Hongkong Post announced today (August 9) that, as advised by the postal administration of Iceland, mail delivery services previously impacted by severe weather have returned to normal.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, August 9, 2024 is 105 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 9) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).

     Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), and 23 as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Grade 2 beaches are:

     Compared with the grading released last week, Lido Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.

Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).

Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.

     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
 ———————

     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
 ————————–

     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
 ———————

     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).

     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.