The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (January 8) to consider three applications for renewal or transfer of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):

Hong Kong:
——–
Itchi in Sheung Wan
The Diner in Central

New Territories:
——–
DRAGON CAFE BAR in Tai Po

     The board will also consider revoking the liquor licences of Ajitomi Japanese Restaurant in Causeway Bay, BABY BAR and THE NEW KING OF THAILAND in Tsim Sha Tsui.

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except during the private session on confidential items.

     When a civil dispute is brought to court, the hearing process can be lengthy and expensive. An affordable alternative to contesting matters in court is through mediation.
 
     Opened in November last year, the West Kowloon Mediation Centre is Hong Kong's first facility dedicated to mediation. The Small Claims Mediation Pilot Scheme was launched at the same time. Both are run by independent co-ordinator the Joint Mediation Helpline Office.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke to the office's Founding Chairman, Chairman and Senior Mediation Consultant to find out about the centre's facilities and the advantages of mediation.

     The story appears on news.gov.hk today (January 6) in both text and video format.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (January 6).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

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 of medical wards in public hospitals.  Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department today (January 5) reminded masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters to proceed at a safe speed and exercise extreme caution because restricted visibility of less than 2 nautical miles has been reported.

     Appropriate sound signals shall be made when underway or at anchor. All vessels must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.

     Also, when radar is used without the benefit of adequate plotting facilities, the information obtained from the equipment is rather limited and should be construed accordingly.

     Visibility reports are broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on VHF channels 02, 12, 14, 63 and 67.

     In the event of an accident, a report shall be made immediately to the VTC at Tel: 2233 7801.