SWD joins Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund to host spring reception for elderly
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the Management Committee of the Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund (the Fund) today (January 7) jointly hosted a spring reception for the elderly in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year.
About 40 elderly persons received lai see packets and enjoyed performances as well as a festive and healthy lunch organised by the Fund today. The Director of Social Welfare (DSW), Miss Charmaine Lee, joined the advisors of the Fund, Mr Richard Tang and Mr Hamilton Ho, together with members of the Management Committee, at the event to wish the elderly persons a happy and healthy year ahead.
Speaking at the reception, Miss Lee commended the Fund for upholding the philanthropic spirit of the late entrepreneur Sir Tang Shiu-kin and the late banker Dr Tim Ho in promoting the venerable tradition of respecting the elderly and helping the disadvantaged over the years. The Fund approved $1.95 million for a total of 468 cases from April 2023 to October 2024 to provide emergency financial assistance to needy families and individuals to tide them over their difficulties.
Miss Lee expressed gratitude to the descendants of the founders, who have been serving as advisors of the Fund, for their devotion to the Fund's affairs and for their valuable insights offered on the management of the Fund. She is delighted to learn that the Fund has approved and earmarked a sum of $3 million for the SWD to disburse as social relief grants in the coming fiscal year for those in need.
Miss Lee said that many disadvantaged groups in the community are in need of assistance from different sectors in society. In recent years, the Government has been committed to uniting the efforts of the Government, the business sector and the community to enhance measures to help the underprivileged and the poor. She appealed to different sectors and the community to continue their support for the needy to build a harmonious and caring society.
The Fund, which was founded in 1977, appointed the DSW Incorporated as the trustee of the Fund in accordance with Chapter 1096 of the Laws of Hong Kong. Members of the Management Committee include descendants of the founders (advisors), prominent members of the community and representatives from relevant government departments, the Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. The objective is to provide timely financial assistance to needy individuals and families in emergency situations for which other sources may not be applicable or readily available. Recipients of the Fund include the unemployed, victims of disasters, the chronically ill, the disabled, single parent families and the elderly.
SWD joins Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund to host spring reception for elderly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SWD joins Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund to host spring reception for elderly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SWD joins Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund to host spring reception for elderly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SWD joins Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund to host spring reception for elderly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
WSD's registered consumer convicted of failing to provide relevant information or documents for suspected case of overcharging for water
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced that a registered consumer of a subdivided flat in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, was convicted today (January 8) of failing to comply with the Water Authority's request to provide relevant information or documents for a suspected case of overcharging for water, in contravention of regulation 47A of the Waterworks Regulations. The registered consumer pleaded guilty to the offence at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts. This case is the first conviction pursuant to the new regulation of 47A of the Waterworks Regulations, which has been effective since the enactment of the Waterworks (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (the amended WWO) on April 19, 2024.
A spokesman for the WSD said that the amended WWO has strengthened the power of the Water Authority in evidence collection and information disclosure during the investigation of suspected cases of overcharging for water. The Water Authority can request landlords, their agents, consumers, etc, to provide the tenancy agreement, receipt or payment record for water charges. Failure to comply with such a request can be an offence and the offender is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and a further fine of up to $1,000 for each day the offence continues. It is anticipated that there will be more prosecution cases. The maximum penalty for overcharging for water has been raised to $25,000 to deter this illegal act. Moreover, providing false or misleading information to the Water Authority is also an offence with a maximum penalty of a $25,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.
The WSD spokesman strongly appealed to landlords to apply for the installation of separate water meters for their subdivided units (SDUs), which can greatly reduce the risk of contravening the amended WWO. The water fee deposit and the charge for providing a meter for each separate meter installed under the Scheme for Installation of Separate Water Meters for Subdivided Units will be waived. Individual water bills will be provided for each water meter account. The first 12 cubic metres of water are free at four-month intervals. SDU tenants can contact the WSD to request separate water meters. Upon receiving such requests, the WSD will contact the landlords for the installation of separate meters. If the landlords refuse, the WSD may require them to provide information on the recovery of water charges from their tenants in suspected overcharging cases. Details of the scheme can be obtained from the WSD website
(www.wsd.gov.hk/en/customer-services/application-for-water-supply/pilot-scheme-for-installation-of-separate-water-me/index.html).
The WSD encourages the public to report any illegal act of overcharging SDU tenants for water for follow-up and investigation by the department. The public can call the WSD Hotline 3468 4963 or WhatsApp 5665 5517 to apply for the installation of separate water meters for SDUs. The WhatsApp hotline also handles matters relating to water overcharging in SDUs. Alternatively, the public can call the WSD Customer Enquiry Hotline 2824 5000 to report water overcharge cases. After calling the hotline and choosing a language, they can press "7" for reporting to staff directly.
