IN accordance with the Circular Memorandum Nos. 83/95 and 3/97 from the Secretary for the Civil Service, civil servants and their spouses should not receive double housing benefits, irrespective of whether the housing benefits are provided by the Government, by public-funded organisations or by private employers.

The following examples of housing benefits are provided to assist officers in determining whether they or their spouses are receiving or have received housing benefits as part of a pay package:

a) accommodation provided by the employer (such as our married quarters), whether or not rent is payable by the employee;

b) a housing loan or any form of subsidy, whether it is for purchasing local or overseas property;

c) an allowance for renting accommodation or purchasing property, whether or not it is accountable or taxable;

d) a cash allowance provided in lieu of housing benefits, whether or not it is accountable or taxable;

e) a cash allowance which is provided to encash fringe benefits including housing, whether or not it is accountable or taxable (note: applicable to some special departments in the Government or public bodies, such as The Ombudsman and the Hospital Authority);

f) any portion of a pay package actually claimed by an employee as rental reimbursement for tax purposes in his/her tax return (note: such as the tax efficiency schemes offered by some utility companies).

The above are only common examples which illustrate situations known to exist, and is by no means exhaustive. In case of doubt, please contact staff of the Civil Service Housing Section: 2810-3554 and 2810-2638.

It is the responsibility of officers applying for or receiving civil service housing and related benefits to be thoroughly acquainted with and observe the prevention of double housing benefits rules. Officers are reminded that non-compliance with the rules will result in penalties, including recovery of loans and allowances from, and disciplinary and legal action against the officers concerned.

FOR those officers who have or are about to join the Pay-As-You-Earn Scheme, please be informed that with effect from 1 December 1998, the annual rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates has been changed from 8.04 per cent per annum to 8.16 per cent per annum.

Stepping into Mark's shoes is Robbie McRobbie, fresh from a tour of duty as a PTU instructor. "With all the exciting improvements and changes scheduled for the POC in the next year, it will certainly be a challenging job ¡Ð particularly building up to the millennium celebrations next year," said the new AM POC, who can be contacted at the club on 2591-1930.

Another change club members will notice is a different set of friendly faces running the restaurants and Verandah Bar, as Gardner Merchant (HK) Ltd take up the challenge of providing members with the very best wining and dining experience.

To get everybody into the festive mood, the club's restaurants and Verandah Bar will be offering all patrons a special 10 per cent discount on their meals throughout December, and a complimentary bottle of red wine for every bill of $1,000 or more. In addition, the Verandah Bar will be running a special Happy Hour every evening from 5 to 8pm with all drinks at amazingly low prices.

Eagerly anticipated, club members will also notice the return of the Sports Shop, re-opened under the management of Yorkview and featuring an extensive range of sporting goods and Force souvenirs.

An important new member of the club family is Ricky Lam, its new Food and Beverage Manager. Ricky graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic with a degree in Food and Beverage Management, and has gone on to build up an impressive range of experience in the industry. Since 1984 he has spent time with the Shangri-La and Hyatt Regency in Hong Kong, and most recently was employed by the New World Renaissance Hotel Group where he spent some time in Kuala Lumpur.

Ricky and all his staff are excited about Gardner Merchant's new partnership with the club, and are working hard to ensure that members enjoy the very highest standards of service and food quality in the years ahead. Ricky can be contacted on 2591-1930.

December is always the busiest time of the year at the POC. Endeavouring to provide members with the best entertainment at reasonable prices, the Christmas calendar includes:

CHILDREN's CHRISTMAS PARTY on 20 December (Sunday) from 3 to 5pm. Price: $90 per child, which includes games, carol singing by the Force Children's Choir, Santa Claus and magic show, drinks and snacks.

CHRISTMAS EVE BUFFET DINNER & DISCO from 7:30pm to 1am. $350 for adults and $210 for children under 12. The party includes drinks, dancing, dinner buffet and lucky draw.

NEW YEAR's EVE BALL from 7:30pm to 2am. $590 per person and includes mulled wine in the reception with cartoonists and balloon artists, pre-dinner drinks in the Grill Room, a la carte dinner, all you can drink, entertainment, lucky draw and dancing, mid-night Champagne, piper - and breakfast at 1am. Tickets for all these events are on sale now at the club's reception.

Leave Homes

FORCE holiday bungalow accommodation is available from December 16, 1998 to January 11, 1999 for Gazetted and Inspectorate officers and their civilian counterparts as follows:

Interested colleagues should obtain a letter of introduction from the Personnel Services Branch Holiday Facilities Unit and contact the hotels directly for reservations.