The registered owners of two light goods vehicles, which were involved in three illegal waste disposal cases on Tai Yip Street in Kowloon Bay and Po Lun Street in Mei Foo with about 10.5 cubic metres of waste being disposed of, were convicted and fined a total of $9,000 by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 4) for contravening the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation.
      
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that Kowloon Bay is a densely populated commercial and industrial area, and some members of the logistics industry illegally disposed of construction waste and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste at night when traffic and pedestrian flows were low. To step up efforts to combat illegal waste disposal, a round-the-clock surveillance camera system was installed at Tai Yip Street to facilitate evidence collection and prosecution. The surveillance camera captured that a light goods vehicle abandoned several boxes of waste on the roadside twice in May this year, and the EPD subsequently issued two summonses to the registered owner of the vehicle involved.
      
     Separately, the EPD received a report from a member of the public in May this year about the illegal disposal of construction waste at Po Lun Street in Mei Foo from a light goods vehicle. The EPD traced the registered owner of the vehicle according to the photos and vehicle information provided by the member of the public, and subsequently prosecuted the registered owner of the vehicle in accordance with the law.
      
     The EPD spokesperson reminded those from the recycling, renovation and construction sectors that C&I waste and demolished construction waste should be delivered to the Government's waste treatment facilities as required by the law. It is unlawful to dispose of waste in public places and on the roadside. According to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, it is an offense to dispose of waste on the streets or in public places from vehicles, including goods vehicles, private cars and motorcycles. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence and the registered owner may be prosecuted. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction. If the offence continues, an additional fine of $300 will be imposed daily.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 is 105 (down 0.3 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

Hong Kong Monetary Authority Exchange Fund Bills Tender Results
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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning December 10:
 

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (December 5). 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.

     The Land Registry today (December 4) released its statistics for November 2018.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in November was 3,953 (-26.4 per cent compared with October and -48.0 per cent compared with November 2017)

* The 12-month moving average for November was 6,943 (4.2 per cent below the 12-month moving average for October and 0.4 per cent below that for November 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in November was $43.3 billion (-4.9 per cent compared with October and -35.1 per cent compared with November 2017)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 2,635 were for residential units (-37.9 per cent compared with October and -53.7 per cent compared with November 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $26.0 billion (-32.5 per cent compared with October and -51.7 per cent compared with November 2017)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
 
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in November was 443,071 (-0.6 per cent compared with October and -8.0 per cent compared with November 2017)
    
     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.