Crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements for public meeting on June 4

Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements in the vicinity of Victoria Park on June 4 (Monday) to facilitate the holding of a public meeting at the park.

Crowd safety management measures
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With the exception of Gate 5, all the gates to the event venue will be opened to arriving participants.

Participants are encouraged to use public transport to Victoria Park and enter the venue through two ingress points: from the west via Gates 6 and 7 (entrances near Sugar Street and Great George Street) and from the east through Gate 14 (Hing Fat Street near Lau Sin Street). Participants arriving by MTR are advised to use exits A1 and A2 of MTR Tin Hau Station to reach Lau Sin Street and Gate 14 for convenient access to Victoria Park. Depending on the crowd situation, a queuing system will be initiated at Tin Hau Station Public Transport Interchange and the car park area along Hing Fat Street to facilitate the crowd (See diagram 1).

When the football pitches 1 to 6 are saturated, the marshals will direct the participants coming from the east side to the Central Lawn along the South Boulevard, or direct the participants coming from the west side to the Central Lawn along the West Boulevard and then via the North Boulevard (See diagram 2).

When the Central Lawn is also saturated, the marshals will direct the participants coming from the east side to the Band Stand along the East Boulevard and then via the North Boulevard, or direct the participants coming from the west side to the Band Stand along the West Boulevard and then via the North Boulevard (See diagram 3).

Depending on the crowd situation, a queuing system will be initiated along a section of Gloucester Road service road to facilitate the arriving crowd. Participants are not allowed to gather at Gloucester Road service road at any time to avoid causing obstruction. Police will also implement crowd safety management measures along Gloucester Road service road to facilitate members of the public to enter the park.

For the safety of participants and other venue users, Police have designated both the South Boulevard and Middle Boulevard as the emergency vehicle access (EVA). In the event of an emergency where urgent assistance is required, vehicles may require speedy access along this route. Notices demarcating the EVA will be posted by the Police.

To facilitate the arrival of participants, particularly to the Central Lawn area, Police will open up a section of the EVA between Gate 14 and the junction of Middle Boulevard and South Boulevard till about 8.30pm (See diagram 4). The maintenance of the EVA is of paramount importance for the safety of the attending participants. For such reason, participants are advised not to gather at the EVA at any time. All persons operating promotional or souvenir stalls should also avoid blockage of gates and ingress routes.

On the event day, there will be public announcements inside Victoria Park to keep participants informed of the latest situation and amendments to arrangements. Participants are requested to adhere to the directions given by the event marshals and Police officers on site.

Special traffic arrangements
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A. Road closure

Depending on the prevailing crowd and traffic situation, the following roads may be closed from about 4pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Sugar Street;
– Great George Street;
– Kingston Street;
– Paterson Street;
– Cleveland Street;
– Northbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and Gloucester Road service road; and
– Gloucester Road U-turn slip road between southbound and northbound Gloucester Road underneath Tai Hang Road flyover.

Depending on the prevailing crowd and traffic situation, the following roads may be closed from about 6pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

– Southbound Gloucester Road between westbound Gloucester Road and Causeway Road;
– Tai Hang Road flyover;
– Hing Fat Street between Causeway Road and Lau Li Street, except for franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs);
– Electric Road between Tsing Fung Street and Hing Fat Street, except for vehicles accessing to Park Towers;
– Lau Li Street between Hing Fat Street and Ngan Mok Street, except for vehicles accessing to Park Towers; and
– Yacht Street.

B. Traffic diversions

The following traffic diversions will be implemented during the road closure period:

– Lau Li Street between Electric Road and Hing Fat Street will be re-routed to one-way westbound. Public light buses are not allowed to enter;
– Traffic along eastbound Yee Wo Street cannot turn left to Sugar Street;
– Traffic along westbound Gloucester Road cannot turn left to Cleveland Street or Paterson Street;
– Traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road flyover cannot turn left to Kingston Street and northbound Gloucester Road;
– Traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road will be diverted via eastbound Tung Lo Wan Road;
– Traffic along Victoria Park Road flyover heading for Tai Hang area will be diverted via eastbound Victoria Park Road, Wing Hing Street, westbound King’s Road and Tung Lo Wan Road;
– Traffic along Victoria Park Road flyover heading for Tai Hang Road flyover must turn right to westbound Gloucester Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Causeway Road cannot turn left to Hing Fat Street, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Traffic along westbound King’s Road cannot turn right to Hing Fat Street, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
– Traffic along southbound Electric Road must turn left to eastbound Yacht Street or turn right to westbound Tsing Fung Street, except for vehicles accessing to Park Towers; and
– Traffic along northbound Ngan Mok Street must turn right to eastbound Lau Li Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces and car parks

Parking spaces at Hing Fat Street public car park (except for disabled parking spaces) and disabled parking spaces at Gloucester Road will be suspended from noon to 11.59pm.

