Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (December 29). The arrangements will come into effect two ho… read more
Following is the transcript of the opening remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session today (December 28) on the land sale programme for January to March 2019:
In the fourth quarter of 2018-19, the Government will sell by tender four residential sites capable of providing around 1 860 flats in total. The sites are located one each in Yuen Long and on Lantau and two in Kai Tak. In the same quarter, the MTR Corporation Limited plans to tender Package 11 of LOHAS Park, which is estimated to produce about 1 650 flats. The Urban Renewal Authority will take forward two projects, one in Kwun Tong and one in Tai Kok Tsui, which can provide about 210 flats.
Including the supply from private development and redevelopment projects, the total private housing land supply in the fourth quarter is estimated to produce about 3 950 flats in total.
For the whole financial year of 2018-19, the total supply from all sources would have a capacity to produce about 13 850 private housing flats. This supply has taken account of the recently announced public/private split for the supply of new housing units in line with our Long Term Housing Strategy, under which a split of 70 per cent vs 30 per cent for public housing and private housing respectively has been adopted.
It is noteworthy that the supply of private housing land would continue to stand at a relatively high level. Taking the three-year period from 2016-17 to 2018-19 as an example, the annual average number of units to be provided would still stand at nearly 20 000 flats. Looking forward, the projected first-hand private residential units available in the coming three to four years is estimated to be around 93 000 units.
In the next quarter, the Government also plans to put up for sale one site in Kai Tak for commercial and hotel use. This site is capable of providing about 80 200 square meters of GFA (gross floor area), including about 480 to 800 hotel rooms.
As in the past, the Government will continue to increase land supply through a multi-pronged approach to meet the community’s needs for housing, economic and social development.
Thank you very much. read more
Police will implement the following special traffic arrangements and crowd safety management measures on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon on December 31 (Monday) to facilitate the New Year celebration.
Hong Kong Island
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I. Wan Chai North
To facilitate members of the public to watch the pyrotechnic display, crowd safety management measures will be implemented at Wan Chai Promenade, Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central and Expo Drive East.
The following roads will be closed in phases:
Phase I (from 9pm until the crowd has dispersed)
– Expo Drive;
– Expo Drive Central;
– Expo Drive East; and
– Road A2.
Phase II (from 11pm until the crowd has dispersed)
– Road P2 between Lung Wo Road and Fleming Road; and
– The first left lane of northbound Fleming Road between Convention Avenue and Harbour Road.
II. Central
A. Road closure
Tramway Lane will be closed from 7pm on December 31 to 2am the following day, except for franchised buses and taxis.
The following roads will be closed in phases:
Phase I (from 9pm until the crowd has dispersed)
– Man Kwong Street outside Pier No.8
Phase II (from 11pm until the crowd has dispersed)
– Yiu Sing Street;
– Westbound Lung Wo Road between Road D11 and southbound Legislative Council Road;
– Westbound Lung Wo Road between Edinburgh Place and Man Yiu Street;
– Eastbound Lung Wo Road;
– Lung Wui Road;
– Southbound Legislative Council Road; and
– Road D11.
B. Traffic diversions
Traffic along eastbound Connaught Road West flyover will be diverted to Cannaught Road Central from 11.55pm until the pyrotechnic display has finished.
III. Lan Kwai Fong
A. Crowd safety management measures
As a large number of people are expected, a queuing system will be implemented in Lan Kwai Fong. Once the queuing system is implemented, people wishing to enter the area will be required to join the queue and may have to wait an undetermined time to gain access. They are advised to allow adequate time to arrive at their venues.
Members of the public are urged not to bring or discharge aerosol spray in the vicinity as it may be hazardous to people nearby. Parents are advised not to bring children into the area.
B. Road closure
Phase I (From 6pm on December 31 to 6am the following day)
– D’Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;
– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.
Phase II (Anytime after 7pm on December 31 to 6am the following day)
– D’Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Wellington Street;
– Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central;
– Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.
After the completion of traffic diversion, crowds will be directed to queue up along Wellington Street, Pottinger Street, Stanley Street, D’Aguilar Street and Queen’s Road Central. The whole section of D’Aguilar Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.
Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning or subject to multiple ticketing.
