Social Welfare Department collaborates with banks to take forward cross-border disbursement arrangements for portable cash assistance
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) signed today (November 21) Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK), and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) (ICBC (Asia)) respectively to establish a collaborative arrangement for the cross-border disbursement of portable cash assistance.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Mr Darryl Chan; the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the BOCHK, Mr Sun Yu; and the Chairman and Executive Director of the ICBC (Asia), Dr Liu Yagan, witnessed the signing by the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; the General Manager, Personal Banking Product Department of the BOCHK, Mr Arnold Chow; and the Head of Institutions Department of the ICBC (Asia), Mr Yin Qinjun.
Mr Chris Sun was pleased to see the SWD and the two major banks collaborate to launch a new arrangement for the cross-border disbursement of portable cash assistance. The ceremony today formally establishes the partnership between the Government and the two banks to implement the initiative outlined in the 2025 Policy Address to facilitate Hong Kong elderly recipients retiring in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the BOCHK and the ICBC (Asia) for taking forward this cross-border initiative with full support in professional services and resources, in realisation of their corporate social responsibility. He thanked the HKMA for its tremendous efforts and close co-ordination with the banking sector and regulatory authorities on the Mainland to facilitate the smooth launch of this new service.
Hong Kong elderly recipients of social security who are residing in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces can apply for the Government's portable cash assistance, including the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) amount under the Portable CSSA Scheme, and the Old Age Living Allowance and the Old Age Allowance under the Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme of the Social Security Allowance Scheme. Currently, the cash assistance is deposited into the Hong Kong bank accounts of the elderly recipients by the SWD. In recent years, the SWD and the HKMA have introduced various measures to facilitate remote remittances and withdrawals for Hong Kong elderly persons on the Mainland.
To provide further convenience for the elderly concerned, the SWD will collaborate with the BOCHK and the ICBC (Asia) to launch a new service that allows Hong Kong elderly recipients of social security retiring in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces to opt to receive portable cash assistance from the SWD directly through their Mainland bank accounts with the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
The new service for cross-border disbursement of portable cash assistance is expected to be officially launched in mid-next year. The SWD will announce further details in due course.
Social Welfare Department collaborates with banks to take forward cross-border disbursement arrangements for portable cash assistance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Social Welfare Department collaborates with banks to take forward cross-border disbursement arrangements for portable cash assistance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Social Welfare Department collaborates with banks to take forward cross-border disbursement arrangements for portable cash assistance Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
