Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (October 18):

Reporter: About the Lantau Tomorrow Vision project, some people have expressed concerns that with this project and issues like climate change, it will make the artificial island vulnerable to disaster. What do you have to say to people who have these concerns?

Secretary for the Environment: After the COP 21, the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris, we saw the Paris Agreement. After that, the Hong Kong Government has set up a high level steering committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to look after mitigation, that means decarbonisation, and also adaptation and resilience. So you are talking about the adaptation. Under the high level steering committee, we have a working group to look after the infrastructures on how to follow the latest global standards and by making reference to the local situation. It will set the latest up-to-date standards for all infrastructures, including reclamation. Under this mechanism, for whatever kind of major infrastructures and development, no matter it is near the sea or on land, they will have to follow the latest climate adaptation standards.
 
Reporter: What about the impact of this project on marine life? How confident are you that the impact would be minimal?
 
Secretary for the Environment: I don’t think it is fair for me to comment on that. We have an established procedure, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It is a process based on scientific and objective data. It is up to the proponents to collect the data, to put forward the proposal and to decide on how they can minimise the environmental impact. Then they have to go through the (EIA) process, which the proposals can be approved or disapproved. Through the process, there are public involvement opportunities. The public can view the assessment and express their opinions. The duty of the Environment Bureau and also the EPD (Environmental Protection Department) is to diligently administer the EIA process.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks at a media session by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, after attending a radio programme this morning (October 18):
      
Reporter: It has been a few days since the reclamation project has been unveiled. What is your response so far to the criticisms and concerns that have been expressed?
 
Secretary for Development: We will listen to the views very carefully. Coming up, there will be a rational discussion. Over the past few days, the Government’s intention, vision and detailed contents (of the project) have become clearer and clearer. We discussed that in the programme earlier on. Initially, there was impression that the Government will immediately go ahead with reclamation of the scale of 1 700 hectares. It is now getting clearer and clearer to the public that our initial vision, if we talk about the more concrete part of our vision, it pertains to the reclamation around Kau Yi Chau. We are talking about 1 000 hectares, which corresponds to what the Task Force on Land Supply has been engaging the public about. Now it becomes very clear. There are concerns revealed during the discussion processes, such as concerns over costs, concerns over the ability to respond to the climate, concerns over the technical feasibility of the entire project. For all these, we will explain and come up with factual information to allow the public to understand better about the rationale of the project. That is what we would do in the coming months. As I said, the next checkpoint, if I may use this word, is when we go to the Legislative Council for funding for the planning and engineering study, which will mainly focus on the 1 000 hectares of reclamation of the Kau Yi Chau project. That will happen in a few months’ time. Before that, we have enough time to communicate, explain and listen.
 
Reporter: Can I ask you a bit about the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge? Yesterday, the Liaison Office issued an invitation for Hong Kong media. Is it kind of unusual that the distribution of announcement is not from the Hong Kong Government?
 
Secretary for Development: For that, you have to understand that it is under the purview of the Transport and Housing Bureau. It will be much better for them to explain to you the situation.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     The second Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) Conservation Training Workshop was launched today (October 18) at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum to raise conservation standards, enhance exchanges on technologies and promote professional … read more

     A man who went missing in Tin Sum has been located.             Lam Chi-wang, aged 27, went missing after he was last seen in Sha Kok Estate in the early hours of Ap… read more

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (October 18). 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