IV. Causeway Bay and Tin Hau
To help facilitate the Jadines’ Midnight Gun Ceremony, crowd safety management measures and the following traffic arrangements will be implemented:
A. Pedestrianisation
The following roads will be pedestrianised from 4pm until the crowd has dispersed:
– Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street;
– East Point Road; and
– Great George Street between Paterson Street and East Point Road.
B. Road closure and traffic diversions
The following traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases when necessary:
Phase I (From 6pm until the crowd has dispersed)
Road closure
– Sugar Street;
– Great George Street between Gloucester Road and Paterson Street;
– Westbound Kingston Street between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road;
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street;
– Southbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and the ramp leading down from Victoria Park Road flyover; and
– Northbound Gloucester Road south of Kingston Street.
Traffic from Victoria Park Road flyover will be diverted to westbound Gloucester Road service road.
Phase II (From 8pm until the crowd has dispersed)
Road closure
– Kingston Street;
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Gloucester Road;
– Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, one lane of westbound Gloucester Road service road between Victoria Park Road flyover and Cannon Street;
– If necessary, northbound Tai Hang Road flyover;
– If necessary, Hing Fat Street between Causeway Road and Lau Li Street;
– If necessary, Electric Road between Lau Li Street and Lau Sin Street, except for franchised buses and vehicles of residents of Park Towers; and
– If necessary, Tsing Fung Street, except for franchised buses.
If necessary, Lau Li Street may be re-routed from one-way eastbound to one-way westbound.
The lay-by on Victoria Park Road outside Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter will be suspended from 9pm until the crowd has dispersed.
V. Island Eastern Corridor
The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented at westbound Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) from 11.55pm till the pyrotechnic display finished, except for franchised buses:
– Traffic along westbound IEC will be diverted to Man Hong Street; and
– Slip roads leading to westbound IEC from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road will be closed.
VI. Suspension of parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces on the slip road outside Lower Peak Tram Terminal will be suspended from 9am on December 31 to 7am the following day.
Hing Fat Street public car park will be suspended from 10am on December 31 to 2am the following day, except motorcycle parking spaces near the exit of car park and disabled parking spaces.
All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 4pm on December 31 to 2am the following day:
– Expo Drive;
– Expo Drive East;
– Lung King Street;
– Lung Wo Road; and
– Lung Wui Road.
All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 4pm on December 31 to 6am the following day:
– Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;
– Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.
All metered parking spaces on Tung Lo Wan Road between King’s Road and Wun Sha Street will be suspended from 5pm on December 31 to 2am the following day.
VII. Suspension of car parks
Car parks on Great George Street will be closed from 6pm on December 31 to 2am the following day. Vehicles will not be permitted to enter or leave the car parks along the affected area during the road closure period.
VIII. Hotel access
During the road closure period, hotels in the affected area may make use of the bus stop outside Sino Plaza on Gloucester Road to pick-up and drop-off passengers taking airport shuttle buses.
IX. Learner driver prohibition
Learner drivers will not be permitted to access the following roads from 6pm to 11.30pm on December 31:
– Tung Lo Wan Road;
– Hing Fat Street; and
– Electric Road between Wing Hing Street and Yacht Street.
Kowloon
——-
I. Crowd safety management measures
The New Year’s Eve Countdown celebration and pyrotechnic show are expected to attract a large number of people to Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade. Police will implement crowd safety management measures in the area.
Starting from 8pm, Police will implement road closures in Tsim Sha Tsui area in phases. Only vehicles with permits are allowed to enter the closed area. Depending on the prevailing crowd situation, Police will adopt safety measures within the pedestrianised area, including closing pedestrian subways and putting up barriers. One-way flow will also be applied in the vicinity of the waterfront promenade and crowded footbridges. If necessary, restrictions on access to MTR stations will be put into force by the MTR Corporation.
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre Complex and the vicinity of the Clock Tower are known to be popular gathering and vantage points. If these areas are saturated, the crowd will be diverted to other areas. Due to maintenance works at the Avenue of Stars, special crowd management measures will also be implemented. People going to and from the Waterfront Promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui East and Star Ferry Pier will be diverted to the pavement in Salisbury Road. Members of the public who plan to watch the pyrotechnic display at the Avenue of Stars are advised to go to other vantage points such as Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Promenade near Hung Hom area.
At present, there are construction works at Exit D, Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station at Nathan Road near Carnarvon Road, West Kowloon Cultural District and Avenue of Stars in the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. The contractors have erected hoardings and barriers to seal off the area concerned with relevant notices displayed. Members of the public are urged not to enter these construction areas.
