SED to visit Beijing

     The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Kevin Yeung, will leave Hong Kong in the afternoon next Monday (May 27) for a duty visit to Beijing.
       
     On May 28, Mr Yeung will attend a regular liaison meeting with officials of the Ministry of Education to exchange views on education issues of mutual concern. He will also visit the Advanced Innovation Centre for Future Education of Beijing Normal University.

     Officials accompanying Mr Yeung on his visit to Beijing will include the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Ingrid Yeung; Deputy Secretaries for Education Mr Rex Chang and Mrs Hong Chan Tsui-wah; and Principal Assistant Secretaries for Education Mr Benjamin Yung and Mr Lee Kam-kwong. 
       
     Mr Yeung will return to Hong Kong in the evening of the same day. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will be the Acting SED.




Special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (May 26) to facilitate two public order events to be held on Hong Kong Island.
     
(1)

A. Road closure

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 10.30am until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Westbound Hennessy Road;
– Queensway;
– Southbound Rodney Street;
– Harcourt Road; and
– Northbound Tim Mei Avenue.
     
     If necessary, westbound Harcourt Road service road between Rodney Street and Cotton Tree Drive will be closed from about 10.30am until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along northbound Justice Drive must turn left to westbound Queensway;
– Traffic from United Centre bus terminus must turn left to westbound Drake Street; and
– Traffic along westbound Harcourt Road near the exit of Harcourt Garden car park will be diverted to westbound Harcourt Road flyover.

(2)

A. Road closure
     
     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 2.30pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Westbound Hennessy Road between Luard Road and Queensway;
– Westbound Queensway;
– Westbound Queen's Road Central;
– Queen's Road West between Queen’s Road Central and Western Street;
– Westbound Connaught Road West between Western Street and Chiu Kwong Street;
– Western Street; and
– Northbound Chiu Kwong Street between Queen’s Road West and Des Voeux Road West.

     The following roads will be closed from about 2.30pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Northbound Luard Road between Johnston Road and Hennessy Road;
– Westbound Johnston Road between Ship Street and Landale Street;
– Eastbound Thomson Road between Johnston Road and Luard Road;
– Northbound Justice Drive between Justice Drive flyover and Queensway;
– Bank Street between Des Voeux Road Central and Queen’s Road Central;
– Northbound Wyndham Street between Wellington Street and Queen’s Road Central, except for vehicles heading to On Lan Street car park;
– Northbound Cochrane Street between Stanley Street and Queen’s Road Central;
– Chiu Kwong Street between Des Voeux Road West and Connaught Road West;
– The leftmost lane of Connaught Road West flyover between Eastern Street and Water Street;
– If necessary, southbound Fenwick Street between Hennessy Road and Johnston Road; and
– If necessary, eastbound Johnston Road between Hennessy Road and Fenwick Street.

B. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from about 2.30pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Traffic along Johnston Road cannot enter Luard Road;
– Traffic along Johnston Road cannot enter Thomson Road;
– Traffic along Tai Wong Street East must turn left to westbound Johnston Road;
– Traffic along westbound Johnston Road must turn left to Ship Street;
– Traffic along Lun Fat Street must turn right to eastbound Johnston Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Hennessy Road cannot turn right to southbound Fenwick Street, except for franchised buses and Green Minibuses;
– Traffic along southbound Fenwick Street must turn to Hennessy Road;
– Traffic along westbound Johnston Road from Landale Street must turn left to Anton Street;
– Traffic along westbound Hennessy Road cannot turn left to eastbound Johnston Road;
– Traffic along northbound Justice Drive cannot turn left to westbound Queensway;
– Traffic along westbound Queensway cannot enter westbound Des Voeux Road Central, except for franchised buses;
– Traffic along northbound Wyndham Street must turn left to westbound Wellington Street, except for vehicles heading to On Lan Street car park;
– Traffic along westbound Stanley Street must turn left to southbound Cochrane Street;
– Traffic along Queen’s Road Central cannot turn left to southbound Possession Street; and
– Traffic along Connaught Road West cannot turn left to southbound Chiu Kwong Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

     All on-street parking spaces and disabled parking spaces on eastbound Thomson Road between Johnston Road and Luard Road will be suspended from 1pm to 6pm.

     Vehicles may not be permitted to leave car parks along the routes during the road closure period.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.




Red tides sighted

     Four red tides have been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 24).
 
     Three of the red tides were spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on May 21 at Approach Beach, Lido Beach and Casam Beach, and Ting Kau Beach in Tsuen Wan. These three red tides have dissipated.
 
     The fourth red tide was spotted by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) on May 21 in the western waters of Hong Kong (including Ma Wan Fish Culture Zone). This red tide still persists.
 
     No associated death of fish has been reported so far in all red tides.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "All four red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to overseas studies, Phaeocystis globosa can produce foam that may cause harmful effects to fish."
 
     The AFCD urged mariculturists at the Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.




Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 24) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).   
        
     Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and five as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Shek O Beach
Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Stanley Main Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Pui O Beach  

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach Golden Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Lido Beach
Casam Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Ting Kau Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach  

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach  

 
*Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach, Trio Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Big Wave Bay Beach, Butterfly Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.  
     
     "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 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 storm 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 department's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.




SEN concludes Singapore visit (with photos)

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, spent the last day of his visit in Singapore today (May 24) by meeting with local officials and representatives from relevant organisations.

     Mr Wong first called at the Singapore LNG Corporation, where he was briefed by its staff and officials of the Singapore Energy Market Authority on the development and services of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Singapore. Afterwards, he departed for the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Academy to learn about its work in promoting green buildings. He also visited the Housing and Development Board to find out about their sustainable initiatives, such as to promote the application of renewable energy.

     In the afternoon, Mr Wong held a bilateral meeting with the Minister for National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong, to discuss matters of mutual concern. He then concluded his visit in Singapore and will return to Hong Kong tonight.

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