Latest news with #privateoperators
ABC News
16-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Betrayal of Trust
Investigating Australia's childcare crisis The ABC is undertaking a major investigation into Australia's childcare sector, revealing what actually goes on behind closed doors. Led by senior investigative journalist Adele Ferguson, it has uncovered the alarming depth of Australia's childcare crisis and raised serious questions for private operators, regulators and governments. This ongoing national investigation is revealing the true state of one our most important sectors. Credits Artwork: Alex Palmer Artwork: Alex Palmer Development: Thomas Brettell Posted 21m ago 21 minutes ago Wed 16 Jul 2025 at 7:23am , updated 13m ago 13 minutes ago Wed 16 Jul 2025 at 7:31am
Japan Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Cabinet Office may lease government-owned disaster food trucks to businesses
The government plans to study how food trucks owned by local governments and dispatched to serve hot meals following disasters can be used at other times. The Cabinet Office is considering a program that would allow local governments to lease such vehicles to business operators in normal times and receive maintenance fees in return, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. It plans to conduct a survey in fiscal 2025 to learn the current status of these food trucks across the country. As local governments face severe financial conditions, the Cabinet Office intends to pave the way for them to receive help from the private sector in preparing for natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and devastating. Local governments rushed to buy food trucks and restroom trailers after such vehicles were made eligible for regional revitalization grants under the central government's supplementary budget for fiscal 2024. However, food trucks require a cook to operate, whereas restroom trailers are easier to use at events. In addition, it is necessary to confirm whether local governments are legally allowed to lease their assets for profit. "It may be efficient if business operators using food trucks in normal times are mobilized in times of emergency," said a Cabinet Office official. The Cabinet Office will review laws including those on food sanitation and vehicle management to see whether there are any rules that prevent the wider use of the food trucks.
South China Morning Post
20-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong considers easing construction rules to tackle student hostel shortage
Hong Kong authorities are considering relaxing regulations for constructing university student hostels in commercial and non-residential areas to address a shortage of student accommodation. This proposal has garnered support from private operators, who now face specific requirements when converting hotels into hostels. The Development Bureau told the South China Morning Post it was considering scrapping or simplifying building procedures required for student hostels on commercial and non-residential sites. 'We are considering allowing student hostels in commercial and more non-residential zonings [to proceed] without the need for planning approval or, even if planning approval is required, only a simple planning procedure will be required,' the spokesman said. The bureau said it aimed to encourage the conversion of hotels and other commercial buildings into student hostels on a self-financing and privately funded basis. In his annual policy address last October, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government aimed to develop a 'studying in Hong Kong' brand to help turn the city into an international hub for post-secondary education. But the initiative has faced hurdles resulting from a shortage of student accommodation. Hong Kong's student housing crisis leaves non-locals desperate for flats Figures from the Education Bureau showed that the city's eight publicly funded universities had about 103,400 students in the 2024-25 academic year. The tally included about 76,900 Hongkongers and around 26,500 non-locals in full-time undergraduate and postgraduate research programmes, but excluded about 1,210 in taught postgraduate courses. But the tertiary education institutions only offered about 40,600 dormitory places, according to government figures. In an effort to find accommodation, some students were opting to cram into small flats with their peers to cut costs or even live across the border and commute to classes. The bureau said a pilot scheme would be launched soon to encourage the market to convert more hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories. Former industrial buildings in non-industrial areas that had been wholesale converted into commercial buildings were intended to be part of the pilot scheme. The government would also identify suitable sites for the private sector to build new hostels, it added. According to property consultancy Knight Frank, the city had 10 private student hostels in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island as of last year, with about 3,000 beds set aside for those studying at five of the city's universities. Property services company Centaline Investment recently bought and turned a Tsim Sha Tsui hotel near Polytechnic University into a student hostel to capitalise on demand. 'The proposal from the government is a step in the right direction,' company CEO Kavis Ip Ming-wai said, adding that the move could speed up her industry's development. Centaline Investment, a property services company, recently purchased a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui and transformed it into a student hostel to meet the rising demand. Photo: SCMP She said that some hotel owners were discussing the possibility of converting their venues into student dormitories, while some international industry stakeholders were watching the Hong Kong market and were interested in getting involved. Ip said she believed that if authorities relaxed the rules, it could create momentum and international buzz for the student hostel industry. 'It is just like injecting a booster shot,' she said. She also expressed hopes that authorities could allow non-residential flats to be turned into student hostels without needing hotel licences, which would make the process easier. Another student hostel operator, Lionrock Property, which earlier renovated two residential buildings into dormitories offering about 100 spaces in total, also welcomed the move. But the company encouraged authorities to create a policy road map that involved important stakeholders, including private operators, universities and the relevant government departments. 'The development of student hostels requires long-term planning rather than individual efforts by different parties,' founder and CEO Addie Chan said. She also warned that most industrial buildings in the city were not suitable for conversion into dormitories, as most did not meet students' needs, such as sufficient sunlight. Lawmaker Andrew Lam Siu-lo said even if the government relaxed the rules now, it would take three to four years before the city could address the shortage of student hostels. The Legislative Council is expected to discuss the issue next week.
South China Morning Post
20-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong weighs relaxing building rules for university student hostels
Hong Kong authorities are considering relaxing rules for the construction of university student hostels in commercial and non-residential areas to ease a supply shortage. The proposal has attracted support from private operators, who said they currently needed to fulfil certain requirements when transforming hotels into hostels. The Development Bureau told the Post it was considering scrapping or simplifying building procedures required for student hostels on commercial and non-residential sites. 'We are considering allowing student hostels in commercial and more non-residential zonings [to proceed] without the need for planning approval or, even if planning approval is required, only a simple planning procedure will be required,' the spokesman said. The bureau said it aimed to encourage the conversion of hotels and other commercial buildings into student hostels on a self-financing and privately funded basis. In his annual policy address last October, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government aimed to develop a 'studying in Hong Kong' brand to help turn the city into an international hub for post-secondary education.
Japan Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Government to seek students' opinions for sexual abuse prevention
The Children and Families Agency will hold an in-person session next month to hear the opinions of junior high and high school students on a planned system for checking whether teachers have sexual crime records. Over the so-called Japanese version of Britain's Disclosure and Barring Service, the government set up a panel of experts in April to discuss its details, and plans to draw up related ordinances and guidelines later this year and implement them on Dec. 25, 2026. Around 12 students will be selected by lottery from volunteers to participate in the upcoming hearing session at the agency. Their opinions will be used to develop manuals and training materials for school teachers and others. The agency will also seek their ideas about the design of a mark for certified private operators, such as private tutoring schools and sports clubs, under the new system. The design is expected to be finalized within this year or later.
