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The Transport Department (TD) today (December 12) announced the launch of the Visiting Scheme to Outlying Islands 2012 to encourage schools, voluntary uniformed groups, non-governmental organisations and community and local groups, etc, to organise activities to visit Cheung Chau, Lantau (Mui Wo), Peng Chau and Lamma Island (Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan). The successful applicants will be provided with free ferry rides to travel to and from the above four outlying islands to organise activities.
The spokesman said, "The objectives of the Visiting Scheme to Outlying Islands 2012 are to promote the local economy of outlying islands, reduce the transportation costs of organisations for holding activities and boost patronage of the outlying island ferry services."
The application period of the Visiting Scheme to Outlying Islands 2012 will be about one year, lasting from January 3 to December 31, 2012.
The TD has made arrangements for posters and leaflets cum application forms for the Visiting Scheme, and will disseminate the relevant information to the public and prospective applicants through the Education Bureau, the Home Affairs Bureau, the Social Welfare Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Labour Department and the Employees Retraining Board. Members of the public may also visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) to access the details of the Visiting Scheme and download the application form. For enquiries, the organisations intending to make applications may contact the 1823 Call Centre (Tel: 1823).
"The TD launched a similar scheme in 2008. During the application period from mid-2008 to early 2009, about 1 000 applications were approved and about 78 000 free passenger trips were provided under the scheme to travel to and from Lantau (Mui Wo), Peng Chau and Lamma Island," the spokesman added.
Ends/Monday, December 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:34
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