The Transport Department today (September 18) said that all relevant government departments are working at full steam to clear the road surfaces and repair the damaged road facilities due to the Typhoon Mangkhut so as to resume the public transport services as soon as possible.
 
     A spokesman for the TD reminded members of the public that they should pay attention to the traffic situation and the latest public transport services arrangements this morning before starting their journey. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and drive carefully.
 
     As at 10.30pm yesterday, the latest public transport situation is as follows:

(I) MTR Services

Rail services         – all rail lines, service normal
Light Rail services – except route no. 751 and 761P, service normal
MTR Bus services  – limited services
 
(II) Franchised Bus Services

     Affected by fallen trees and other obstacles, there are 229 bus routes (a total of about 600 routes) maintaining normal services. 
 

 
     As for other bus routes yet to be resumed, their service operation will be announced once relevant road sections are cleared.

(III) Ferry Services

     Except the ferry service between North Point and Kowloon City, all inner harbor and outlying island ferry services resumed normal.
 
     The spokesman reminded members of the public to stay alert to the latest traffic news and allow more time for travel. For details of the above public transport arrangements, members of the public can visit the TD's website or obtain the information through the TD's mobile application "HKeMobility".
 
     Please pay attention to TD's further update at 5am today.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) has showcased Hong Kong's flourishing literature scene at the Hong Kong Literature Days on September 14 and 15 at China Time Hamburg in Germany. Hosted by the Senate Chancellery of Hamburg and running this year from September 1 to 23, China Time Hamburg is a biennial series of China-related events providing insights into contemporary and traditional Chinese life through exhibitions, concerts, lectures, discussions, readings, theatre, films and culinary specialties.  
      
     In his welcome remarks on September 14 (Hamburg time), the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, referred to Hong Kong's diversity and vibrant cultural scene. "As Asia's world city, Hong Kong has always been a melting pot of cultures and is developing into a global creative hub. Hong Kong people have proven talent in reflecting their lives in a creative way through film or music, theatre or dance, literature or culinary specialties, as you can experience at China Time Hamburg,” he said.
      
     Through public readings, a podium discussion session and a film screening event, the Hong Kong Literature Days brought to attention the voices of two well-known contemporary writers from Hong Kong, Sharon Chung and Dr Ma Ka-fai.
      
     Sharon Chung published her first novel, "Tingche zan jiewen" ("A Carriage Stopped By"), in 1981. In 2002, this love story was turned into a film. Chung holds a degree from the University of Michigan's institute of film and is also the author of short stories and poetry. Furthermore she has worked as a translator and screenwriter.
      
     Dr Ma Ka-fai worked in the fields of advertising and film and is now teaching media and creative writing at the City University of Hong Kong. He wrote his first novel, "Long tou feng wei" ("Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong"), at the age of 51, after having published many scientific texts and pieces of reportage literature. The prize-winning novel was published in 2016 and tells the story of a young gangster in Hong Kong.
      
     The rising importance of cultural life in Hong Kong is underlined by a growing number of globally recognised events including Art Basel Hong Kong and new development projects such as the 40-hectare West Kowloon Cultural District and Tai Kwun, a centre for heritage and arts where the Hong Kong International Literary Festival will be held from November 2 to 11 this year.

About HKETO Berlin
      
     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

  

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, this afternoon (September 17) in Beijing called on the Commissioner of the State Administration of Taxation, Mr Wang Jun, to exchange views on taxation matters of mutual interest, including Hong Kong people's concern that following the amendment of the Mainland law on personal income tax, Hong Kong residents who have resided in the Mainland for a total of 183 days in a tax year while receiving an income either from Mainland or abroad should pay Mainland personal income tax.

     In consideration of the special circumstances of Hong Kong residents, both sides agreed to actively explore ways of addressing the issue and to discuss the arrangements in detail.

     In the evening, Mr Chan headed to Tianjin for attending the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as the "Summer Davos" forum, tomorrow.
      
