Annual statistics on ‘Total Income from Farming’, a measure of the performance of the UK agricultural industry.

     The Government announced today (May 6) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Simon Lam Ken-chung and Dr Sigmund Leung Sai-man as members of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) for a term of two years with effect from May 20, 2022.

     "The membership of the EOC represents a balanced mix of expertise and sectors, including women; persons with disabilities; ethnic minorities; members from the employment, social services, legal, accounting, academic and education sectors; and the community at large. Their experience and expertise will be instrumental to the work of the EOC in promoting equal opportunities," said a Government spokesperson.
 
     "We look forward to the continuous concerted efforts of the Chairperson of the EOC and as well as its members in implementing the existing anti-discrimination ordinances and constructing a pluralistic and inclusive society in Hong Kong," the spokesperson added.

     The spokesman for the Immigration Department (ImmD) today (May 3) said that Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre and Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre (the Centres) will implement the following new measures to reduce the risk of infection and spread of a highly contagious variant virus. From May 10, visitors are required to conduct a rapid antigen test by themselves with a negative result on the day of the visit, and declare the test result in a health declaration form upon arrival at the Centres, before being allowed to enter the Centres for visits.

     In accordance with the regulations implemented by the Government, persons entering the Centres are required to wear masks and comply with the epidemic prevention and social distancing measures including using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app, temperature checks and crowd control arrangements.

     The above visit arrangements may be subject to change according to the epidemic developments, and visitors should pay attention to ImmD press releases and the departmental website.

     The 2022 Chief Executive Election will be held on May 8. The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) will set up a main polling station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), Wan Chai, for the Election Committee (EC) members to cast their votes. Taking into account the current epidemic situation, the REO will also set up a Penny's Bay Polling Station (PBPS) at the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility for EC members who are unable to cast their votes at the main polling station on the polling day due to local isolation or quarantine measures.
 
     The REO explained that the arrangements are applicable to EC members who are unable to cast their votes at the main polling station on the polling day due to the following situations (collectively referred to as "affected EC members"):
(a) under isolation in community isolation facilities;
(b) under quarantine in quarantine facilities;
(c) undergoing home quarantine;
(d) inbound travellers undergoing quarantine at designated places (for example, quarantine hotels); and
(e) the Government has issued a "restriction-testing declaration" requiring them to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing, and the EC members and/or their household member(s) are later confirmed to carry a positive result.
 
     After the close of the poll at the PBPS, sufficient time would need to be reserved for disinfection and delivery of ballot papers to the central counting station located at the HKCEC. As such, the polling hours of the PBPS are specified to be 9am to 10.30am. To ensure that EC members can cast their votes in a timely manner within the specified polling hours, affected EC members will have to be admitted into the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility one day before the polling day (May 7) and stay for one night before they cast their votes in the polling station inside the facility in the morning of the following day. After voting, EC members can return to their original place to undergo the relevant isolation or quarantine (if required). EC members who only confirm on May 8 (before the close of the poll at the PBPS) their need to undergo isolation or quarantine should immediately contact the REO for providing practicable assistance in arranging for them to cast their vote as far as possible.
 
     From May 3 to the close of the poll at the PBPS on May 8, affected EC members can call the dedicated service hotline during business hours (9am to 6pm) from May 3 to 6 and from 9am on May 7 till 10.30am on May 8 (REO will later provide the number of the hotline via SMS and/or email to all EC members). The REO will co-ordinate with other related departments to provide one-stop services, including arranging designated taxis to transport affected EC members, as well as their admission into the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility. In addition, affected EC members who find themselves subjected to the "restriction-testing declaration" on the evening of May 7 should contact the REO via the dedicated service hotline as early as possible so that appropriate assistance can be provided to facilitate them to vote.
 
     The REO also remarks that pursuant to Section 32 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A), a person shall not, knowing that he/she is a contact or is infected with a specified infectious disease, by the conducts specified in subsection (1) of that section, expose other persons to the risk of infection. The REO urges affected EC members not to cast their votes in the main polling station at the HKCEC, but to contact the REO as soon as possible to exercise their voting rights in accordance with the arrangements above. If EC members have any questions regarding the above arrangement, they may call the REO hotline on 2891 1001.

     The Government announced today (April 29) that the Chief Executive, in her capacity as the Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has accepted the nomination of the CUHK Council and appointed Professor John Chai Yat-chiu as Chairman of the CUHK Council for a term of three years with effect from May 1, 2022.

     The Education Bureau welcomed the appointment and is confident that the CUHK will continue to scale new heights with Professor Chai at the helm. Professor Chai is a prominent community leader who has all along been committed to public service and has made exemplary contributions to the Hong Kong community. He also has a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, including serving as Vice-Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and member of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the past, as well as member of the CUHK Council currently.

     The Bureau also paid tribute to the outgoing Council Chairman, Dr Norman Leung, who has been a member of the CUHK Council since 2015 and took up the chairmanship in 2016. Under his leadership, the CUHK consolidated its position as one of the world's top universities and continued to excel in both teaching and research with remarkable achievements.