Report No. 72 of the Director of Audit on the results of value for money audits was tabled in the Legislative Council this morning (April 17).
 
     Value for money audit is an examination into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which any bureau of the Government Secretariat, department, agency or other public body has discharged its functions. Report No. 72 of the Director of Audit covers a variety of subjects on the administration of government programmes and provision of public services.
 
     Report No. 72 comprises the following eight chapters:

Chapter      Subject
———      ——–
     1           Planning, provision and management of public parking spaces
     2           Management of Greening Master Plans
     3           Employment services provided by the Labour Department
     4           Administration of the Civil Aid Service
     5           Environment and Conservation Fund
     6           Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited
     7           Hospitality training provided by the Hotel and Tourism Institute, the Chinese Culinary Institute
                  and the International Culinary Institute 
     8           Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund and Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund

     The Director of Audit's Report No. 72 on the results of value for money audits is available on the Audit Commission's website at www.aud.gov.hk.

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (April 17). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Vehicles from eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

　　The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) today (April 17) announced that the general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) services will be enhanced during the Easter Holidays amid the heavy demand for public hospital services.  One more GOPC will provide public holiday clinic service on April 22, the last day of the extended holiday, making a total of 14 clinics (see table below) open for services. In addition, about 2 100 quotas will be added during the long holiday to alleviate the service pressure of Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments.

　　The HA Chief Manager (Infection, Emergency & Contingency), Dr Vivien Chuang said A&E Departments of public hospitals will also remain open as usual to serve the public with urgent medical needs during the holidays. She also expected that the service demand pressure will continue for some time.

　　"The extended four-day holiday of Easter will start on Friday. Our previous experience tells us that the service demand will increase rapidly in the latter part of the holiday and also on the first working day following the extended holiday. The latest A&E waiting time information are available on the HA website and the 'HA Touch' mobile App. As an alternative, non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultation at GOPCs or primary clinics of private doctors." Dr Chuang said.
 
　　In view of the measles outbreaks in several overseas countries, Dr Chuang also reminds members of the public to tell doctors their travel history during Easter if they feel sick after returning Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the general public should adopt a healthy lifestyle such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, maintaining proper hand hygiene and putting on a mask when having symptoms of respiratory infections in order to avoid further spread of the disease.
 
　　The HA spokesperson added that the public can access "Winter Surge Designated Webpage" through HA Homepage (www.ha.org.hk/goto/wintersurge/en) and the "HA Touch" mobile App to understand the key service statistics, including A&E waiting time information, A&E attendance, the medical in-patient bed occupancy rate, etc. Moreover, members of the public are welcome to call or browse the following hotlines and websites for the required information on service in public hospitals and related clinic service of family doctor:
 

1. HA Infoline 2882 4866
2. Primary Care Directory website www.pcdirectory.gov.hk
3. Hong Kong Medical Association website www.hkma.org
4. Hong Kong Medical Association MediLink 90000-222-322
    (Operating from April 18 – 23)

*Central District Health Centre General Out-patient Clinic will provide public holiday clinic service on April 22 (Monday).

Consultation Hours:

April 19 and April 22 (Friday and Monday)
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

April 20 and April 21 (Saturday and Sunday)
9am to 1pm

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 17) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay First Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Police today (April 17) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sha Tin.

Lui Ka-shing, aged 74, went missing after he left his residence in Wo Che Estate on April 15 afternoon. His family made a report to Police the next day (April16).

He is about 1.7 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and black sports shoes.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or any police station.