Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹Four chain vegetable and fresh meat shops at Lane-Square in Tai Po, comprising two vegetable shops operated by Bonnie Vegetables and Fruit Wholesale Limited on Kwong Fuk Road and Heung Sze Wui Street, a vegetable shop operated by Ka Wo Farming Limited, and a fresh meat shop (日日鮮五è±�鮮肉) on Tai Kwong Lane, caused noise nuisance to nearby residents by persistently playing promotional recordings loudly. They were fined a total of $29,100 by Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (January 8) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).
      
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that the department had stepped up enforcement action in July last year against excessive noise generated by chain stores to peddle goods in the vicinity of Lane-Square in Tai Po. During a series of inspections, it was found that the above vegetable and fresh meat shops played promotional recordings loudly and continuously usingloudspeakers, thus causing noise annoyance. The department subsequently prosecuted the operating companies concerned in accordance with the NCO. Among these shops, a fresh meat shop (日日鮮五è±�鮮肉) on Tai Kwong Lane was prosecuted twice on the same day as it refused to turn down the volume of its loudspeakers, disregarding the warning given by the department.
      
     After a series of enforcement action taken by the EPD, the number of noise complaints against the shops in the vicinity of Lane-Square in Tai Po has largely reduced. The EPD will closely monitor the situation and conduct stringent enforcement against such irregularities. The spokesman reminded the responsible persons of retail shops and market stalls that when they play promotional recordings to sell goods, they should contain the noise level within their shop area and should not cause annoyance to people outside their shops or nearby residents. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 for each offence. For repeat offenders, the operator himself will also be criminally liable for the offence once convicted. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 is 104.3 (same as yesterday’s index). read more

     The Director of Social Welfare (DSW), Ms Carol Yip, and members of the Management Committee of the Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund, including advisors Mr Richard Tang and Mr Hamilton Ho, today (January 8) hosted an annual reception for the elderly and distributed lai see packets to them in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year.
 
     Speaking at the reception, Ms Yip said that the Fund has since its inception in 1977 been providing financial assistance to needy families and individuals to help tide them over amid difficulties. Assistance from the Fund helps the poor facing adversity in life and relieves their distress by providing timely and substantial support.
 
     She pointed out that the Fund granted $2.77 million to 719 approved cases in 2017-18, and the Fund had also approved a further 288 applications totalling $1.21 million from April to September 2018. A total sum of $3 million has been earmarked for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) as social relief grants for the coming fiscal year.
 
     Ms Yip took the opportunity to extend her sincere thanks to all members of the Management Committee for their long-term support and care for those in need.
 
     Ms Yip added that the Government has devoted extensive resources to various services for the elderly in the face of the ageing population. To strengthen home care services so as to enable frail elderly persons to age in place, the Government will increase the service quota under the Enhanced Home and Community Care Services by 2 000 in 2019, and will implement a new scheme in 2019-20 to set up day care units for the elderly at qualified private and self-financing residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs). Around 120 day care places for the elderly will be provided.
 
     In September 2018, the SWD launched the Dementia Friendly Community Campaign, a three-year public education programme, with the aim of promoting public awareness and understanding on dementia. Its series of publicity activities and events include the newly released Announcements in the Public Interest on television and radio, a new thematic webpage at the SWD’s website, a television docudrama series to be broadcast in late January, a large-scale highlight event to be held on January 26 and related district-level activities as well as talks organised by 11 SWD District Social Welfare Offices. In addition, citizens are encouraged to register as internationally recognised “Dementia Friends” and turn care and support into actions for people with dementia and their families in order to build a dementia-friendly community.
 
     As regards residential care, the Government strives to increase subsidised residential care places for the elderly under a multi-pronged approach. Apart from continuing to build new contract homes and implementing measures such as the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses, it was announced in the 2018 Policy Address that the Government will purchase an additional 5 000 EA1 places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme in the next five years to increase the supply of subsidised residential care places for the elderly and enhance the overall service quality of private RCHEs.
 
     For helping the social welfare care sector attract young people and retain talent, the Government will continue with the operation of the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services, providing an additional 1 200 training places in the coming years under an enhanced scheme.
 
     Attending the reception today were some 40 elderly persons, with the oldest at the age of 92. The Fund treated them to a wonderful show and a lavish and healthy lunch, as well as offering them best wishes for a happy Lunar New Year.
 
     The Fund was founded by the late Sir Tang Shiu-kin and the late Dr Ho Tim, with the DSW Incorporated acting as the trustee of the Fund under Chapter 1096 of the Laws of Hong Kong. Members of the Management Committee include descendants of the founders (advisors), prominent members of the community and representatives from relevant government departments, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Po Leung Kuk.
 
     The objective of the Fund is to provide timely financial assistance to needy individuals and families in emergency situations for which other sources may not be applicable or readily available. Recipients of the Fund include the unemployed, disaster victims, the chronically ill, persons with disabilities, single parent families and the elderly.

      

     The new term of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee has been appointed. The tenure is from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020. The membership list of the advisory committee is as follows:   Ch… read more

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (January 9). 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. read more