Police appeal to the public to follow instructions given by Police officers and to take heed of Police signage and broadcasts at scene. They are also urged not to conduct street performance, or to use snow or aerosol spray to avoid causing obstruction or potential danger to others in the crowded area.
II. Road closure and traffic diversions
The following traffic arrangements will be implemented in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in phases:
Phase I (From 8pm until the crowd has dispersed)
A. Road closure
– Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road;
– Princess Margaret Road Link between Metropolis Drive and Hung Hom Bypass;
– Westbound Salisbury Road between Cheong Wan Road and Kowloon Park Drive, including Salisbury Road elevated road;
– Eastbound Salisbury Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Science Museum Road;
– The U-turn slip-road near No.72 Mody Road leading from eastbound Salisbury Road to westbound Salisbury Road;
– Mody Lane;
– Hong Wan Path;
– Canton Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road;
– Kowloon Park Drive, except for franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs);
– Salisbury Road between Star Ferry Pier and Kowloon Park Drive, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Ashley Road;
– Hankow Road;
– Lock Road;
– Northbound Nathan Road between Bowring Street and Salisbury Road;
– Southbound Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
– Carnarvon Road between Bristol Avenue and Granville Road;
– Bristol Avenue;
– Hanoi Road;
– Hart Avenue;
– Minden Row;
– Blenheim Avenue;
– Middle Road;
– Hau Fook Street;
– Cameron Lane;
– Cameron Road;
– Prat Avenue;
– Humphreys Avenue;
– Peking Road;
– Haiphong Road;
– Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Nathan Road;
– Westbound Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road;
– Minden Avenue;
– Northbound Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
– Southbound Chatham Road South between Mody Road and Salisbury Road;
– Granville Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road. It will also be re-routed to one way eastbound and restricted for the use of franchised buses and GMBs only;
– Granville Square; and
– Ichang Street.
B. Traffic diversions
– Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout via Hung Hom Bypass;
– Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Princess Margaret Road Link;
– Traffic along southbound Princess Margaret Road Link must turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;
– Traffic along eastbound Mody Road cannot enter Mody Lane;
– Franchised buses along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to either westbound Public Square Street or westbound Jordan Road;
– Franchised buses along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
– Traffic along southbound Canton Road must make a u-turn to northbound Canton Road outside China Hong Kong City;
– Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road;
– Granville Road between Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road will be re-routed to one-way eastbound;
– Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn right to westbound Cameron Road;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Mody Road;
– Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to westbound Mody Road;
– Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to Granville Road;
– Traffic along westbound Salisbury Road near Cheong Wan Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Granville Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Traffic along eastbound Granville Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South;
– Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive; and
– Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road.
Phase II (From 8.30pm until the crowd has dispersed)
A. Road closure
– Kowloon Park Drive;
– Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive; and
– Star Ferry Pier Bus Terminus.
B. Traffic diversions
Franchised buses and GMBs cannot enter southbound Kowloon Park Drive.
Phase III (From 11pm until the crowd has dispersed)
A. Road closure
– Kin Wan Street.
B. Traffic diversions
– Traffic along Hung Luen Road cannot turn to Kin Wan Street.
Phase IV (From 11.30pm until the crowd has dispersed)
A. Road closure
– Northbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Bowring Street;
– Southbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Granville Road;
– Pine Tree Hill Road;
– Carnarvon Road between Kimberley Road and Granville Road;
– Shun Yee Street;
– Granville Circuit;
– Northbound Chatham Road South between Observatory Road and Granville Road;
– Bowring Street between Pilkem Street and Nathan Road;
– Tak Shing Street between Nathan Road and Tak Hing Street;
– Hillwood Road;
– Kimberley Road between Nathan Road and Observatory Road;
– Kimberley Street;
– Granville Road between Nathan Road and Chatham Road South;
– Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Mody Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Eastbound Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road; and
– Mody Square.
B. Traffic diversions
– Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Jordan Road;
– Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Nathan Road;
– Traffic along westbound Austin Road and southbound Cox’s Road cannot turn to Pine Tree Hill Road;
– Traffic along Observatory Road cannot turn to westbound Kimberley Street;
– Traffic along westbound Cheong Wan Road cannot turn left to southbound Chatham Road South;
– Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to westbound Austin Road or eastbound Cheong Wan Road;
– Traffic along northbound Pilkem Street cannot turn right to eastbound Bowring Street; and
– Traffic along eastbound Bowring Street will be diverted to northbound Pilkem Street.
