Members of the public can now apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) through an online service launched today by the Transport Department. Users of “iAM Smart+” or eligible applicants holding a valid personal digital certificate may apply online via the GovHK website and receive their IDP by post, without the need to visit a licensing office in person. If the submitted documents and photograph are in order, the department will normally send successful applicants their IDP by registered post within 10 working days of the online application being made. The department reminded those who plan to drive outside of Hong Kong to allow sufficient time for the IDP applications to be processed. Citizens may continue to submit IDP applications by visiting licensing offices in person. Appointments can be booked online or by calling 3763 8080 to save queuing time. Drivers may also send in their IDP applications by post or via the drop-in boxes placed at licensi
Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, accompanied by Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui, today visited the Federation of Youth Groups' youth hostel PH2 in Tai Po to learn about its operation and latest developments.
They were briefed on the hostel by the federation's Executive Director Andy Ho and toured the hostel's units and various facilities.
The officials also exchanged views with frontline youth workers and a tenant to learn about their experiences and stories of operating and living in the hostel in the past year.
Mr Cheung expressed his gratitude to the federation for its care in running the youth hostel, which not only provides a comfortable living space for youth tenants, but also assists them in learning diverse life skills and financial planning through a wide variety of activities to help enable their upward mobility and realisation of aspirations.
He also noted that the current-term Government vigorously pushes forward youth hostel projects.
Apart from the Tai Po youth hostel, which was the first to be completed, Mr Cheung said the one in Ma Tin Pok, Yuen Long by Po Leung Kuk is the largest project in scale so far. Scheduled to open next year, it will provide 1,680 hostel places.
Five other projects being implemented will also offer more than 1,600 hostel places altogether.
Among them, the Sheung Wan project by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Jordan project by the Girl Guides Association were granted funding approval by the Legislative Council Finance Committee in April for starting main construction works.
The Government will continue to play an active role in assisting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide more youth hostel units as soon as possible, the Chief Secretary added.
The Youth Hostel Scheme aims to encourage NGOs to unleash the potential of development sites to achieve optimal land use and to meet the aspirations of working youths in having their own living spaces.
The Government will fund the full capital costs of youth hostel projects carried out by participating NGOs. Upon completion, NGOs will run the youth hostels on a self-financing basis.
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