The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved from the Disaster Relief Fund four grants totalling $10.419 million to four agencies for providing relief to earthquake victims in Indonesia.

     Announcing the grants today (September 21), a spokesman for the Government said that the four grants – one of HK$2.916 million to Plan International, Hong Kong, one of HK$1.559 million to Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) China, one of HK$3.925 million to World Vision Hong Kong and one of HK$2.019 million to Hong Kong Red Cross, will be used to provide shelters and tools, household and hygiene items, mobile toilets and water tanks to benefit around 60 000 earthquake victims in Indonesia. As the targeted villages or relief items to be distributed by the four relief agencies are different, there will be no overlapping of resources. The Committee hopes the grants will facilitate the provision of timely relief to the victims and help them restore their normal living.
 
     "To ensure that the money is used for the designated purposes, the relief agencies will be asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," the spokesman said.

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the South China Morning Post Spirit of Hong Kong Awards Ceremony today (September 21):
 
Gary (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post, Mr Gary Liu), Sir David (Spirit of Hong Kong Awards Patron, Sir David Akers-Jones), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is my honour to join you all for this year's "Spirit of Hong Kong Awards" ceremony. The Awards has reached its sixth anniversary, putting a luminous spotlight on Hong Kong and bringing a fresh breeze of warmth and hope to this vibrant, pluralistic and international city.
    
     Hong Kong is a compassionate society. The current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is determined to build on that unwavering goodwill to create a caring and inclusive society.  The Government's recurrent expenditure on social welfare in this financial year is projected to reach a peak of $79.8 billion, equivalent to 19.6 per cent of total government recurrent expenditure. This amounts to a significant increase of 86 per cent over the 2012-13 level. But, despite our resolve, policies, programmes and services in place and in the works, there remain some cracks and gaps here and there.
 
     A responsible government, however compassionate, must allocate its resources with an awareness of their limits. Government therefore cannot do it alone. We believe that Hong Kong works best in tripartite co-operation with the community at large and our business sector.  With a growing sense and awareness of corporate social responsibility, companies and institutions are prepared to give back to the community and extend their helping hands to the disadvantaged in the community.
 
     This evening, we honour five men and women and two corporate citizens for the spirit of Hong Kong that burns so brilliantly. Within them, day after day and night after night, they are our torch bearers, our role models.
 
     I would like to express my warmest gratitude to this year's winners, whom you will soon meet and learn about their remarkable and fascinating stories. Of course, they are not alone. Rather, they were chosen from nearly 100 nominees. Many, many more are out there and in here this evening as well, working with courage and conviction for Hong Kong.
   
     And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the enduring spirit of Hong Kong.
 
     I would like to express my gratitude to the organiser and creator of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, the South China Morning Post. My most sincere appreciation also goes to this year's judges – now 14 in number and infinite in the value they bring to these awards.
 
     On this note, ladies and gentlemen, I wish the Hong Kong spirit to continue to flourish and strengthen in the year ahead and all of you an enjoyable and special evening. Thank you.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay (DKCH) made the following announcement today (September 21):
 
     Nine patients (seven male and two female, aged 19 months to 31 years) in a ward presented with fever, running nose and diarrhoea since September 1. Seven patients were confirmed with Rhinovirus infection. All patients are under isolation and in a stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures of the ward have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance. The cases have been reported to Hospital Authority Head Office and Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
 

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (September 21) that the department will extend opening hours and make special arrangements at some of its venues for the public to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

     However, in the wake of the adverse impact brought about by Tropical Cyclone Mangkhut, which has led to various levels of damage to facilities and trees at many LCSD venues, the department has made an assessment and anticipated that the clearance work at these venues would not be completed before the Mid-Autumn Festival. They include all gazetted public beaches (including ancillary barbecue facilities) and a number of land-based venues in various districts, which are not suitable for activities relating to the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 23 to 25). The list of such venues can be found in the Annex.

     As the LCSD is making great efforts to conduct clearance and repair work at the venues affected under its management, the department urges the public not to go near or enter the cordoned-off areas in these venues for the sake of safety.

