Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 21) released the latest grading of water quality of 38 gazetted beaches* that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay**).
        
     Fourteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach***	Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach***
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Kiu Tsui Beach***
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lido Beach
Casam Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach***
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach***	Silverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay	St Stephen’s Beach
Golden Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers’ Beach	Butterfly Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach

 
*:  The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on September 17 that, due to urgent clearance work and maintenance of shark prevention nets after the Typhoon Mangkhut, all beaches in Southern, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts are temporarily closed until further notice.

**: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

***: After the Typhoon, damages were found at Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works and some sewage pipes near Deep Water Bay and Tai Tau Chau of Shek O, leading to the discharge of sewage. The public is advised to avoid recreational activities at beaches including Kiu Tsui Beach, Trio Beach, Hap Mun Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach and Shek O Beach where water quality may be affected in the near future.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water.  Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend.  Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project:

     The Chairman and Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project, Mr Michael John Hartmann, went to the Hung Hom Station Extension work site today (September 21) to look at the diaphragm wall and platform slab construction works under Contract No. 1112. He was accompanied by Counsel and Solicitors for the Commission.

     The Commission of Inquiry was appointed by the Chief Executive in Council under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance (Chapter 86) on July 10, 2018, to inquire into the matters set out in the Terms of Reference below:

     “In respect of the diaphragm wall and platform slab construction works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)’s Contract No. 1112 (Contract) of the Shatin to Central Link Project,

(a) (i) to inquire into the facts and circumstances surrounding the steel reinforcement fixing works, including but not limited to those works at locations that have given rise to extensive public concern about their safety since May 2018;

      (ii) to inquire into the facts and circumstances surrounding any other works which raise concerns about public safety; and

      (iii) to ascertain whether the works in (i) and (ii) above were executed in accordance with the Contract. If not, the reasons therefor and whether steps for rectification have been taken;

(b) to review, in the light of (a) above,

      (i) the adequacy of the relevant aspects of MTRCL’s project management and supervision system, quality assurance and quality control system, risk management system, site supervision and control system and processes, system on reporting to Government, system and processes for communication internally and with various stakeholders, and any other related systems, processes and practices, and the implementation thereof; and

      (ii) the extent and adequacy of the monitoring and control mechanisms of the Government, and the implementation thereof; and

(c) in the light of (b) above, to make recommendations on suitable measures with a view to promoting public safety and assurance on quality of works.” read more

    The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved from the Disaster Relief Fund four grants totalling $10.419 million to four agencies fo… read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the South China Morning Post Spirit of Hong Kong Awards Ceremony today (September 21):
 
Gary (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post, Mr Gary Liu), Sir David (Spirit of Hong Kong Awards Patron, Sir David Akers-Jones), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. It is my honour to join you all for this year’s “Spirit of Hong Kong Awards” ceremony. The Awards has reached its sixth anniversary, putting a luminous spotlight on Hong Kong and bringing a fresh breeze of warmth and hope to this vibrant, pluralistic and international city.
    
     Hong Kong is a compassionate society. The current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is determined to build on that unwavering goodwill to create a caring and inclusive society.  The Government’s recurrent expenditure on social welfare in this financial year is projected to reach a peak of $79.8 billion, equivalent to 19.6 per cent of total government recurrent expenditure. This amounts to a significant increase of 86 per cent over the 2012-13 level. But, despite our resolve, policies, programmes and services in place and in the works, there remain some cracks and gaps here and there.
 
     A responsible government, however compassionate, must allocate its resources with an awareness of their limits. Government therefore cannot do it alone. We believe that Hong Kong works best in tripartite co-operation with the community at large and our business sector.  With a growing sense and awareness of corporate social responsibility, companies and institutions are prepared to give back to the community and extend their helping hands to the disadvantaged in the community.
 
     This evening, we honour five men and women and two corporate citizens for the spirit of Hong Kong that burns so brilliantly. Within them, day after day and night after night, they are our torch bearers, our role models.
 
     I would like to express my warmest gratitude to this year’s winners, whom you will soon meet and learn about their remarkable and fascinating stories. Of course, they are not alone. Rather, they were chosen from nearly 100 nominees. Many, many more are out there and in here this evening as well, working with courage and conviction for Hong Kong.
   
     And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the enduring spirit of Hong Kong.
 
     I would like to express my gratitude to the organiser and creator of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, the South China Morning Post. My most sincere appreciation also goes to this year’s judges – now 14 in number and infinite in the value they bring to these awards.
 
     On this note, ladies and gentlemen, I wish the Hong Kong spirit to continue to flourish and strengthen in the year ahead and all of you an enjoyable and special evening. Thank you. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay (DKCH) made the following announcement today (September 21):
 
     Nine patients (seven male and two female, aged 19 months to 31 years) in a ward presented with fever, running nose and diarrhoea since September 1. Seven patients were confirmed with Rhinovirus infection. All patients are under isolation and in a stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures of the ward have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance. The cases have been reported to Hospital Authority Head Office and Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
  read more