The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will depart for Beijing tomorrow evening (October 28) to foster closer ties and enhance exchanges with the relevant Mainland authorities in respect of matters relating to food safety and the supply of agricultural food to Hong Kong.

     Professor Chan will meet with officials from the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on October 29. She will alo sign a protocol with the General Administration of Customs on the importation of bird's nest products into the Mainland.

     Professor Chan said, "The Mainland is the major source of agricultural products, especially live and fresh food. The Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government and the relevant authorities in the Mainland have all along established a close liaison mechanism to safeguard the quality, safety and stable supply of food to Hong Kong. Regarding the import of bird's nest products to the Mainland, we have been following up with the General Administration of Customs on the implementation arrangements since the signing of the draft arrangements for the inspection and quarantine of the import of bird's nest products from Hong Kong in December last year. The formal signing of the protocol will help foster the trade of bird's nests between the Mainland and the SAR, and will be welcomed by the trade of the two places. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR, I appreciate the strong support of the General Administration of Customs."

     Officials accompanying Professor Chan on the visit include the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mr Philip Yung; the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Dr Leung Siu-fai, and the Controller of the Centre for Food Safety, Dr Ho Yuk-yin.

     Professor Chan will return to Hong Kong in the evening on October 29. The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health during her absence.

     The Deputy Head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) (Island) under the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), Mr Au Yeung Yan-sang, led a delegation to Sichuan and jointly officiated at the opening ceremony of the "Hong Kong Geo-disaster Prevention Exhibition" with representatives from the Land and Resources Department of Sichuan Province and the Chengdu University of Technology today (October 27) at the university.

     The exhibition is the first permanent exhibition of its kind established by the GEO in the Mainland, with an aim of enhancing research and collaboration between Sichuan and Hong Kong on the mitigation of geo-disasters. Through innovative exhibits, three-dimensional models and virtual reality visuals, the exhibition showcases the development and operation of the Hong Kong Slope Safety System and its future development as well as the department's achievements in managing slope safety.

     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Au Yeung said that Hong Kong and Sichuan both face the threat of geo-disasters despite being geographically distant. Through mutual technical exchange and experience-sharing in various areas, including the causes and mitigation of debris flow as well as landslide warning systems, the two places can better prepare for the challenges of climate change, with a view to building a safer and more livable environment.

     To deepen understanding of Sichuan's geo-hazard preventive measures and promote exchanges with local young geotechnical professionals, the delegation also comprised representatives of the Young Members Committee of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. The delegation visited the Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, and carried out field trips to inspect geo-disaster mitigation works in Zhangjiaping Village, as well as the post-disaster reconstruction works of the Shuimo Ancient Town and the Dujiangyan irrigation system.

    

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub Opening Ceremony and Symposium today (October 27):

     I want to say a few words in English. We are very grateful for the overseas speakers particularly, sharing your expertise and experience.

     Hong Kong is an open international community. We are open to ideas from different places. With the ageing population, as I said in Chinese earlier, we face a huge challenge here in Hong Kong, particularly the growing ageing community and increasing demand for elderly care and services. Elderly services are the top priority for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. For every $100 we spend every day, $20 goes to elderly in terms of cash assistance, medical care, home care and elderly care. That underlines the importance we attach to it.

     We will continue to invest heavily in elderly services because we have to pay back to the elderly population as they contributed to Hong Kong during their young days. Without the elderly, Hong Kong would not be a vibrant community today. So, we have to be grateful and make sure that they will have happy golden years for the remaining part of their life. But in the process, we need joint effort from everybody, not just from the government alone. We have to build a coalition among academia, government, NGOs, and also of course, stakeholders to ensure that elderly services are really up to speed and meet the aspirations and expectations of the whole community.

     Finally, before I leave the stage, I would like to add one more point. Professor Tong and overseas speakers, please take time to see a bit of Hong Kong. If you have time, please take the very exciting journey through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the high speed rail, get a few glimpse of the mega project of the century – the world's largest sea-crossing. It is really an engineering marvel.

     Thank you very much indeed.

    

    The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, today (October 27) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Co-operation in Wine-related Education and Manpower Training between Hong Kong and Bordeaux with the visiting President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bordeaux Gironde, Mr Patrick Seguin. 

     The MOU seeks to strengthen education and training on wine-related subjects through encouraging partnership between relevant training institutes in Bordeaux and Hong kong and provision of training by educational institutions, chateaux and wine businesses in the two places with a view to meeting industry manpower needs. Possible areas of collaboration include networking, student and staff exchange programmes, scholarships and study missions.

     "Bordeaux wines have a strong presence in Hong Kong. The MOU will build on that foundation and broaden the scope of wine business-related cooperation between the two places," Mr Yau said.

     "Hong Kong is Asia's wine hub and a wine free-port, and has a strong demand for talents with expertise in fine wines and culinary arts. We look forward to aspiring young people in Hong Kong making the best out of new training opportunities in Bordeaux," he added.

     The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bordeaux Gironde is an institution representing the interests of the trade and services sectors in the region, including its wine industry.

     Since August 2008, Hong Kong has entered into relevant wine co-operation agreements with Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (and its Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne regions), Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the United States (and its Oregon and Washington states).
 

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (October 28). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Vehicles from eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.
     
2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Vehicles from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic on southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.