Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau will join a delegation this afternoon to visit Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Dongguan, the Government announced. Organised by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the aim of the trip is to help delegates keep abreast of the latest development of the Greater Bay Area for better integration into the nation’s overall development. Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on March 23. During his absence, Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be Acting Secretary. http://dlvr.it/Sl99gg
The Government today announced that recipients of social security payments and Working Family Allowance (WFA) will receive a one-off extra allowance from today.
As proposed in the 2022-23 Budget, the one-off extra allowance is equal to a half-month of the standard rate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payments, Old Age Allowance, Old Age Living Allowance or Disability Allowance.
Recipients who were eligible for social security payments on May 4 and those whose approved WFA applications were made between November 1, 2021 and May 4 will be eligible for the one-off extra allowance.
It is estimated that about 1.48 million social security recipients and 72,000 WFA households will benefit from the arrangements, involving a total of over $2.5 billion.
The payment will be credited to the designated Hong Kong bank accounts of the eligible households and recipients and no separate application is necessary.
Recipients of social security payments may call 2343 2255 or contact the respective Social Security Field Unit for enquiries.
As for enquiries on the WFA Scheme, call 2558 3000 or visit its website.
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