Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 8) released the latest grading of water quality for nine gazetted beaches that are open for swimming.  
        
     Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), two as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:  
 

Big Wave Bay Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Stanley Main Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
    

Golden Beach

Silverstrand Beach

 
Grade 3 beach is:
      

Silver Mine Bay Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2 and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 1 to Grade 3.
      
     “The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” the 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, 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. read more

     Members of the public are invited to participate in the Country Parks Hiking and Planting Day to be jointly held by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and Friends of the Country Parks on three Sundays in March and April.
 
     The dates and locations of the tree planting days are as follows:
 

March 17	Tai Tong Nature Trail, Tai Lam Country Park
March 31	Lantau Trail Section 3, Lautau South Country Park
April 14	Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail, Pat Sin Leng Country Park

 
     An AFCD spokesman said today (March 8), “People who wish to participate should enroll in person at the registration point on the event day from 9am to 10.30am. Due to limited planting space, enrolment will close once the quota is full. The AFCD will provide seedlings and planting tools.
 
     “The activities aim to promote public involvement in countryside conservation and enhance awareness of nature conservation and tree preservation.”
 
     The spokesman reminded participants to select an appropriate planting site and hiking route by taking into account their physical ability and hiking experience, as the time needed to go to the planting sites on the hillside varies from about 10 to 45 minutes. After tree planting, the participants may continue to hike the recommended route (the whole course takes about two hours to complete) to enjoy countryside and the beautiful scenery of the country parks. The spokesman also encouraged participants to prepare before joining the event by bringing their own water bottles and towels to avoid using one-off disposables, and take away their litter to help maintain the naturalness of the country parks.
  
     The seedlings for the tree planting activities were raised in the AFCD’s tree nursery at Tai Tong, Yuen Long. In recent years the AFCD has been planting local species to enhance the biodiversity and ecological value of the country parks. About 400,000 tree seedlings were planted in country parks last year by the public, various organisations and staff of country parks.
 
     Details of the activities are available on the AFCD’s website (www.natureintouch.gov.hk/hikingandplanting) or Country Parks Education Programmes’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/countryparkseducationprogammes). For enquiries about the Country Parks Hiking and Planting Day, please call 1823 or email nature@afcd.gov.hk. read more

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (March 8) the rating results of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Distributor Safety Performance Recognition Scheme for 2018 for public reference.
      
     All the 168 distributors under the five registered gas supply companies supplying cylinder LPG in Hong Kong joined the Scheme. Among the participating distributors, 48 attained the highest level of safety performance, the gold rating, while 26 and 94 received silver and bronze ratings respectively.
      
     Under the Scheme, independent auditing companies commissioned by the registered gas supply companies rated the distributors based on their performance in various aspects such as LPG cylinder delivery arrangements, safety inspection of gas appliances, record keeping of customer receipts, employee training and maintaining gas safety operation records. The rating results were verified by the EMSD.
      
     Distributors will display the Scheme’s logo and the rating certificate outside and inside their shops respectively for easy identification by the general public.
      
     Organised by the EMSD and registered gas supply companies, the Scheme aims to further enhance the safety performance of the LPG cylinder trade. Details of the Scheme and the ratings of LPG cylinder distributors are available at the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/media/lpgcdsprs).

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     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year tenancy of Shop No. 5 at the Outbound Restricted Area on the first floor and Store Room No. 7 at the Inbound Restricted Area on the second floor of the Passenger Terminal Building, Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point, New Territories.
     
     The premises should only be used for: (i) Shop No. 5: the purposes of general retail including storage, sale and display of duty free liquor and tobacco, wine, perfume, cosmetics, general merchandise and other ancillary products (excluding any goods or commodities that are subject to export control under laws of Hong Kong, any regulations made thereunder and any amending legislations); and (ii) Store Room No. 7: storage purposes.

     The tender notices were uploaded today (March 8) to the Agency’s website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 31/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, during office hours (8.30am to 5.45pm from Mondays to Fridays). The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency’s website.
 
     Interested tenderers who wish to attend the tender briefing should make prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 2594 7697 on or before March 21.
 
     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the G/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, before noon on April 4. Late tenders will not be accepted. read more

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 8) that due to big wa… read more