu Chow Public Association Ma Chung Sum Secondary School at Pok Hong Estate and the former Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School at Sun Chui Estate. Details of the premises are set out in the Annex.
      
     An EDB spokesman said, "Infrastructure improvements to existing schools built to previous planning standards and designs may be infeasible due to the lack of space or other physical constraints. Existing aided or DSS primary schools in need of infrastructure upgrade may apply for the vacant school premises mentioned above for reprovisioning, regardless of districts. Nevertheless, priority will be accorded to applicant schools from Sha Tin District if their overall performance is comparable to that of applicant schools from other districts."
      
     "In light of the continuous decline in school-age population, the EDB, when planning for the supply of school places, will adjust the number of schools in a gradual and orderly manner with an aim of 'soft landing' to ensure education quality and optimal use of public resources. As such, this SAE is only open to applications for school reprovisioning," the spokesman continued.
      
     The SAE is conducted on a competitive basis among SSBs. The School Allocation Committee, which comprises official and non-official members, will assess the applications and make recommendations on allocation of school premises. The assessment will take into consideration factors including the school plan submitted by the SSB, the operation track record of the SSB and the school proposed to be reprovisioned, the demand and supply situation of school places in the district in which the school falls within and the physical condition of the school's existing premises, with quality of education as the prime consideration. In general, applications from schools with a site area smaller than 3 000 square metres and premises older than 30 years, which have not benefited or have only marginally benefited from the School Improvement Programme, will be given priority consideration if their overall performance is comparable to that of other applicants.
      
     In line with the established arrangement for reprovisioning, the successful SSB must, upon the school's moving to the new premises, return its existing school premises to the Government. If the school premises are located on a private lot under the ownership of the SSB, the school or a third party related to the SSB/school, the land owner must surrender the site concerned together with the existing school premises to the Government upon the school's moving to the new premises. The EDB will not hand over the new premises to the SSB until the SSB or the land owner activates the aforesaid procedures.
      
     Details of the First SAE 2024 and the application form are available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/sch-premises-info/allocation-of-sch/index.html).

     The Government today (March 20) announced the appointments of three new members to the Steering Committee on Construction Innovation and Technology Fund for a term from April 1, 2024, to September 6, 2026.
 
     The new members are Mr Anthony Chan Yin-chung, and two members recruited under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth, Mr Sam Lin Ching-sum and Ms Rainie Pan Hailin.
 
     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, "The Government has injected a total of $2.2 billion to the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) to subsidise and drive a wider adoption of innovative technologies in the industry, including small and medium enterprises, through the CITF. The Steering Committee has made valuable recommendations on the operation of the CITF and launched various enhancement measures in partnership with the Construction Industry Council. We welcome the three new members and look forward to working closely with them to continue to drive the industry towards innovation through the CITF."
 
     The Government set up the CITF in 2018 to boost the capacities of enterprises and practitioners in the construction industry to adopt new technology, and to support the industry in technology application. Commissioned by the Government, the Construction Industry Council is responsible for the management and administration work of the CITF. As at February 2024, the CITF has approved over 3 700 applications, offering funding grants of more than $1.15 billion. The Steering Committee, comprising members of various professions in the industry, advises the Government on the implementation of the CITF.
 
     The membership of the Steering Committee with effect from April 1, 2024, is as follows:
 
Chairperson
——————
Permanent Secretary for Development (Works)
 
Members
——————
Mr Antonio Chan Chi-ming
Mr Anthony Chan Yin-chung*
Mr Cheung Man-tim
Mr Kenneth Cheung Tat-fai
Ms Rachel Chow Ka-wing
Mr Alex Kwan King-fai
Mr Kwok Yim
Dr Barry Lee Chi-hong
Professor Christopher Leung Kin-ying
Mr Sam Lin Ching-sum*
Ms Rainie Pan Hailin*
Mr Edwin Tong Ka-hung
Mr Gilman Wan Tsz-kin
Mr Billy Wong Kin-yee
Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council
Director of Buildings
Deputy Director of Housing (Development and Construction)
 
Secretary
——————
Principal Assistant Secretary (Works) 1, Development Bureau
 
* New members

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (March 20). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.

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

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) announced today (March 20) that the Sale of Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) Flats 2023 (GSH 2023) will open for applications from eligible Green Form (GF) applicants for three weeks, starting from 8am on March 28 until 7pm on April 17.
 
     "Eligible GF applicants may submit online application or paper application either in person or by post. The application fee is $270. Valid Green Form applicants of Sale of Home Ownership Scheme Flats 2023 (HOS 2023) who have given consent to carry over their applications to GSH 2023 do not need to submit applications nor pay the application fee for GSH 2023 again. Balloting for GSH 2023 is expected to be held in the second quarter this year and flat selection is expected to start from the third/fourth quarter of the year," a spokesman for the HA said.
 
