IN accordance with Civil Service Bureau Circular No. 11/98, the Government is introducing a School Passage Allowance (SPA) to replace the existing direct provision of air tickets for eligible children educated in approved countries of study (which is based on a point system) with effect from 1 July 1998.
At present, the Government purchases air tickets directly for eligible children to travel between Hong Kong and the approved country of study to start education abroad, visit his/her parents in Hong Kong during the period of education, and return to Hong Kong on cessation of education.
In general, children under 19 are entitled to have two return tickets per 12-month cycle while children aged 19 to 20 are entitled to one return ticket. For the HK/UK route, officers are required to approach Jardine Airways or the Cathay Pacific Airways to reserve seats - with the Director of Accounting Services thereafter taking over the booking.
Starting from 1 July 98, the mentioned arrangement will be replaced by the School Passage Allowance which is fully accountable and non-taxable. An officer may then acquire air tickets from an airline company or travel agent, with payment made directly by the Government or on reimbursement.
The revised school passage arrangements are summarised as follows:
The initial rates of the SPA will be set with reference to the number of return passages being granted to children under the existing arrangements and the published air fares prevailing as of 1 July 98 as well as the age of benefiting school child and his country of education.
(Note: Taking 15 May 98 as the date of calculation, a child below the age of 12 studying in England may receive an allowance of $17,700 per annum; one who is 12 to 18 years old may receive $23,600; and one who is 19 to 20 years old may receive $11,800).
An officer may acquire air tickets from any airline company or travel agent, and can only claim SPA to cover the passage cost, departure taxes and Hong Kong Security Service Charge.
Regardless of the number of air tickets acquired, an officer may only submit a maximum of three claims (one claim may cover expenses for more than one journey) for each child within each cycle (of 12 months).
At the end of a school passage cycle, any unused SPA not exceeding 100 per cent of the child's entitlement for that cycle may be carried forward to the next cycle. Moreover, the officer and/or spouse may use the children's SPA to purchase return air ticket(s) originating from Hong Kong to visit the children on not more than one occasion within each 12-month period.
The rates will be revised annually on 1 April.
The following transitional arrangements will apply:
All applications for air tickets under the existing arrangements must reach the Treasury on or before 15 June 98.
Any debit or credit balance (up to 6 'passage points') under the existing arrangements will be converted into SPA on 1 July 98. (Note: the conversion formula is that each passage point will be converted into one-sixth of the allowance entitled (for school children between the age of 19 and 20), and one-twelfth of the same (for school children below the age of 19).
For journeys starting in July and August 98, no direct payment to travel agents will be arranged by the Director of Accounting Services. Officers may therefore only claim reimbursement of air fares. For journeys commencing on or after 1 September 98, officers may claim reimbursement of air fares or request direct payment.

THANKS to Personnel Services Branch, the Moscow Circus is offering Force members and their families discounts on tickets to see its performances in Hong Kong. The original $240 ticket is available to all (including children) for the flat price of $180 on Sunday 19 July; $168 on Wednesday 22 July; $168 on Thursday 23 July.
ON or BEFORE 17 JUNE, send cheques made payable to "Police Welfare Bargain Co-ordinating Unit", along with number of tickets needed, date of performance, and personal particulars to: Personnel Services Branch, HKPF, 1/F Dominion Centre, 43-59 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, (ATTN: Ms Leung Kit-hing). Enquiries: 2804-1111.

IN order to protect the interests and wills of all "Central Fund" and "Family Protect Fund" members, the Secretary of the Funds reminds all members to update their personal particulars or information of beneficiaries, if any, by writing to: Secretary, Central Fund/Family Protection Fund, Personnel Services Branch, Hong Kong Police Force, 1/F Dominion Centre, 43-59 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.