"iAM Smart" introduces new functions for viewing and paying government bills
The Digital Policy Office (DPO) announced today (July 22) that the "iAM Smart" mobile app is rolling out new functions progressively in its "Personal Assistant" page to enable viewing and paying of different government bills.
Members of the public can now use the latest version of the "iAM Smart" mobile app (version 4.4) to check the balance of water bills from the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and Speedpost bills from Hongkong Post and pay the bills via the Faster Payment System.
The DPO and WSD will continue to work closely to introduce more new functions in "iAM Smart" in the coming months. By then, members of the public will be able to use "iAM Smart" to check the "to-do" items related to their WSD accounts (for example, reminders to pay water bills) and the application status of various services (such as the application status of a fishing licence and a plumber's licence from the WSD).
The DPO will continue to work with different government departments and public and private organisations to include more services under the "Personal Assistant" page of "iAM Smart", enabling members of the public to enjoy a better personalised service experience and a more convenient smart lifestyle.
The "iAM Smart" one-stop personalised digital service platform has already accumulated over 3.5 million registered users and connects more than 1 200 online services from government, public and private organisations, as well as government e-Forms. The DPO will continue upgrading the "iAM Smart", with the goal of providing one-stop digital services for all digital government services on the "iAM Smart" platform this year, making it the "single portal for online government services". For more information on the online services supported by "iAM Smart", please visit the "iAM Smart" thematic website at www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/e-service.html.
The "iAM Smart" app supports iOS and Android operating systems, and mobile phones with biometric authentication activated. Members of the public can download and use the latest version of the app for free from the Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Google Play, or by visiting the "iAM Smart" thematic website at www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/download.html.
Source: AI-found images
Government announces updates on follow-up work on Tai Po fire
The three task forces set up by the Government for the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po - the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements - are making full efforts to follow up on the support, relief, and investigation work related to the incident. Details are as follows:
Financial and welfare support
---------------------------------
For the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, established by the Government, donations received are about $3.4 billion as of noon today (December 13). With the start-up capital of $300 million from the Government, the fund's total has now reached around $3.7 billion. The fund will be used to assist residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support.
Accommodation support
---------------------------
As of this morning, a total of 1 392 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3 163 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or units from the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS).
In consideration of the extremely urgent situation of the residents affected by the fire incident, a special arrangement of a full rent exemption has been made earlier by the Housing Bureau to provide accommodation support to those affected residents moving into transitional housing or HKHS projects. In other words, if needed, the affected residents can stay for a longer period of time. The Government will continue to support the affected residents in terms of accommodation, and the residents in need do not have to worry about the relevant rental expenses or the duration of stay.
In addition, staff from the operating organisations of transitional housing and HKHS, as well as volunteers have been working around the clock to furnish the units with essential supplies. Taking Eminence Tower in Hung Shui Kiu as an example, each unit is equipped, upon move-in, with furniture and appliances such as bed frames, mattresses, pillows, cooking stoves and water heaters. Daily necessities including toilet paper, slippers and basic cleaning supplies, etc. are also provided. Such efforts are intended to help the affected residents settle in as quickly as possible.
At the same time, a number of organisations have proactively stationed their staff in some projects to provide residents in need with various forms of support, including free medical and legal consultation services. The Government has also set up service stations in 18 projects where more residents have moved in, providing consultation and support services for residents in need, standing together with them.
Relief supplies and donations
---------------------------------
The supplies donation online platform, established by the Government and the information technology sector, continues to operate, facilitating the registration of supplies donations from organisations and the public. The Government has so far received over 1 800 registrations, of which approximately 30 per cent were submitted by organisations, whereas the others were contributed by the public. The various registered donation items include food and beverages, clothing, daily necessities, bedding, and electrical appliances. The Government is actively assessing residents' actual needs through the relevant policy bureau, government departments, and service organisations for the matching of donated supplies in order to distribute appropriate items in phases to places in need. So far, about 19 600 donation items covering various categories have been distributed to different places. The matching and distribution of supplies will continue.
Regulation and inspection work
----------------------------------
The Housing Department today continued to remove the burnt scaffolding on the external walls of Wang Cheong House, Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House. As the environment at scene is narrow and the scaffolding and the protective nets of individual buildings may be subject to more serious damage, for the sake of safety, the Housing Department will conduct assessments with the Police on the timetable of removing the scaffolding of the remaining four affected buildings. In addition, the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau has also completed the extraction of concrete core samples from the seven affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court today.
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced on December 11 a new mechanism for sampling and testing scaffold nets for external walls in Hong Kong. The Buildings Department is preparing for the issuance of a new practice note to registered contractors and will meet with the industry next week. The DEVB is moving ahead in full steam the supporting arrangements to ensure that there are sufficient designated laboratories and a suitable site for off-site sampling work.
Source: AI-found images