     Details of extended opening hours and special arrangements for selected venues during the Mid-Autumn Festival period are as follows:

September 23 and 24 (the day before Mid-Autumn Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival)
————————————————————————————————

Hong Kong Velodrome Park (Sai Kung District)
– Artificial Lake
6.30am to 1am (extended by two hours)

September 23, 24 and 25 (the day before Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and the day following Mid-Autumn Festival)
————————————————————————————————————-

Jordan Valley Park (Kwun Tong District)
September 23: 5am to midnight
                      (extended by one hour)
September 24: 5am to 1am
                      (extended by two hours)
September 25: 5am to 11.30pm
                      (extended by half an hour)

September 24 (Mid-Autumn Festival)
—————————————–

Hong Kong Park (Central and Western District)
– Outdoor facilities
6am to midnight (extended by one hour)

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (Central and Western District)
– Fountain Terrace Garden
5am to midnight (extended by two hours)

Aldrich Bay Park (Eastern District)
– Water Feature and Fisherman Hut Pavilion
6.30am to 11.30pm (extended by one hour)

Ngau Chi Wan Park (Wong Tai Sin District)
6.30am to midnight (extended by one hour)

Tsing Yi Park (Kwai Tsing District)
5.30am to midnight (extended by half an hour)

Tsing Yi Northeast Park (Kwai Tsing District)
5.30am to midnight (extended by half an hour)

North District Park (North District)
6am to midnight (extended by one hour)

September 25 (the day following Mid-Autumn Festival)
————————————————————-

Central Lawn of Victoria Park (Wan Chai District)
Temporarily closed from 2am to 5am for cleaning operations

     The LCSD appeals to the public to keep places clean and tidy, take away their belongings while leaving the venues and put trash into litter box, and not to burn wax or fly sky lanterns when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

     "To provide a better environment for members of the public to enjoy the festive occasion, we appeal to them not to burn or melt wax. They should not sprinkle or pour liquids onto hot wax. Metal cans or non-flammable containers should be used to collect melted wax for easy disposal into litter bins after the containers cool down," a spokesman for the LCSD said.

     "Moreover, members of the public should not throw glow sticks or other objects onto trees, as doing so may cause damage to the trees and affect the cleanliness of venues. Furthermore, they should not fly sky lanterns as it might cause injuries or damage to property."

     Noting that a new set of television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest has been launched to make similar public appeals, the spokesman said patrols will also be stepped up at the department's venues on September 23 and 24. About 1 000 staff will be deployed to take enforcement action against littering, wax burning, throwing objects onto trees and flying sky lanterns on these two nights. Littering offenders will be issued with a fixed penalty notice with a fine of $1,500, while those who burn wax, throw objects onto trees or fly sky lanterns might be prosecuted.

     According to the Pleasure Grounds Regulation, no person shall, in any pleasure ground, melt or burn any wax; sprinkle or pour any liquid onto any hot wax; damage any part of any tree, shrub or plant; or fly kites, model aircraft, balloons, sky lanterns or other devices. According to the Bathing Beaches Regulation, no person shall, on any bathing beach, do any act which is likely to endanger or obstruct any other person using the beach, or damage, deface or pollute the beach or anything situated thereon. Any person who is convicted is liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and 14 days' imprisonment.

     Members of the public may call the LCSD's hotline on 2414 5555 to report any wax burning or flying sky lantern cases, or other irregularities found at LCSD venues.

     The Transport Department (TD) reminded the public today (September 21) that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented during the period from September 23 to 25 on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories to facilitate the holding of Mid-Autumn Festival activities and the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang.

     To facilitate the holding of the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang on Hong Kong Island, there will be road closures and traffic diversions in Tai Hang from 6pm to 11.59 pm daily from September 23 to 25. Parking spaces in the area will be suspended.

     Road closure arrangements will also be implemented in various parts of Hong Kong Island (including the Peak, Repulse Bay, Shek O, Stanley, Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen) and the New Territories. Part-time pedestrian schemes and learner driver prohibited zones will be set up. Car parks, parking spaces, taxi stands and public light bus stands will be suspended.  The Police may adjust the implementation of road closures and traffic diversions, subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions in the areas.

     For public transport services, there will be an extension of operating hours, route diversions and strengthening of services. 

     Details are as follows:

– Except Disneyland Resort Line and East Rail Line between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau station, all MTR routes will operate overnight on September 24;

– Some Light Rail routes in the Yuen Long area, the Tuen Mun area and the Tin Shui Wai area will operate overnight on September 24;

– The tram service on September 24 will be extended to 3am on the following day. The service on September 23 and 25 will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;

– Extensions of operating hours, special services, route diversions and suspension/relocation of bus stops will be exercised by bus companies on some routes;

– Some green minibus services will be extended and some routes will be diverted; and

– Ferry services by New World First Ferry, and Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry will be enhanced subject to passenger demand.

     Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services so as to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. Motorists should avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should drive with patience and follow the instructions of the Police on-site.

     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures as necessary. Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest traffic news on radio and television, or get the information through the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility".

     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are now available on the department's website (www.td.gov.hk).