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 16) that due to big wa… read more
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 16) that due to big wa… read more
Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (June 16). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong and Macao Lions Beacon for Youth Foundation Limited; in Kowloon, Operation Dawn Limited; and in the New Territories, Tin Shui Wai Women Association Limited, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.
Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people distinguish between the three flag-selling activities.
Information on the three flag-selling organisations on June 16 is as follows:
| Region | Name of Organisation | Colour of Collection Bag | Colour of Flag |
| Hong Kong Island | Hong Kong and Macao Lions Beacon for Youth Foundation Limited | Blue | Blue |
| Kowloon | Operation Dawn Limited | Yellow | Yellow |
| New Territories | Tin Shui Wai Women Association Limited | Pink | White |
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Belgium today (June 15, Brussels time).
In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the President of the European Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker. She said that the economic outlook of Hong Kong is positive with unemployment rate falling to a 20-year low and that the national Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development are set to inject new impetus to the city’s economy. Noting that Hong Kong, which has been a staunch supporter of free trade, signed a Free Trade Agreement and a related Investment Agreement with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations last year, she hoped to commence relevant discussion with the European Union (EU). She also hoped that youth exchanges with EU countries can be enhanced, including the launch of more working holiday schemes.
Mrs Lam then visited the Belgian Parliament which has a history of more than 200 years and met with the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Mr Siegfried Bracke. She introduced to him Hong Kong’s latest situation, including the successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems”, the independent judiciary, new initiatives rolled out by the new term Government to enhance competitiveness of the city, etc.
Mrs Lam also attended a lunch hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, Mr Zhang Ming and knew from him the latest development of the bilateral relations between China and the EU. She thanked the Mission for its support for various exchanges between Hong Kong and the EU, and its help with the expansion of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s external relations.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam visited the GSK Vaccines’ headquarters and received a briefing on the company’s research and development operation as well as their experience of carrying out clinical trials in Hong Kong.
Mrs Lam headed to Bordeaux in the evening and will start her visit to France tomorrow (June 16, Bordeaux time).
Regarding the incident relating to the construction quality of the Hung Hom Station platform of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL), the Director of Highways on May 31 required the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to submit an incident report. The Highways Department (HyD) received the report from the MTRCL around 5pm today (June 15).
In paragraphs 8 to 9 of section 3 of the report, it stated that the statements given by one of the sub-contractors of Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited (“Leighton”) contradicted assurances given to the MTRCL by Leighton. Leighton has strenuously denied such allegations. The MTRCL did not express any opinion on this matter. According to the information provided by the MTRCL separately to the HyD on this matter today (paragraph 9 of Section 3 of the report), the HyD considers that the matter may involve criminal elements and has therefore referred the matter to the Police for follow-up action. In order not to hinder the Police’s investigation, the HyD will not comment on this matter at this stage.
As for the other content and technical information in the report, the HyD will thoroughly examine it and request the MTRCL to make clarification or provide supplementary information if necessary.
Meanwhile, the HyD has reminded the MTRCL that being the project manager of the SCL project, the MTRCL has to strictly comply with the responsibility under the Entrustment Agreement, including verification of the facts of all related issues, to ensure the quality of works of the SCL. read more