Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts to facilitate grave sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety during Ching Ming Festival.

Hong Kong Island
—————-

(1) Chai Wan

A. Road closure

Phase I
     
     Vehicles will be allowed to use Cape Collison Road east of Lin Shing Road from 7am to 6pm daily on March 30, April 13, 19, 20, 22 and 28, and May 1. Special traffic arrangements in Phase II may be implemented when necessary.

Phase II

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6.30pm daily on March 31, April 6, 14 and 21:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for green minibus (GMB) route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate; – Northbound Lin Shing Road, except for GMB route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

     Depending on traffic condition, taxis and public light buses (PLBs) may be allowed to enter Lin Shing Road and turn right to Cape Collinson Road.

     Special traffic arrangements in Phase III may be implemented when necessary.

Phase III

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 7pm daily on April 5 and 7:

– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery;
– Wan Tsui Lane;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate; and
– If necessary, the leftmost lane of northbound Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road.

B. Traffic diversions

     In connection with the above road closures, the following roads will be re-routed:

– Cape Collinson Road between its slip road to Crematorium and Shek O Road will be re-routed one-way westbound; and
– Eastern section of Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Fei Tsui Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. No parking

     No parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– Cape Collinson Road;
– Lin Shing Road;
– Shek O Road between Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre and Tai Tam Road;
– Wan Tsui Road;
– The lay-by along Shek O Road; and
– The lay-by along Tai Tam Road between Shek O Road and Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir.

     Taxis, PLBs and private cars cannot enter Lin Shing Road for Cape Collinson Road, except for vehicles gaining access to Wan Tsui Estate. They will be allowed to drop off passengers at the PLB stand on Fei Tsui Road near the junction with Wan Tsui Road.

     PLBs cannot pick up/set down passengers along Wan Tsui Road between Chai Wan Road and Lin Shing Road.

     Depending on traffic conditions, PLBs may not be allowed to enter Tai Tam Road from Chai Wan Road.

(2) Pok Fu Lam

     Consort Rise between Victoria Road and Bisney Road will be re-routed one-way southbound from 7am to 5pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14.

(3) Aberdeen

     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14:
     
– Peel Rise in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery; and
– the slip road from Shek Pai Wan Road leading to the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery.

Kowloon
——-

(1) Tseung Kwan O

     The access road leading to Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery will be closed from 5.30am to 6pm daily on March 30, April 6, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27 and 28, and May 1, except for special route No. 14S of Kowloon Motor Bus Company, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit.

     The above road will be closed from 5.30am to 8pm daily on March 31, April 5 and 7.

     Grave-sweepers can go to the cemetery on foot via the access road on Ko Chiu Road or via the footpath with staircases opposite MTR Tiu Keng Leng Station. Those using wheel chairs are advised to enter the cemetery at Ko Chiu Road.

(2) Sai Kung

     Mang Kung Wo Road leading to Kei Pik Shan Cemetery will be closed from 8am to 5pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5 and 6, except for vehicles with permit.

(3) Diamond Hill

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 7am to 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14:

A. Road closure

– The access road leading to the Diamond Hill Crematorium, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The access road between the Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour and the China Light and Power (CLP) Sub-station, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– The access road adjacent to the Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour leading to Sze Chen Hall, except for hearses and funeral vehicles;
– Yuk Hok Lane, except for private cars and taxis; and
– Yuk Wah Street east of Tsz Wan Shan Road, except for private cars and taxis.
     
     Motorcycles will be allowed to use Yuk Hok Lane and Yuk Wah Street east of Tsz Wan Shan Road on April 13 and 14.

