Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (March 20). 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.

     Police yesterday (March 19) held the Regional Traffic Day on the Hong Kong Island to raise public awareness of road safety through stringent enforcement actions.

     A total of 316 officers from Traffic Hong Kong Island and District Traffic Teams of Eastern, Wan Chai, Central and Western Districts were deployed to take enforcement actions at traffic black spots on the Hong Kong Island.

     The operation resulted in the issue of 1,624 fixed penalty tickets and 54 summonses. Among the fixed penalty tickets and summonses issued, a total of 1,448 fixed penalty tickets were issued for illegal parking and the rest were for other traffic offences.

     Police figures revealed that a total of 450 traffic accidents involving casualties occurred on the Hong Kong Island in the first two months of 2019, of which involved 118 pedestrian injuries.

     Police will continue to take regular enforcement actions to ensure road safety.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

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 (March 20) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, continued his visit with a Hong Kong business and professional delegation to Tbilisi, Georgia, yesterday (March 19, Tbilisi time) to explore investment and business opportunities in the region.

     Mr Yau met with the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Mrs Maya Tskitishvili, and the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Mr Ivane Machavariani, in the morning to understand the latest government policies and infrastructure development plans as well as the overall investment and business opportunities in Georgia. Mr Yau also called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Georgia, Mr Ji Yanchi.

     Mr Yau said Georgia, with its strategic location in the Caucasus region as well as its open and business-friendly economy, is an important gateway for Hong Kong to reach out to the markets in the Caucasus region and Central and Eastern Europe. The Hong Kong-Georgia Free Trade Agreement, being the first such agreement signed between Hong Kong and a country in the Caucasus region, not only enhances trade and investment flows between Hong Kong and Georgia, but also paves the way for Hong Kong business and professional services sectors as well as start-ups to tap into the enormous opportunities in the Caucasus region under the Belt and Road Initiative.

     Meanwhile, the delegation visited the Poti Free Industrial Zone Headquarters in Tbilisi in the morning to learn about the development of free industrial zones in the region and the investment opportunities there. The Poti Free Industrial Zone, the first of its kind in the region, became functional in 2010. With its tax-free environment and easy business setup process, the industrial zone accommodates businesses and investors from diverse segments.

     In the afternoon, Mr Yau and the delegation visited the Hualing Tbilisi Sea New City, a 420-hectare major comprehensive development project in Georgia. The project developer, Hualing Group, was Georgia's single largest foreign investor as of 2017. Through the visit, the delegation learnt more about investment in key projects in Georgia.

     The delegation then attended a meeting with representatives of the Anaklia Development Consortium on the development of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port and the Special Economic Zone in Anaklia. The first phase of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port is expected to be completed next year. Upon completion of all phases, it will be the first deep sea port in Georgia and a vital part of the Middle Corridor within the Belt and Road Initiative to serve as a logistics and transportation node between China and Europe.

     In the evening, the delegation joined a networking dinner with representatives of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to better understand the business environment in Georgia.

     Mr Yau and the delegation will visit Chateau Mukhrani today (March 20, Tbilisi time) to learn about the latest developments of Georgia's wine industry and explore opportunities for the wine trade of Hong Kong.