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The income and asset limits for the means test of the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (WITS) Scheme will be adjusted upwards across the board starting in March 2012. The updated limits, detailed in the Annex, will be applicable to applications for subsidy for that month onwards.
As the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, stated at the meeting of the Panel on Manpower of the Legislative Council last Thursday (February 16), this is a technical adjustment exercise with reference to the latest income data of the fourth quarter of 2011 and guided by the benchmarks for setting the original limits.
Application forms for the WITS Scheme are available at Job Centres, the Headquarters and WITS Division of the Labour Department (LD), Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department, and Social Security Field Units of the Social Welfare Department. Members of the public may also download the application form from the LD's homepage (www.labour.gov.hk).
The Scheme allows applicants to claim a subsidy for the previous six to 12 months in each application, with the subsidy payment counting from April 2011 at the earliest. Application for the subsidy counting from the month of April 2011 onwards must be submitted on or before April 30, 2012, and so on.
Enquiries about the updated limits and details of the Scheme can be made at the LD's 24-hour hotline 2717 1771 (handled by the 1823 Call Centre) and the WITS Division at Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Details of the Scheme are also available at the LD's homepage (www.labour.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:17
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