B. Traffic diversions

– Vehicles must follow southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill for entering or leaving Fung Shing Street or Fu Shan Estate car park;
– Vehicles must follow northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill for entering or leaving Grand View Garden car park;
– Vehicles from eastbound Po Kong Village Road can turn to westbound Yuk Wah Street via the easternmost traffic lane of Tsz Wan Shan (South) Bus Terminus;
– Traffic along westbound Fung Shing Street cannot turn right to northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill;
– Traffic along northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill cannot turn right to eastbound Fung Shing Street;
– Vehicles from Grand View Garden car park cannot turn right to southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill;
– Traffic along southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill cannot turn right to Grand View Garden car park;
– Vehicles from Fu Shan Estate car park cannot turn right to northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill;
– Traffic along northbound Po Kong Village Road uphill cannot turn right to Fu Shan Estate car park;
– Traffic along southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill cannot turn right to Po Kong Village Road School Village car park;
– Vehicles from Po Kong Village Road School Village car park cannot turn right to southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill;
– Traffic along southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill cannot turn right to the unnamed road opposite to Po Leung Lane;
– Traffic along the unnamed road opposite to Po Leung Lane cannot turn right to southbound Po Kong Village Road downhill;
– Vehicles from Tsz Wan Shan (South) Bus Terminus cannot turn right to eastbound Yuk Wah Street, except franchised buses; and
– Traffic along Yuk Wah Crescent cannot turn right to eastbound Yuk Wah Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended:

– Metered parking spaces on the unnamed road between the Diamond Hill Funeral Parlour and CLP Sub-station; and
– Five metered parking spaces in Yuk Wah Street car park.
     
     Motorcycle parking spaces at Yuk Wah Street near Yuk Hok Lane will be suspended from 7am to 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6 and 7.

     Po Kong Village Road School Village car park will be closed and designated as taxi and private car drop-off point from 7am to 6pm daily on March 31, April 5 and 7.

D. Passengers pick-up and drop-off points

     The pick-up and drop-off points for taxis will be at westbound Fung Shing Street near Fu Yan House of Fu Shan Estate and westbound Yuk Wah Street near Yuk Hok Lane.

     The pick-up and drop-off point for private cars will be at westbound Yuk Wah Street near Yuk Hok Lane.

(4) Cheung Sha Wan

A. Road closure

– Wing Ming Lane will be closed between 7am and 7pm daily on March 30 and 31, and April 5, 6 and 7, except for vehicles with permit;  
– Wing Ming Street will be closed between 7am and 7pm daily on April 5, 6 and 7, except for vehicles with permit; and
– Entrance road to the catholic cemetery on Wing Tak Road will be closed between 7am and 5pm daily on April 5, 6 and 7, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit.

B. No stopping or parking

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented on April 5, 6, and 7:

– Parking will be prohibited on Yu Chau West Street between Castle Peak Road and King Lam Street between 7am and 7pm daily;
– Vehicles are prohibited to drop off or pick up passengers along Yu Chau West Street near Wing Ming Street; and
– Stopping or parking will be prohibited on Ching Cheung Road between 7am and 7pm daily.

C. Suspension of on-street parking spaces

     All parking spaces on Yu Chau West Street; Tai Nan West Street; and King Lam Street and Wing Hong Street between Yu Chau West Street and Tai Nan West Street will be suspended between 7am and 7pm daily on March 30 and 31, and April 5, 6 and 7.  

     Members of the public wishing to gain access to the catholic cemetery are advised to use the subway across Ching Cheung Road from the end of Wing Ming Lane. No parking facilities in the cemetery will be open to public use.

New Territories
—————

(1) Wo Hop Shek

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22:

A. Road closure (daily from 6am to 5pm)

– Kiu Tau Road, except for hearses;
– Ming Yin Road, except for franchised buses;
– Wo Ka Lau Road; and
– All access roads within Wo Hop Shek Cemetery.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along northbound Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon cannot turn right to southbound Pak Wo Road; and
– Traffic along southbound Pak Wo Road near MTR Fanling Station cannot turn right to the car park on Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon.

C. Suspension of parking spaces (daily from 7am to 5pm)

– The car park on Wo Hing Road near Ming Yin Road roundabout,  except for taxis;
– The car park on Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon, except for the disabled parking spaces and public buses of the residents’ service route NR112. Depending on prevailing situation, vehicles carrying elderly and disabled passengers may be allowed to use the car park for interchange with shuttle buses heading for the Wo Hop Shek cemetery; and
– Parking spaces on Wah Ming Lane.

(2) Sandy Ridge

     The Frontier Closed Area from Lo Wu Station to Lo Wu Station Road will be open to grave-sweepers between 6am and 6pm daily until April 28.

     The following roads will be closed between 6am and 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22:

– Lo Wu Station Road from its junction with Man Kam To Road to a point of about 280 metres west of the same junction, near the cemetery management office, except for vehicles of Lo Wu Village residents and vehicles that are allowed to park at the car park of MTR Lo Wu Station; and
– Sha Ling Road, except for vehicles of Sha Ling residents.

