Following is a question by the Hon Lai Tung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (November 13):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that the Three-Runway System (3RS) at the Hong Kong International Airport will be officially commissioned by the end of this year, necessitating the deployment of additional manpower from the relevant government departments to conduct immigration and customs clearance for travellers using the expanded Terminal 2. Regarding the manpower of the disciplined services at boundary control points (BCPs), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the relevant manpower arrangements for various disciplined services (including but not limited to the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Fire Services Department) and the Department of Health, including the respective numbers of posts to be created and internally redeployed, in order to tie in with the commissioning of the 3RS; and
 
(2) of the current numbers of vacancies in various disciplined services; whether the authorities have, in the light of the relevant vacancy situation, assessed and analysed if the manpower of various disciplined services will be sufficient to meet the existing performance pledges at various BCPs after the commissioning of the 3RS?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau, our consolidated reply is as follows:
 
(1) The Three-Runway System (3RS) is targeted to be commissioned on November 28, 2024. The relevant passenger facilities in support of the 3RS will be opened in phases based on passenger traffic demand. As the manpower required at different time intervals varies, the relevant departments, through flexible manpower deployment and optimal use of resources, will ensure that there is sufficient staff to cope with service needs and determine the respective numbers of posts to be created and internally redeployed. They will review their manpower needs after confirming the operation scale of Airport Terminal 2.
 
(2) The Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department have been closely monitoring the inbound and outbound passenger traffic at control points. They will, having regard to the actual situation, deploy manpower flexibly, including engaging retired civil servants and deploying staff from other divisions under their departments to provide support for control points, and adopt other corresponding measures such as streamlining workflow and harnessing information technology, in order to ensure the smooth operation of control points. The departments responsible for control point operation will keep reviewing their service performance and formulate appropriate policies and contingency plans with a view to meeting the existing performance pledges of control points.
 
     A breakdown of the number of vacancies in various disciplined services by department is set out below:
 

Note: Number of vacancies=Actual establishment-Staff in service (including staff members on final leave)

     From tomorrow (November 14) onwards, the opening hours of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (DIC) will be adjusted to 10am to 6pm from Tuesdays to Sundays (including public holidays). The DIC will be closed on Mondays (except public holidays) and the first two days of the Lunar New Year.
      
     Located at the roof floor of the Low Block of the Queensway Government Offices, the DIC is the first permanent anti-drug educational exhibition centre in Hong Kong. Various multimedia facilities and devices are installed in the DIC to educate visitors on the harmful effects of drug abuse, including interactive games and an imaging device that demonstrates the adverse effects of drugs on different parts of the body.
      
     In view of the "space oil" abuse situation and to raise public awareness on this topic, a new area dedicated to "space oil" is set up at the DIC with videos, publications and exhibition panels displaying the harms of "space oil".
      
     The DIC will continue to open to the public for free after the change in opening hours. In addition to permanent exhibitions, members of the public can participate in guided tours and regular free anti-drug activities, including anti-drug and positive lifestyle workshops, anti-drug talks, parental talks, parent-child workshops and thematic exhibitions. Details and up-to-date information about these activities are on the website of the DIC (www.druginfocentre.hk/tc/index.html). Enquiries can be made through email at hkjcdic@sb.gov.hk or by calling 2867 2935 during opening hours.  

        

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Hong Kong Observatory will issue the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 3 at 2.40pm today, classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are suspended today. These schools, however, should keep their premises open and implement contingency measures to look after arriving students. They should ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.

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 (November 13) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     â€‹The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, joined the Chinese delegation to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan.
      
     Upon his arrival in Azerbaijan on November 11 (Azerbaijan time), Mr Tse, together with the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms Salina Yan, met with the Financial Services Development Council and Friends of the Earth (HK) to learn about the outcomes of the side event jointly organised by the two organisations at the China Pavilion in the venue of the COP29 on the same day. They also discussed issues including green finance, green transformation of economies and international carbon market.
      
     Mr Tse and Ms Yan met with the head of the Chinese delegation, Mr Zhao Yingmin, yesterday morning (November 12, Azerbaijan time) to exchange views on the progress of the COP29, the international carbon market, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's work in combating climate change.
      
     Afterwards, Mr Tse held a bilateral meeting with representatives of Bangkok, a member city of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, to share the strategies and experiences of the two cities in combating climate change and to exchange views on co-operation and exchanges between the two places.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Tse visited the Garadagh (Area 60) Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant to learn about the strategy and progress of energy transition as well as the latest development of and experience in renewable energy in Azerbaijan.
      
     The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Hong Kong Observatory will hold a side event titled "Climate Action: From Climate Science to Opportunities to Develop New Energy" at the China Pavilion in today (November 13, Azerbaijan time) afternoon. Mr Tse will attend the side event and deliver an opening speech.