During the road closure period, vehicles may not be allowed to enter or leave car parks and hotels on the closed roads.

Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to pay attention to special traffic signs and take heed of instructions of Police at scene.




Update on cluster of Rhinovirus cases in Kowloon Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding the announcement yesterday (May 30) on a cluster of inpatients infected with Rhinovirus in a male infirmary ward of the Rehabilitation Department, the spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital (KH) gave the following update today (May 31):
 
     One more 76-year-old patient of the ward presented with respiratory symptoms. An appropriate viral test was arranged for the patient and his test result was positive for Rhinovirus. He is being treated under isolation with stable condition.
 
     KH will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.




Pesticide residue exceeds legal limit in choi sum sample

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 31) announced that a choi sum sample was found to have pesticide residue at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.
      
     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the choi sum sample at import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cyhalothrin at a level of 0.4 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.2 ppm.
      
     "Based on the level of pesticide residue detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption."
      
     Generally speaking, to reduce pesticide residues in vegetables, members of the public can rinse vegetables thoroughly under clean running water, and scrub produces with hard surfaces with a clean brush to remove dirt and substances including pesticides and contaminants from the surface and the crevices, when appropriate.
      
     Any person who imports, manufactures or sells any food not in compliance with the requirements of the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132CM) concerning pesticide residues commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
      
     Since the regulation came into effect on August 1, 2014, the CFS has taken over 144 500 samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. Together with the unsatisfactory sample announced today, a total of 218 food samples (including 210 vegetable and fruit samples) have been detected as having excessive pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.2 per cent.
      
     The spokesman added that excessive pesticide residues in food may arise from the trade not observing Good Agricultural Practice, e.g. using excessive pesticides and/or not allowing sufficient time for pesticides to decompose before harvesting. The MRLs of pesticide residues in food set in the Regulation are not safety indicators. They are the maximum concentrations of pesticide residues to be permitted in a food commodity under Good Agricultural Practice when applying pesticides. In this connection, consumption of food with pesticide residues higher than the MRLs will not necessarily lead to any adverse health effects.
      
     The CFS will follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the food in question and taking samples for testing. Investigation is ongoing.




HAD to open temporary night heat shelters

     The Home Affairs Department will open 15 temporary night heat shelters tonight (May 31) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
      
     For further information, please call the department's enquiry hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
      
     The 15 temporary night heat shelters are located at:
      
Hong Kong Districts:
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Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern/Wan Chai –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
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Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai




Provisional statistics of retail sales for April 2018

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (May 31).

     The value of total retail sales in April 2018, provisionally estimated at $39.5 billion, increased by 12.3% over the same month in 2017. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in March 2018 increased by 11.5% over a year earlier. For the first four months of 2018 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales increased by 13.9% over the same period in 2017.

     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in April 2018 increased by 11.1% over a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in March 2018 increased by 10.1% over a year earlier. For the first four months of 2018 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales increased by 12.3% in volume over the same period in 2017.

     Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing April 2018 with April 2017, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts increased by 24.6%. This was followed by sales of wearing apparel (+6.3% in value); medicines and cosmetics (+17.9%); commodities in supermarkets (+1.1%); commodities in department stores (+12.6%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods, not elsewhere classified (+17.7%); other consumer goods, not elsewhere classified (+17.1%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+3.9%); motor vehicles and parts (+16.4%); fuels (+10.0%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (+9.4%); furniture and fixtures (+1.4%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+0.3%); Chinese drugs and herbs (+2.3%); and optical shops (+8.0%).

     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 6.1% in the three months ending April 2018 over the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 5.4%.

     These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. They cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.

     Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication "Gross Domestic Product (Quarterly)" for more details.

Commentary

     A government spokesman indicated that retail sales sustained double-digit growth over a year earlier in April, underpinned by strong local consumer spending as well as buoyant inbound tourism. Different broad types of retail outlet registered varying degrees of increase in the value of sales.

     Looking ahead, favourable job and income prospects and sustained growth in inbound tourism should continue to support retail sales in the near term. The Government will monitor the situation closely.

Further information

     Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for March 2018 as well as the provisional figures for April 2018. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first four months of 2018 taken together are also shown.

     Table 2 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for March 2018 as well as the provisional figures for April 2018. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first four months of 2018 taken together are also shown.

     Table 3 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.

     The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

     More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp320.jsp?productCode=B1080003). Alternatively, the historical series of retail sales statistics can be downloaded in the form of a statistical table at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp320.jsp?productCode=D5600089).

     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).