Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 9) reminded the public that to facilitate tram track renewal works at Catchick Street, parts of the slow lane of Catchick Street eastbound near Davis Street will be temporarily closed from about 10am on Friday (October 12) to 10am on October 23 (Tuesday).
 
     During the above works period, all vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length will be temporarily prohibited from turning left from Catchick Street eastbound onto Davis Street northbound. Vehicles exceeding 7 metres in length on Catchick Street eastbound heading for New Praya, Kennedy Town will be diverted via Davis Street southbound, Belcher’s Street and Cadogan Street.
 
     Appropriate traffic signs and road markings will be erected on site to guide motorists.
 
     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of the above road sections will be relatively busy. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion. Members of the public are advised to watch out for the latest traffic news or the department’s website (www.td.gov.hk). read more

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (October 10). 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. read more

     The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) today (October 9) reminded members of the public that rigorous enforcement of the Cross-boundary Movement of Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Ordinance (Chapter 629) will begin next Tuesday (October 16).

     Under the Ordinance, a person who arrives in Hong Kong via a specified control point and is in possession of a large quantity of currency and bearer negotiable instruments (CBNIs) (i.e. the total value of which is more than HK$120,000) must use the Red Channel under the Red and Green Channel System and make a written declaration to a Customs officer. 

     A person who is about to leave Hong Kong, or who arrives in Hong Kong other than at a specified control point, must disclose upon the request of a Customs officer whether he or she is in possession of a large quantity of CBNIs and, if so, make a written declaration. 

     For a large quantity of CBNIs imported or exported in a cargo consignment, an advance declaration must be made to the C&ED through the Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Declaration System accessible at the website of the C&ED.

     Persons who fail to comply with the declaration or disclosure requirements under the Ordinance are liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for two years. 

     To assist members of the public, visitors and relevant trades to comply with the new requirements, in the three months since the commencement of the Ordinance, the C&ED has implemented a grace period and issued written warnings as far as possible to persons who breached the declaration or disclosure requirements for the first time.  

     As at last Sunday (October 7), the C&ED handled 6 697 declarations (including 4 294 from travellers and 2 403 for cargoes) and issued 20 written warnings, 18 to travellers and two in respect of cargoes.

     “Starting on October 16, the C&ED will take enforcement action against breaches of the Ordinance without issuing any warnings,” a spokesperson for the C&ED said.

     The Ordinance implements Recommendation 32 of the Financial Action Task Force to detect cross-boundary transportation of large quantities of CBNIs for the purpose of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism. For details of the Ordinance, please visit the C&ED’s designated webpage at www.customs.gov.hk/en/enforcement/cds/index.html or call the enquiry hotline at 3759 3184. read more

     The "Digital Dunhuang – Tales of Heaven and Earth" exhibition being held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has been well received since its opening but will come to an end on October 22. The exhibition showcases Dunhua… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (October 9):
      
Reporter: Mrs Lam, Victor Mallet is not an activist and he was not advocating independence for Hong Kong. He is very different from Andy Chan. He was purely chairing a talk at the FCC. So, why was his visa denied? He is not leading the Hong Kong independence movement. He was purely facilitating a talk at the FCC…

Chief Executive: I am sorry, what you said is pure speculation. I have just answered in Cantonese that as far as entry and exit matters, these are matters within Hong Kong’s autonomy under “One Country, Two Systems”.

     Point number two is on every individual case, the Director of Immigration will act in accordance with the law and the policy and the circumstances concerning that particular case.

     The third point is, as a rule, not only locally, but internationally, we will never disclose, the Immigration Department will not disclose the individual circumstances of the case or the considerations of his decision. So, I cannot comment on your speculations.

Reporter: Mrs Lam, if the Government is talking about independence almost every week, how do journalists navigate this red line? Can they quote independence figures, interview them, invite them to a forum, or invite them only alongside a government representative? If reporters don’t know clearly, they may self-censor. So, can you tell us which of these reporting and which is now unlawful advocacy?

Chief Executive: I’m sorry, I cannot tell you exactly what journalists should say or act or interview, but I can assure you, as I did in Cantonese, freedom of expression, freedom of reporting are core values in Hong Kong, and as the Chief Executive, I and the HKSAR Government, will safeguard all these rights as enshrined in the Basic Law. Every act, every case will be dealt with in accordance with the law, the policy and the circumstances, including the facts of the case. Thank you very much.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more