Author Archives: hksar gov

     With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece is presenting a special programme of five classic Hong Kong films entitled “The Golden Years of Hong Kong Cinema”. The films are screened in Thessaloniki, a port and the second largest city in Greece, from September 20 to 23  (Thessaloniki time).
      
     Speaking at a cocktail reception on September 20 (Thessaloniki time) after the screening of the programme’s opening film, “Armour of God”, the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, invited creative industry professionals, one of the 11 professional groups covered by the Talent List recently published by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, to consider furthering their careers in Hong Kong.
      
     “Over the years, Hong Kong has developed into a leading arts and cultural hub in the region, with a leading edge in key areas of creative industries like film making, performing arts, computer design, comics and animation. We would like to make our creative industries more international still by actively encouraging professionals from Europe and around the world to come to live in Hong Kong and be part of this vibrant scene. Immigration facilitation is provided for qualified talents in the Talent List to come and settle in Hong Kong,” Miss Chau said.
      
     This is the fourth consecutive year that HKETO, Brussels has co-operated with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival to bring Hong Kong films to Greek audiences. The special programme of this year comprises Jackie Chan’s “Armour of God”, Wellson Chin’s “The Inspector Wears Skirts II”, Ann Hui’s “Zodiac Killer”, Tsui Hark’s “Once Upon a time in China III” and Tsui Siu-ming’s “Bury Me High”.

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     Due to the Super Typhoon Mangkhut last weekend, hiking trails and recreational sites and facilities in the country parks and the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (HKUGGp) under the management of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Co… read more

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Parliament, Mr Tom Tugendhat, and members of the FAC at the Chief Executive’s Office this morning (September 21). The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, also attended the meeting.

     Mrs Lam briefed Mr Tugendhat on Hong Kong’s latest developments. She noted that since its return to the Motherland, Hong Kong has been exercising a high degree of autonomy and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” in strict accordance with the Basic Law, thus demonstrating the full and successful implementation of the “One country, Two systems” principle. Adding that the rule of law and judicial independence are as robust as ever, Mrs Lam highlighted the fact that a number of overseas non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal are from the United Kingdom, and these illustrious judges have made significant contributions to the city’s rule of law and its judicial independence. The city’s comprehensive legal aid system is also important for safeguarding justice, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to freedom of speech, which is also protected by the Basic Law, she added.

     In addition, noting that Hong Kong is actively participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mrs Lam said the HKSAR will strive to leverage its unique advantages and jointly develop the Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub. Mrs Lam stressed that “One Country, Two Systems” is unique to the Bay Area, and will serve as an important foundation for the Bay Area to go international down the road. Hong Kong’s integration into the development of the Bay Area will not undermine the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” but will enrich it, as well as being conducive to maintaining Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 21) released the latest grading of water quality of 38 gazetted beaches* that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay**).
        
     Fourteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach***	Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach***
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Kiu Tsui Beach***
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lido Beach
Casam Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach***
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach***	Silverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay	St Stephen’s Beach
Golden Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers’ Beach	Butterfly Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach

 
*:  The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on September 17 that, due to urgent clearance work and maintenance of shark prevention nets after the Typhoon Mangkhut, all beaches in Southern, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts are temporarily closed until further notice.

**: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

***: After the Typhoon, damages were found at Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works and some sewage pipes near Deep Water Bay and Tai Tau Chau of Shek O, leading to the discharge of sewage. The public is advised to avoid recreational activities at beaches including Kiu Tsui Beach, Trio Beach, Hap Mun Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach and Shek O Beach where water quality may be affected in the near future.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water.  Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend.  Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project:

     The Chairman and Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project, Mr Michael John Hartmann, went to the Hung Hom Station Extension work site today (September 21) to look at the diaphragm wall and platform slab construction works under Contract No. 1112. He was accompanied by Counsel and Solicitors for the Commission.

     The Commission of Inquiry was appointed by the Chief Executive in Council under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance (Chapter 86) on July 10, 2018, to inquire into the matters set out in the Terms of Reference below:

     “In respect of the diaphragm wall and platform slab construction works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)’s Contract No. 1112 (Contract) of the Shatin to Central Link Project,

(a) (i) to inquire into the facts and circumstances surrounding the steel reinforcement fixing works, including but not limited to those works at locations that have given rise to extensive public concern about their safety since May 2018;

      (ii) to inquire into the facts and circumstances surrounding any other works which raise concerns about public safety; and

      (iii) to ascertain whether the works in (i) and (ii) above were executed in accordance with the Contract. If not, the reasons therefor and whether steps for rectification have been taken;

(b) to review, in the light of (a) above,

      (i) the adequacy of the relevant aspects of MTRCL’s project management and supervision system, quality assurance and quality control system, risk management system, site supervision and control system and processes, system on reporting to Government, system and processes for communication internally and with various stakeholders, and any other related systems, processes and practices, and the implementation thereof; and

      (ii) the extent and adequacy of the monitoring and control mechanisms of the Government, and the implementation thereof; and

(c) in the light of (b) above, to make recommendations on suitable measures with a view to promoting public safety and assurance on quality of works.” read more