The Transport Department announced today (June 28) that the temporary reduction of the speed limit along the westbound side of the North Lantau Highway between Pak Mong and Tung Chung will be extended for one year from July 1 (Sunday) to June 30, 2019, to facilitate the reinstatement works along Airport Road (airport bound).

     Under the temporary traffic arrangement, the speed limit along the westbound carriageway of the North Lantau Highway from a point about 300 metres east of its junction with Airport Road to about 2,500m east of the same junction will be reduced from 110 kilometres per hour to 80km/h in order to enhance the safety of road users and workers.

     Appropriate traffic signs have been erected to guide motorists.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (June 28) introduced three highlighted varieties of organic watermelons to be sold at the Local Organic Watermelon Festival.
 
     The three highlighted varieties of organic watermelons, namely Super Sweet Black Angel 168, Diana and Yellow Orchid, were introduced from Australia, Taiwan and Thailand respectively by the AFCD in recent years. Being able to adapt well to the local environment and summer climate, and promising good yields of quality fruit of suitable sizes for small to medium-sized families, these varieties have been well received by both farmers and consumers.
 
     Super Sweet Black Angel 168 is spherical with green striped skin, and its bright crimson-coloured flesh is very juicy. Diana is oblong in shape, and the intense red flesh encased under its bright yellow striped skin is remarkably sweet. Spherical in shape, Yellow Orchid has bright green striped skin and yellow flesh which is very crispy, juicy and sweet.
    
     The AFCD has been promoting quality crop varieties in recent years and providing technical guidance to organic farmers on growing watermelon and other crops with a view to strengthening the sustainability of local agriculture. In order to help farmers expand their network of customers and share their harvests with Hong Kong people, the AFCD has been organising the Local Organic Watermelon Festival on an annual basis since 2007. As with last year, the AFCD has also invited all regular local organic farmers' markets to join the event. Local organic watermelon as well as other seasonal farm produce will be sold in each farmers' market starting from late June. Members of the public are welcome to shop at these markets to support local farming.
 
     The opening dates and times of the organic farmers' markets in late June and July are listed below:
 

 
     For details of the Local Organic Watermelon Festival and arrangements under inclement weather conditions, please visit www.afcd.gov.hk.

     The Transport Department today (June 28) announced that two auctions of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on July 14 (Saturday) and 15 (Sunday), in Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 280 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public sale at each auction. The lists of marks have been posted at the department's website, www.td.gov.hk," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(a) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:

1. the identity document of the successful bidder;
2. the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
3. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
4. a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(b) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(c) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(d) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(e) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 28) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach in Tsuen Wan District and Kadoorie Beach in Tuen Mun District as Grade 2, which means the water quality has improved and the beaches are suitable for swimming. The red flags have been lowered.

     The red flags were hoisted at the beaches earlier on due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee originally scheduled at 3pm tomorrow (June 29) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will start at 4pm.