(3) Lau Fau Shan

     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented from 8.45am to 4pm daily on March 31 and April 5:

– Traffic along Deep Bay Road from Sha Kiu Tsuen and Mong Tseng Tsuen towards Lau Fau Shan upon reaching Mong Tseng San Road must turn left to Mong Tseng San Road towards Tin Ying Road, except GMB route 35;
– Deep Bay Road between Mong Tseng San Road and the entrance of Wan Fau Sin Koon will be re-routed to one-way eastbound;
– Mong Tseng San Road will be re-routed to one-way southbound; and
– Traffic along Tin Ying Road cannot enter the slip road heading for Mong Tseng San Road.

(4) Tuen Mun
     
     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented daily from 7am to 7pm on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22:

A. Intermittent road closure

– Tsing San Path; and
– The access roads leading to Ching Chung Koon and Ching Chung Sin Yuen.

B. Traffic diversions

– Tsing Chung Koon Road between Tsing Lun Road and San Fuk Road will be re-routed one-way northbound; and
– San Fuk Road between Leung Shun Street and Tsing Chun Koon Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. Passengers pick-up and drop-off points

     Three temporary pick up and drop off points will be set up at northbound Tsing Chung Koon Road opposite to Castle Peak Hospital, northbound Tsing Chung Koon Road opposite to Tuen Mun Hospital, and westbound Tsing Lun Road outside Tuen Mun Hospital.

(5) Kwai Tsing

     Wing Yin Street and Wing Hau Street will be closed from 7am to 5pm daily on March 30, April 6, 13, 19, 20, 21 and 22, except for hearses and franchised buses.　

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 7am to 5pm daily on March 31, April 5, 7, and 14:

– Southbound Wing Tak Street between the entrance of City Point and Wing Shun Street, Wing Yin Street, and Wing Shun Street between Wing Tak Street and Kwai Hei Street will be closed, except for hearses, franchised buses, GMBs and taxis;
– Wing Chong Street, Wing Hau Street and Wing Lap Street will be closed; and
– Wing Kei Road between Kwai Hei Street and Wing Kin Road will be re-routed one-way southbound. Vehicles must travel via Wing Kin Road for Wing Kei Road.

(6) Sha Tin
     
     The following roads will be closed between 7am and 6pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22:

– Lower Shing Mun Road between Yau On Street and Fu Shan Crematorium, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and GMB route 64K; and
– Pai Tau Street west of its junction with Sheung Wo Che Road.

(7) To Fung Shan

     To Fung Shan Road north of its junction with Pak Lok Path will be closed between 9am and 5pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6 and 7, except for vehicles serving residents and people working in To Fung Shan.

(8) Tsuen Wan

     Lo Wai Road between Lo Wai Pai Lau and Yuen Yuen Institute will be closed from 8am to 5pm daily on March 30 and 31, April 5, 6, and 7, except for franchised buses, taxis, GMBs and vehicles with permit.

     During the road closure period, all metered parking spaces on Lo Wai Road near Yi Pei Chun Road, Lo Wai old bus terminus and outside Yuen Yuen Institute will be suspended.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the above areas may be towed away without prior notice.

     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.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, March 29, 2019 is 103.4 (same as yesterday's index).

     Following is the speech by the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Ms Salina Yan, at a breakfast event organised by the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong today (March 29):
 
     I must thank the Australian Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong) for organising this breakfast event so soon following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Investment Agreement (IA) between Hong Kong and Australia on Tuesday (March 26) in Sydney.  To the theme of the sharing today – "What the FTA and IA mean for businesses", I would venture three key points from the Hong Kong perspective as a matter of introduction.
 
I. Legal and Policy Certainties
 
     Businesses are natural risk takers but, understandably, you need a stable environment with predictable and transparent rules and policies to manage risks.  The FTA and the new IA are legal documents binding the two governments in respect of the market access commitments made and associated rules contained therein.  For Hong Kong, a strong legal backing can be found in Articles 116 and 151 of the Basic Law which provide that, using the name Hong Kong, China, we can participate in international organisations and conclude and implement trade and other agreements with our trading partners.  At a deeper level, being two ardent free trade advocates, Hong Kong and Australia see very much eye to eye on the importance of bringing down tariffs, keeping open our services sectors, cutting red tape and providing the necessary protection to investors and investments in modern terms.  You will find all these elements in the two agreements which send a strong message for free and open trade and investment against the prevailing choppy international trade waters.  This brings me to my second point.
 
