The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) intercepted an unlicensed collector who illegally collected spent lubricating oil at two garages on Kam Ping Street in North Point and Warren Street in Tai Hang. This unlicensed collector had repeatedly violated the law and was previously convicted four times by the EPD for illegal collection of chemical waste. The collector himself and the owners of Hyp Sing Motor Service Limited and Hung Lee Motors Company Limited were convicted at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 22) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. They were fined a total of $18,000.
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     During an enforcement operation in April this year, the EPD intercepted a light goods vehicle collecting a total of 400 litres of spent lubricating oil, which is classified as chemical waste, from two garages at Kam Ping Street in North Point and Warren Street in Tai Hang. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the unlicensed collector and owners of the two vehicle maintenance workshops under the WDO and the Regulation.

     The EPD spokesman explained that spent lubricating oil generated by vehicle maintenance workshops is classified as chemical waste, which contains various toxic chemicals. Improper handling of such waste will cause the spent lubricating oil to leak into nearby watercourses or soil, causing harm to the environment and public health.

     The spokesman reminded all garage operators and workers engaged in vehicle repairing businesses that they should register as chemical waste producers with the EPD in accordance with the Regulation. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, and has to be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for treatment. For replacement of lubricating oil or batteries, vehicle owners should engage the services of vehicle repair garages or companies registered with the EPD. Anyone engaged in illegal collection, storage and disposal of chemical waste will be prosecuted. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

     The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will commence operation on October 24 (Wednesday) at 9am. The Transport Department (TD) today (October 22) announced the detailed traffic and public transport arrangements as follows:

(1) At 8.45am on October 24, the Police will remove the barriers set up at Chek Lap Kok Road on Airport Island and at Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (Southern Connection) respectively for vehicular access to the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB;

(2) To tie in with the commissioning of the HZMB, three franchised bus routes and one Green Minibus (GMB) route will be introduced on October 24. The routes are:
* Route B4 (Hong Kong Port – Airport)
* Route B5 (Hong Kong Port – MTR Sunny Bay Station)
* Route B6 (Hong Kong Port – Mun Tung Estate, Tung Chung (via MTR Tung Chung Station)
* GMB Route 901 (Hong Kong Port – Tung Chung North)

     The first trips of the above routes from the airport, Sunny Bay Station, the en-route bus stop at Tung Chung Station and Tung Chung North will depart at 8.45am that day.

(3) Regarding the following eight airport "A" routes, their departures to the airport will start to serve Hong Kong Port on or after 8.30am, while their departures to urban and NT areas will start to serve Hong Kong Port after 9am that day:
* A11  (to/from North Point);
* A21  (to/from Hung Hom);
* A22  (to/from Lam Tin);
* A29  (to/from Tseung Kwan O);
* A31  (to/from Tsuen Wan);
* A33X (to/from Tuen Mun);
* A36  (to/from Yuen Long); and
* A41 (to/from Sha Tin).

     Airport "A" route A35 (to/from Mui Wo) will be extended to terminate at Hong Kong Port from 9am onwards that day.

(4) The first trips of shuttle buses going to Zhuhai and Macao will be at about 9.15am that day.

     The Government encourages the public to take public transport services to Hong Kong Port. For motorists who wish to drive to Hong Kong Port and then take shuttle bus, the Government appeals to them to make on-line booking of parking spaces at the domestic car parks at Hong Kong Port. The website for pre-booking is www.hzmbparking.com.hk/en-us.

     Members of the public are reminded that if they wish to drive their private cars to or from Zhuhai or Macao, they must be registered under the private car quotas of the three governments for using the HZMB, and have the necessary permits, completed registration with the Mainland Authority and reserved parking spaces for the East Car Park of the HZMB Frontier Post at Macao Port under the HZMB Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme.

     The Government stressed that although the mainline of the Southern Connection of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link will be opened simultaneously with the HZMB to vehicular traffic, the TD will continue to implement temporary traffic management measures, including issuing Closed Road Permits progressively to cross-boundary private cars under the regular quotas for using the HZMB, so as to ensure smooth traffic flow at Hong Kong Port, the airport and Tung Chung, to facilitate members of the public going to these areas during the initial period after the commissioning of the HZMB. However, cross-boundary private cars registered under the regular quotas for using other boundary crossings cannot use the HZMB at this stage. The TD will closely monitor the traffic situation in the vicinity of the Hong Kong Port upon the commissioning of the HZMB, and will issue letters to owners of these cross-boundary private cars to inform them of the arrangements for using the HZMB as soon as possible.

     Details of the traffic and transport arrangements for the HZMB are available at the following dedicated website www.hzmb.gov.hk.

     Members of the public and motorists are advised to plan their trips well in advance and stay alert to the traffic news. They can also check the latest traffic conditions via the TD's all-in-one mobile application "HKeMobility".

     Night-time road maintenance works on Smithfield in Kennedy Town failed to comply with the requirements of the construction noise permit (CNP). The main contractor of Hong Kong Island road maintenance works for the Highways Department, Chiu Hing Construction & Transportation Company Limited, was fined $30,000 by Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 22) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a complaint from a member of the public in March about the noise nuisance generated by night-time road maintenance works at the above location. Upon investigation, EPD staff found that the main contractor of the construction site concerned failed to comply with the requirements of the construction noise permit (CNP) when carrying out night-time road maintenance works, including the use of an unauthorised breaker and without using noise enclosures to reduce noise. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD prosecuted the main contractor in accordance with the NCO. In addition, the department has followed up with the Highways Department on strengthening the monitoring of relevant contractors to reduce noise generated by maintenance works.
      
     The NCO aims to protect the public from disturbance of rest. An EPD spokesman stressed that illegal construction works will disturb the rest of the surrounding neighbourhood. Members of the construction sector should properly manage their works. They should not carry out works using unauthorised powered mechanical equipment during restricted hours (between 7pm and 7am on the following day, or at any time on a general holiday) and they must also abide by the requirements of the CNP, as otherwise it is an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent conviction.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, October 22, 2018 is 105.4 (down 0.1 against last Saturday's index).
     
     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, October 20, 2018 is 105.5 (down 0.1 against last Friday's index).

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 22) reminded the public that to facilitate tram track renewal work at Catchick Street, parts of the slow lane of Catchick Street eastbound near Davis Street will be temporarily closed from about 10am from this Friday (October 26) to 10am on November 7 (Wednesday).
 
     During the above works period, all vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length will be temporarily prohibited from turning left from Catchick Street eastbound onto Davis Street northbound. Vehicles exceeding 7m in length on Catchick Street eastbound heading for New Praya Kennedy Town will be diverted via Davis Street southbound, Belcher's Street and Cadogan Street.
 
     To facilitate the above works, Citybus routes No. 1, 5B, 5X, 10, 43M, N8X and A10 as well as New World First Bus route No. 18X and Cross-Harbour Tunnel routes No. 101, 101X, 104, 904 and 971 will be diverted via Cadogan Street, New Praya Kennedy Town and Smithfield before resuming their original routings from their first departures on October 26 until 10am on November 7. In connection with the above bus diversions, temporary bus stop arrangements will be implemented for the affected bus routes.
 
     Appropriate traffic signs and road markings will be erected on-site to guide motorists. The public transport operators will display notices to advise passengers of the above temporary arrangements.
 
     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of the above road sections will be relatively busy. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion. Public transport commuters are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions and suspension/relocation of stops. Members of the public are advised to plan their journey in advance and allow sufficient travelling time to cater for unexpected delay, and stay alert to the latest traffic news or the department's website (www.td.gov.hk).