Flats for Sale

     The following categories of flats will be put up for sale under GSH 2023:

(1) New GSH Flats

     A total of 2 359 new GSH flats from Lai Yuet Court in Cheung Sha Wan with saleable areas of about 26 square metres to about 60 square metres (about 280 square feet to about 646 square feet). There will be no Type A flats of smaller size in Lai Yuet Court but 77 Type E flats of larger size with a saleable area of about 60 square metres (about 646 square feet) will be provided; 

(2) Resale of unsold or rescinded GSH Flats

    Around 200 unsold or rescinded GSH flats from Kai Chuen Court (in Diamond Hill) sold under GSH 2020/21; Ko Wang Court (in Yau Tong) and Kam Pak Court (in Ma On Shan) sold under GSH 2022, and any additional rescinded flats from these three GSH developments as identified up to about two months before commencement of flat selection; and

(3) Recovered Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) Flats

     A new batch of recovered TPS flats. The final number and detailed flat list is to be drawn up around three months before commencement of flat selection. 
 
Eligibility
 
     Eligible Green Formers, including current TPS tenants, may apply under this sale exercise. Applicants should not have owned domestic properties in Hong Kong during the period from 24 months preceding the closing date for submitting the application up to the time of purchase. Moreover, applicants are reminded that Subsidised Sale Flats (SSFs) shall be occupied by the owner and all members of the family named in the Application Form for the purchase of the flat.
 
Prices
 
     Under the prevailing pricing mechanism, GSH flats will be sold at a discount of 10 per cent more than that of the preceding HOS sale exercise. Since the discount rate for HOS 2023 was set at 38 per cent, the discount rate for all GSH flats offered under this sale exercise will be set at a 48 per cent discount from the assessed market values. The selling prices of flats in Lai Yuet Court range from about $1,540,000 to about $4,610,000. The selling prices of unsold and rescinded flats range from about $870,000 to about $3,390,000 (as at February 29, 2024). The final price range will depend on the resale flats that will be put up for sale under this sale exercise.
 
     The existing pricing mechanism for sale of TPS flats to sitting tenants (Adjusted Replacement Cost approach) will be adopted for sale of recovered TPS flats to Green Form applicants. As at February 2024, the list prices of the unsold TPS flats in the 39 TPS estates range from about $140,000 to $1,280,000 and the discounts range from 79 per cent to 85 per cent of assessed market values. The final price range will depend on the recovered TPS flats that will be put up for sale under this sale exercise. 
 
Mortgage arrangements
 
     The HA Subsidised Housing Committee earlier endorsed the relaxation of mortgage arrangements for SSFs. For SSFs sold on the primary market, the maximum mortgage default guarantee period will be extended from 25 years to 30 years for TPS flats; and the maximum mortgage repayment period from 25 years to 30 years for new HOS/GSH projects and TPS flats.  The relaxation will be applicable to all flats put up for sale under GSH 2023.
 
Application Arrangements
 
     Starting from tomorrow (March 21), application forms, application guides, sales booklets/sales leaflets for GSH flats and recovered TPS flats will be available on the HA/Housing Department's designated website for GSH 2023 (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/gsh/2023), while printed copies can be obtained during opening hours from the office of the HA's GSH Sales Unit in Kwun Tong (GSH Sales Office), the HA Customer Service Centre in Lok Fu, estate offices and District Tenancy Management Offices of the HA, rental estate offices of the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department. Members of the public are reminded to check the opening hours before visiting.

     Doll houses of typical flats and project model of Lai Yuet Court, virtual videos and virtual reality tour of the interior of samples of GSH flats, virtual reality tour and photos of the interior of samples of recovered TPS flats, exhibition panels and other information on GSH developments and TPS estates will be available for public viewing at the GSH Sales Office and on the designated website for GSH 2023 starting from March 21 until the end of the application period.

     "Members of the public are encouraged to browse the designated website for GSH 2023, and are reminded to read carefully the application guides before submission of applications. They may call the 24-hour HA Sales Hotline at 2712 8000 on matters concerning applications for GSH 2023," the spokesman said.

      

     A sick 71-year-old male remand person in custody at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre died in a public hospital yesterday (March 19).

     The remand person in custody suffered from hypertension, heart disease and other chronic diseases. He required continuous medical care and follow-up treatment at the institution hospital. On March 17, he was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 9.05pm yesterday.

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

     The person in custody was remanded for the offence of arson in February 2023.