II. World Trade Organization (WTO) Consistent and WTO Plus Commitments
 
     Not only is the FTA WTO compliant, it goes above the commitments Hong Kong and Australia have made under the WTO.  In the goods area, we will bind all our tariffs at zero for each other on Day One of implementation.  And in the true spirit of trade facilitation, we will put in place simple self-declaration of origin procedures for exporters, producers and importers to claim the zero import tariff, backed up by more risk-based checks.  In terms of trade in services, Hong Kong and Australia service providers will be able to enjoy WTO-plus commitments in respect of access to each other's market and treatment no less favourable than local service providers.  For Hong Kong, we will benefit from the specific commitments Australia has made in some 140 services sectors including professional services, IT, telecommunications, transport services, financial services, etc.  These represent 40 per cent more sectors than those Australia has committed under WTO, and over 60 per cent of the sectors covered by existing WTO commitments will see improvements.  Apparently, Hong Kong is one of the only two economies which enjoy Australia's FTA market access commitments in arbitration, conciliation and mediation services as well as rail passenger transport services.  I am happy to say that Hong Kong has also made comparable high quality commitments in a wide range of service sectors, many of which are of particular interest to Australia.
 
III.  Substantive Business Opportunities
 
     We believe that substantive business opportunities will be brought by these two high quality and comprehensive agreements.  In the goods area, with zero tariffs and trade facilitation measures, we look forward to increased bilateral trade flow.  Using 2017 figures, we estimate that some HK$16 million in tariff expenditure will be saved annually.  I have talked earlier about services.  We do not stop at preserving the status quo.  Thanks to our hard-working and highly professional negotiators, the two sides have agreed on dedicated and forward-looking disciplines in the specific realm of the next-generation economic growth points.  On electronic commerce, for instance, we agree not to impose customs duties (tariffs) on all electronic transmissions, and have included other provisions to facilitate e-commerce.  On financial services, Hong Kong and Australia will permit service suppliers of the other side to establish in its market to provide new financial services that its own financial service suppliers can provide.  We also agree to share experiences and continue discussions on education services, professional services including legal services as well as government procurement as part of the future work programme.
 
     Underlining all these, the new IA will provide comprehensive protection for investors of both sides under the principle of fair and equitable treatment.  We have secured Australia's commitment in raising its monetary thresholds for screening so that only investment amounting to A$1154 million or more will require screening compared to the present A$266 million for non-sensitive businesses.  This will help improve Hong Kong investors' access to the Australian market with legal certainty.  Similarly, Hong Kong has long been a major investment hub in the region.  With the IA, Australian investors are encouraged to make better use of the investment opportunities in Hong Kong, and to use Hong Kong as a springboard to invest in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the rest of the Mainland, other economies in the region, as well as economies along the Belt and Road and beyond.
 
     In short, the FTA and IA will bring the close economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and Australia to a new level.  The agreement will take effect after the two sides have completed their respective internal procedures.  If you are interested to learn more, you are most welcome to visit my department's dedicated website.  The legal texts and all schedules of commitments have been uploaded to facilitate understanding and utilisation of the agreements.  Thank you.

     The Government received a total of 2 059 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the third quarter of 2018, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (March 29).
 
     The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of September 2018 amounted to 67 138. Of these, 4 003 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 3 291 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or could not confirm or deny the existence of information. As at September 30, 2018, 306 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.

     Among the 59 538 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 58 109 requests (97.6 per cent) were met, either in full (56 745 requests) or in part (1 364 requests), and 1 429 requests (2.4 per cent) were refused.

     Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request that the matter be reviewed. He or she may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.

     In the third quarter of 2018, the Ombudsman received 17 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 38 complaints, among which three were substantiated, 16 were partially substantiated, three were unsubstantiated, 15 were settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman, and one was not pursued by the Ombudsman or outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction. As at September 30, 2018, the Ombudsman's investigations on 20 complaints were ongoing.

     "The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government," the spokesman said.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 29) released the latest grading of water quality for nine gazetted beaches that are open for swimming.  
   
     Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and three as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are: 
     

Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Golden Beach	Stanley Main Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:  
      

Big Wave Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
      
     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, an 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.