Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Transport Department (TD) today (August 9) reminded members of the public that the following temporary traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented at East Kowloon Corridor northbound and Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound) from about 11pm to 6.30am the following day on August 17 and 24 to facilitate film shooting:
 
(A) Road closures
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     The following road sections will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic:

• all traffic lanes of East Kowloon Corridor northbound;
• the slip road of East Kowloon Corridor northbound to Kowloon City Road northbound; and
• all traffic lanes of Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound).

 
(B) Traffic diversions
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     During the full closure of East Kowloon Corridor northbound and Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound), the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
 

• Vehicles travelling along Chatham Road North northbound heading to Kowloon City Road northbound, via East Kowloon Corridor northbound and the slip road to Kowloon City Road, are advised to travel via Chatham Road North northbound, Ma Tau Wai Road northbound, Chi Kiang Street eastbound, Ha Heung Road northbound, Sheung Heung Road westbound and then return to the original route;
• Vehicles travelling along Chatham Road North northbound heading to Sung Wong Toi Road westbound, via East Kowloon Corridor northbound, Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound) and the slip road to Sung Wong Toi Road, are advised to travel via Chatham Road North northbound, Ma Tau Wai Road northbound, Chi Kiang Street eastbound, Ha Heung Road northbound, Sheung Heung Road westbound, Kowloon City Road northbound and then return to the original route;
• Vehicles travelling along Chatham Road North northbound heading to Kai Cheung Road eastbound, via East Kowloon Corridor northbound and Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound), are advised to travel via Chatham Road North northbound, Ma Tau Wai Road northbound, Ma Tau Chung Road northbound, Prince Edward Road East northbound, Kwun Tong Road southbound, Wai Yip Street southbound, Kai Fuk Road westbound and return to the original route.
• Vehicles travelling along Chatham Road North northbound heading to Kai Fuk Road eastbound, via East Kowloon Corridor northbound and Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound), are advised to travel via Chatham Road North northbound, Ma Tau Wai Road northbound, Ma Tau Chung Road northbound, Prince Edward Road East northbound, Kwun Tong Road southbound, Wai Yip Street southbound, Kai Fuk Road westbound, Kai Cheung Road eastbound, Kai Shing Street northbound, Kai Wah Street eastbound, Wang Kwong Road southbound, Kai Cheung Road westbound and then return to the original route.
• Vehicles travelling along Chatham Road North northbound heading to Kwun Tong Bypass eastbound, via East Kowloon Corridor northbound and Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound), are advised to travel via Chatham Road North northbound, Ma Tau Wai Road northbound, Ma Tau Chung Road northbound, Prince Edward Road East northbound and then return to the original route.

 
(C) Bus and green minibus (GMB) route diversions
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     During the full closure of East Kowloon Corridor northbound and Kai Tak Tunnel (Kwun Tong bound), the northbound departures of KMB route Nos. 13X, 14X, 98D, 213X, 215X, 219X, 296D and W2, Citybus route Nos. 790, 795X and 796P, and Kowloon overnight GMB route No. 62S will be diverted. The bus stop of KMB route Nos. 13X and 213X at Kai Cheung Road eastbound near Kai Shing Street will be suspended. For other bus and GMB routes, en-route stops will not be affected. Please visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk/en/traffic_notices/index_id_76675.html) for details.

     The public transport operators will display notices to inform passengers of the special arrangements. Appropriate diversion signs will also be erected on-site to guide motorists.
 
      The TD anticipates that travel times at the road sections concerned will be slightly longer due to the diversion arrangements. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience. Members of the public are advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow sufficient travel time to account for unexpected delays, and stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media or the TD’s mobile application “HKeMobility” or website (www.td.gov.hk). read more

     In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on August 8 to noon today (August 9), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 266 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 52 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 75 068 samples of food imported from Japan (including 48 234 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 17 448 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited relating to a fraudulent application (App), which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press releases is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the App concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) today (August 9) held the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 Send-off Ceremony for the Hong Kong Delegation. The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, offered his blessings to the teams that will be competing in Shanghai at the ceremony.
 
     The delegation, comprising eight finalist teams or individuals from various enterprises and universities in Hong Kong, will participate in the Final Judging to be held on August 15 in Shanghai, where they will compete with 12 finalist teams from Shanghai for the top four honours and the Grand Award of the competition.
 
     To fully unleash the multiplier effect of data elements, the National Data Bureau and other authorities launched the inaugural national “Data Element x” competition this year. Steered by the DPO and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 is the only divisional competition of the “Data Element x” competition with participants from two cities. Selected entries will be nominated to enter the national competition and compete for honours at the national finals in October.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Wong said that the inaugural Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge, organised by Shanghai and Hong Kong last year, had marked the beginning of data collaboration between the two cities and demonstrated the immense business opportunities and development potential between Shanghai and Hong Kong in data application. This year’s competition will further leverage the multiplier effect of data elements, and is poised to deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the two cities in digital technology, empowering the socio-economic and innovative developments in both cities. He also wished the eight Hong Kong finalists great success in the Final Judging by demonstrating their diverse and innovative data application solutions.
 
     During their visit to Shanghai, the Hong Kong delegation will also showcase their innovative solutions at the competition’s exhibition in Lingang and participate in roundtable discussions and business matching with the Mainland technology industry to explore business opportunities and unlock the value of data elements. They will also visit several locally renowned innovation and technology organisations to deepen their understanding of the ecosystem and latest developments of data application on the Mainland.
 
     The competition commenced in Hong Kong in April this year with the Final Judging to be held in Shanghai in August. Themed “Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities”, the competition gathers contestants from Shanghai and Hong Kong to incorporate available open data sets, with an aim to explore more innovative applications and promote the synergistic development of smart city and digital economy in both cities. Details of the competition are available on the thematic website (eng.hkshadata.org/).

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     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 8) seized two suspected smuggled gold slabs, weighing about 2 kilograms in total, with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday afternoon intercepted an outgoing seven-seater vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point for inspection. Upon X-ray examination, Customs officers spotted irregularities in the image of a portable charger and found two suspected smuggled gold slabs concealed inside the portable charger.

     Customs arrested a 40-year-old male driver. An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction. 

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

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