     Upon arrival, he had dinner with representatives of Hong Kong start-up enterprises who will also attend the forum.
 

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 17) that Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre in Kwun Tong District will be reopened at 7am tomorrow (September 18).

     The sports centre was temporarily closed earlier on for use as a temporary shelter operated by a District Office of the Home Affairs Department.

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the welcome home reception for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 18th Asian Games and flag presentation ceremony for Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games today (September 17):

     Timothy (President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Mr Timothy Fok), Herman (Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 18th Asian Games, Mr Herman Hu), Mr Wong (Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games, Mr Wong Po-kee), distingushed athletes, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. After seeing off Typhoon Mangkhut, I am so glad to be here today to welcome home our Asian Games athletes, to honour athletic dedication at the highest levels, and to celebrate their excellence and unprecedented achievement.

     I’m delighted to repeat what we all know – that our athletes performed brilliantly, returning home from the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia with a record of 46 medals. That includes gold medals in cycling, squash, gymnastics, equestrian and rugby. The two gold medals won in equestrian and rugby are the first ever won by Hong Kong in those events, and in many other events our athletes scored Hong Kong's best results or broke the Hong Kong records.

     You have all made Hong Kong truly proud, and I’m speaking of all of you. Whether you returned home with a medal or not, in our hearts and minds you are all champions and role models for the next generation of Hong Kong athletes. Indeed, in the sacrifices you made in pursuit of excellence, you are role models for all of us.

     My congratulations as well to the organisers, the coaches and everyone else associated with the Hong Kong, China delegation to the Asian Games. I have no doubt that Hong Kong athletes will continue to compete with excellence in future competitions.

     Such competitions include next month’s Youth Olympic Games to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This will be the third Youth Olympics which is the world’s largest multi-sport event for athletes between the ages of 15 and 18. Our record 25 gifted young athletes will participate in nine sports. It’s an invaluable opportunity to compete in this most elite of international sports events, and I wish each and every one of you a memorable performance and an unforgettable experience.

     My Government will continue to support Hong Kong athletes and the development of sports. Timothy, Herman, Tony (Vice President of SF&OC, Mr Tony Yue), and some coaches and athletes will tell you that I have a good track record in supporting sports development in Hong Kong, dating back over a decade ago when I was Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs in charge of sports policy. I still remember vividly that upon my return from the 2006 Doha Asian Games with SF&OC, I announced at the Hong Kong International Airport together with Tim  that the Government would build an indoor velodrome of international standard to provide dedicated facility for the training of our cycling athletes. This velodrome now stands proudly at Tsueng Kwan O and has contributed to the excellent performance of our cycling athletes who won three gold, four silver and one bronze at the Jakarta Games, and provide the venue for international competitions enjoyed by the local community. So this experience tells me that dedicated training venue is very important for athletes. I know the Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, Mr Lam Tai-fai, has another plan for me about building more facilities. I can promise you people that I will give it a very fair hearing.

     You may say that past record is not good enough. So let me briefly recount commitments made by this term of the HKSAR Government. In my first Policy Address last October, we allocated $130 million for the launch of a five-year development programme for the relevant national sports associations to formulate and implement training programmes for Hong Kong athletes to compete in the Asian Games. We have offered funding for enhancing team sports progressively. In the 2018-19 Budget, delivered in February this year, we announced the further injection of $5 billion into the Elite Athletes Development Fund which together with the $1 billion injection in 2017, will be able to provide greater support for our elite athletes. Another $500 million was allocated to launch a Major Sports Events Matching Grant Scheme to promote large-scale sports events in Hong Kong. We will continue to engage with SF&OC, the Hong Kong Sports Institute and the school sports sector to identify areas for further government support.

     So, well done, athletes, and I wish you all the best in your continued pursuit of excellence. 香港é�‹å‹•å“¡ç¹¼çºŒåŠ æ²¹! 多è¬�大家。