The following traffic arrangements will be implemented when necessary:
A. Road closure
– Hung Luen Road between Wa Shun Street and Hung Lok Road;　and
– Oi King Street.
B. Traffic diversions
– Traffic along westbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to Wa Shun Street;
– Traffic along Wa Shun Street must turn right to eastbound Hung Luen Road;
– Traffic along southbound Hung Lok Road cannot turn left to eastbound Hung Luen Road; and
– Traffic along eastbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to northbound Hung Lok Road.
III. Hotel access
Vehicular access to and from hotels within the affected area will not be permitted during the road closure period. Vehicles bearing a hotel logo will only be allowed to drop off passengers at the following locations before the road closure implementation:
– The junction of Kowloon Park Drive and Peking Road; and
– The junction of Chatham Road South and Mody Road.
IV. Suspension of car parks
Vehicles will not be permitted to access or leave car parks along the affected area during the road closure period.
V. Suspension of on-street parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces in the southern area of Tsim Sha Tsui (i.e. the south of Austin Road and Cheong Wan Road) will be suspended from 3pm on December 31 to 3am the following day.
Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning.
Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site. read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced… read more
The Government announced today (December 28) that after an open tendering exercise the contract for the design, construction and operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park has been awarded to the Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd.
“The Kai Tak Sports Park, occupying 28 hectares of land, is the Government’s most important investment in sports infrastructure in recent decades. When completed, it will become the biggest sports venue in Hong Kong. We are looking forward to working closely with Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd’s team to create a world class sports park with high quality facilities for the use and enjoyment of the sports sector and the Hong Kong community,” a Government spokesman said.
Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd is a subsidiary of New World Development Company Limited and NWS Holdings Limited established specifically for the project. Its project team comprises overseas and local experts experienced in design, construction, venue management, sales and marketing, and retail and operation. Project team members like Populous, SMG and Lagardère Sports are recognised global industry leaders with extensive experience in the design and operation of large scale international projects as well as the management of major sports venues.
The design by Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd consists of a covered Kai Tak Sports Avenue running in the north-south orientation as the main axis, connecting all key facilities of the Sports Park with the adjacent Station Square, Kai Tak MTR Station and Sung Wong Toi MTR Station and leading to the harbourfront promenade. The focal point of the Sports Park is the 50 000-seat Main Stadium, with “Pearl of the Orient” as its façade design theme. With a soundproof retractable roof and flexible pitch surface the Main Stadium is ideal for hosting major football and rugby games. Through the installation of separation drapes, stage setting and various equipment, the Main Stadium can also be used for hosting entertainment and community events of a different nature and scale.
The Indoor Sports Centre will provide a large multipurpose space, and with most of its 10 000 seats retractable or removable it is not only suitable for hosting major competitions but will also provide many indoor sports courts for everyday community use. The 5 000-seat Public Sports Ground is suitable for hosting school athletics meetings, athletics training and local football league games. It will also be open to the public free of charge for jogging and exercise.
The Kai Tak Sports Park will also provide large open space for public enjoyment, with facilities such as outdoor ball courts, open lawn areas, children’s play areas, fitness stations and more. Other facilities in the precinct include a health and wellness centre, a bowling centre, retail, food and beverage outlets and about 850 parking spaces.
There are various energy conservation and sustainability design features such as a photovoltaic system, roof greening, vertical greening and parking spaces with electric vehicle charging facilities. There are also smart city initiatives including an intelligent building management system, wi-fi hot spots, an indoor positioning system, an intelligent car park management system and mobile applications to facilitate precinct information, booking of facilities and wayfinding.
The contract for the Kai Tak Sports Park is for 25 years, including four to five years for design and construction and approximately 20 years of operation. The Government will fund the construction cost of $29.993 billion, while Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd is required to cover all operating costs and pay the Government 3 per cent of the gross income plus $1.724 billion during the operation period.
The construction works will commence in the first quarter of 2019 and are scheduled for completion in 2023. When it commences operation, the Kai Tak Sports Park will provide high quality sports facilities to support the future sports development of Hong Kong. For details, please refer to the project website at www.KaiTakSportsPark.hk.
